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Governor Schwarzenegger's Record on Gay Rights

A Record of Inclusion

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's record on gay and lesbian issues:

Legislative Record 2004
Bills Signed into Law:

AB 1367 - Creates a pilot HIV/AIDS pharmacy program.
AB 2208 - Prohibits discrimination against Domestic Partners in Insurance.
AB 2580 - Adds amendments to existing Domestic Partnership Law.
AB 2900 - Establishes sweeping employment non-discrimination requirement; ends the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy in the State Militia.
SB 1159 - Legalizes clean needle sales by pharmacies.
SB 1234 - Strengthens hate crime law to protect LGBT Californians and others.

Legislative Record 2005
Bills Signed into Law:

AB 228 - Prohibits discrimination in healthcare service plans against those with HIV.
AB 378 - Increases the statute of limitation for civil action for protected classes, including sexual orientation.
AB 547 - Allows local government to establish needle exchange programs.
AB 1142 - Establishes statewide African-American HIV/AIDS initiative.
AB 1400 - Civil Rights Act of 2005. Adds sexual orientation to the Unruh Civil Rights Act.
AB 1586 - Prohibits gender discrimination in health care service plans; transgender inclusive legislation.
AB 1597 - Allows state funds to be used for clean needle exchange programs.
SB 565 - Protects Domestic Partners from unfair property tax reassessment.
SB 973 - Provides equity to Domestic Partners of retired state employees.

This legislative record covers issues ranging from protecting against discrimination in housing and employment, strengthening hate crimes laws, expanding Domestic Partner Rights, ending Don't Ask Don't Tell in the State Militia, and increasing tools to combat HIV/AIDS.

Bill Vetoed:

AB 849 - Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed this bill, which would have provided marriage equality for same-sex couples.  He vetoed the bill because it was contrary to the 1997 voter-approved Proposition 22.  The Governor says the California Constitution prohibits the Legislature from amending Proposition 22 without a vote of the people.  The Governor's veto message re-iterated his support for equality.  "I believe that lesbian and gay couples are entitled to full protection under the law and should not be discriminated against based upon their relationships.  I support current domestic partnership rights and will continue to vigorously defend and enforce these rights and as such will not support any rollback."

HIV/AIDS Policy

* Fully funded ADAP.
* Increased education and prevention funding, which had been cut in the previous administration.
* Protected funding for Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal.
* Supported needle exchange programs, which had been vetoed in the previous administration.

Employment Non-discrimination

The Governor has employed qualified openly gay and lesbian people in his office and in appointments to state commissions.

LGBT Pride Outreach

The Governor has issued letters welcoming California LGBT Pride celebrations for each of his three years in office.

Other Issues

* The Governor has stated opposition to the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment
* The Governor opposes any effort to roll back existing Domestic Partner protections.