The Upcoming Agenda - Page Three - Legislation on the Horizon
A look at the coming year and the proposed laws that may have an effect on the way you (are allowed to) live your life
by Deborah Levinson
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MORE • Proposition 22 "The Knight Initiative" • Special Rights? • Tax Dollars & Scouting • CA Assembly Bill 25 • Anti Equal Civil Rights Pledge • NGLTF FROM THE FORUM "Still not satisfied with the harm he has done, the odious Pete Knight strikes again." --- THOMASSTALLIS Visit the Forum |
According to NGLTF, the highlights of this year's legislative activity so far include:
Legislators in seven states have introduced some form of civil union legislation. Four bills that would ban the recognition of a same-sex civil union or other same-sex relationship have been introduced in Colorado, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Texas. Vermont legislators are debating a complete repeal of its first-in-the-nation civil union law, while GLBT-friendly legislators in Hawaii and Washington have introduced bills to establish civil unions. Legislators in three states - Arizona, Georgia and Washington - have introduced measures to prevent public entities from denying funding or free use of public facilities to Boy Scouts of America troops, which discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and religious belief. In Washington, this anti-GLBT proposal is deceptively titled the "Boy Scouts Protection Act," while in Georgia it is named the "Defense of Scouting Act." Legislators in Arkansas - for the first time ever - have moved a hate crimes bill that includes sexual orientation through the full Senate. The bill awaits action in the House Judiciary Committee. In Montana, activists are trying to revive a hate crimes bill in the wake of several recent, well-publicized hate crimes against gay Montana residents. And in Texas, a hate crimes bill inclusive of sexual orientation has moved through a Senate committee and is awaiting action before the full Senate later in the current legislative session. Legislators in two states - New Mexico and New York - have succeeded in moving civil rights measures through part of the legislative process. In New Mexico, an anti-discrimination bill covering employment, housing and public accommodations has passed the House Judiciary Committee and could come to the House floor for a vote any day now. And in New York, the New York Assembly passed the Sexual Orientation. Non-Discrimination Act, or SONDA, on a strong 113-33 vote. The bill now goes to the Senate.
In Pride,
Deborah
Note: Some of the information regarding pending legislation was provided by the NGLTF and reprinted with permission.
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