Tag Archives: Jerry Brown

1975 - California decriminalizes same-sex acts between consenting adults. Assembly member Willie Brown  and state Senator George Moscone (who will later in his career be assassinated along with LGBT civil rights great Harvey Milk in San Francisco)  co-sponsor AB 489, the “Consenting Adults Bill,” which decriminalizes sexual activity between consenting adults.

Gay History – May 12, 1975: California Legalizes Same-Sex Acts Between Consenting Adults, But Not Sodomy.

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May 12, 1975 – California decriminalizes same-sex acts between consenting adults. Assembly member Willie Brown  and state Senator George Moscone (who will later in his be assassinated along with gay civil rights leaders Harvey Milk in San Francisco)  co-sponsor AB 489, the “Consenting Adults Bill,” which decriminalizes sexual activity between consenting adults. But not between persons of the same sex.

Governor Jerry Brown signs the bill into law on May 12, 1975, and it goes into effect January 1, 1976.

Prior to 2003, sodomy was not legal in California. And could not be made so while it was illegal on the Federal level. The monumental Supreme Court case, Lawrence v Texas, ruled that systematically criminalizing sodomy is unconstitutional. The case serves as a precedent, and most U.S. states responded by decriminalizing gay sex.

In 2014, California became the first state in the U.S. to officially ban the use of gay panic and transgender panic defenses in murder trials.[ Public schools are also required to teach about the history of the LGBT community and transgender students are allowed to choose the appropriate restroom or sports team that match their gender identity.

California is seen as one of the most liberal states in the U.S. in regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights, which have received nationwide recognition since the 1970’s

Gov. Jerry Brown Signs Bill Banning ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy For LGBT Youth In California

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California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation that will ban “reparative”ex-gay therapy on anyone under the age of 18 in that state

The bill, SB 1172, prohibits such treatment, and any practitioner who does engage in such procedures will be subject to discipline by their licensing board.

“This bill bans non-scientific ‘therapies’ that have driven young people to depression and suicide. These practices have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery,” Brown said in a statement to The San Francisco Chronicle.

“This is a historic day that protects LGBT youth from child abuse disguised as genuine therapy,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “We thank Gov. Brown for signing legislation that can serve as a model for similar bills across the nation.”

The law goes into effect January 1, 2013.

Despite Pressure From Hate Groups CA Governor Jerry Brown Signs FAIR Education Act To Add LGBT History to School Studies

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Despite thousands of astroturfing phone calls from anti gay religous extremist groups including the American Family Association, The Family Research Council, and Focus on the Family, California Governor Jerry Brown has signed SB 48, the FAIR Education Act, which requires schools to add LGBT History to their curriculum.

Said Senator Mark Leno sponsor of the Bill:

“Today we are making history in California by ensuring that our textbooks and instructional materials no longer exclude the contributions of LGBT Americans. Denying LGBT people their rightful place in history gives our young people an inaccurate and incomplete view of the world around them. I am pleased Governor Brown signed the FAIR Education Act and I thank him for recognizing that the LGBT community, its accomplishments and its ongoing efforts for first-class citizenship are important components of California’s history.”

THANK YOU Senator Leno for sponsoring the Bill and THANK YOU Governor Brown for withstanding the onslaught and doing the right thing and signing it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m off to buy earplugs to drown out all the Republican screaming and squishy head exploding noises.

LGBT Election News Round-up: The Good, The Bad, and the UGLY

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*  It’s official.  Kentucky is now the most embarrassing laughable State in the Union and it elects Rand Paul as State Senator over Jack Conway. 

*  Neil Abercrombie has won the Governor’s race in Hawaii. He’ll sign the civil unions bill, which the current Governor, Linda Lingle, vetoed

*   All three Iowa Supreme Court Justices lost their bids for retention after NOMS heinous attack on the gay judges who set a precedent for gay marriage in Iowa.  My path for life is clear.  DESTROY BRIAN BROWN AND MAGGIE GALLAGHER.

*  Harry Reid defeated Sharron Angle.  Hopefully Harry will realize now that he needs to grow a backbone and rule the Senate with an IRON FIST for the next two years.

*  Anti-gay self loathing closet case Mark Kirk won the Illinois Senate seat held by Barack Obama. Kirk, who voted against DADT repeal in May, will become Senator immediately, meaning he’ll serve in the lame duck.  But really he’s a lame fuck.

*  Independent Lincoln Chafee has been elected Governor of Rhode Island — and he supports marriage equality.  Which is quite a change since the Governor he will take over for was a bible thumping homophobe

*  Rep. Patrick Murphy, the House sponsor of its successful DADT repeal bill, lost tonight to Tea Party candidate Mike Fitzpatrick. Another champion of LGBT rights bites the dust.

*  The Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO), an ardent opponent of repealing DADT, lost . Not really feeling bad about that one. Fuck you Ike!

*  Jerry Brown beat crazy illegal hiring bitch Meg Whitman!  Yea for Jerry!  Fuck you Meg!

*  Progressive Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, a strong supporter of marriage equality, was defeated.  I hope that Russ takes this opportunity to re-evaluate and run on a Progressive Democrat platform for President in 2012 or 2016.

*  Openly gay  David Cicilline  wins U.S. House of Representatives seat (RI-1)  You go girl!

*  Barney Frank re-elected, as if that REALLY does us a lot of good.  But on the bright side GOProud wastes THOUSANDS of dollars on his TeaBagging Republican opponent Sean Bielat.  SUCK IT GOPOUD!

*  Lexington, Kentucky elects openly gay mayor  Jim Gray.  REMARKABLE achievement for the LGBT community in Lexington. Maybe the HRC should ask for pointers

*  Andrew Cuomo was elected NY Governor tover homophobe Carl Paladino who immediately went to find a Gay pride parade to go grind in.

*  Dickwad Republican Marc Rubio wins in Florida.  Rubio is the classic example of a minority bigot who hates homo’s

*  Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Win easily in New York State

*   New Hampshire. Governor John Lynch, who signed the marriage bill into law last year, was reelected. NOM put money in this race to defeat Lynch..  At least there was ONE massive #NOMFAIL

* Chris Coons beat that whack job witch Christine O’Donnell.  Now begone Christine before a house falls on you too!

*  Pro Gay Marriage Governor Martin O’Malley wins re-election in  Maryland.  O’Malley has vowed to sign a marriage bill should it reach his desk. Big win for LGBT rights!  And he’s kinda hot.

*There will be more updates and opinions as the day goes on.  Fasten your seatbelts.

Schwarzenegger & Brown Won’t Defend Prop 8 and The CA Supreme Court Won’t Force Them, Does Anyone Have A Right To Defend It In Court?

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California Govenor.Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown have both refused to defend Prop 8 during the appeal process brought on by Right Wing Christomanaics after Judge Vaugh Walker overturned it.  And the California Supreme Court is refusing to force them.  In this case does anyone have the right to represent California, in court and appeal Jusge Vaugh Walkers ruling?

“The state officials’ decision not to argue in support of Proposition 8 has raised questions about whether anyone is legally qualified to defend it in court. The Pacific Justice Institute filed suit last week, arguing that the California Constitution requires Brown to defend the state’s laws. A state appeals court dismissed the suit without a hearing, and the state’s high court denied review Wednesday without comment. It will now be up to a federal appeals court, and possibly the U.S. Supreme Court, to decide whether Prop. 8’s sponsors have legal standing – the right to represent the state’s interests in defending one of its laws. Attorney Brad Dacus, (pictured left)president of the Pacific Justice Institute, said the court order was disappointing. “People on the left and right should both be mourning the fact that the attorney general and the governor are reneging on their oaths of office,” Dacus said, arguing that the officials have a sworn duty to defend all state laws.”

Dacus’ statement is disingenuous at best/   Brad Dacus has absolutely zero interest in state leaders “defending all state laws,” only the laws he likes.  Aldo due to Due to California’s wacky and utterly unscreened initiative process, all sorts of “Legislation” can be passed that would never survive legislative debate. And the state is under NO obligation to defend any of them. 

While in Dacus’ warped opinion that Schwarzenegger and Brown have sworn to defend all laws,  Prop 8 was found to be unconstitutional. Therefore, I’d say the Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Brown are doing they’re jobs by not defending a law that is unconstitutional

The Yes on 8 coalition’s appeal brief to the 9th Circuit is due September 17. A three-judge panel will hear the appeal – and the question of whether Yes on 8 has standing to bring the appeal – during the week of December 6.

To sum it up.  Mr. Dacus is full of shit. But you already knew that didn’t you?

California Court of Appeals DENIES Pacific Justice Institute’s Lawsuit To Force Schwarzenegger and Brown to Defend Prop 8

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The California Court of Appeals has just denied the attempt to force Schwarzenegger and Brown to defend Proposition 8. ”  The petition introduced by the anti-gay Pacific Justice Institute on behalf of Joshua Beckley, pastor of Ecclesia Christian Fellowship church in San Bernardino.  The petition was “summarily denied by order”

YEA for us!  But of course these assholes will keep appealing I am sure.

The court’s full ruling should be posted here by the end of the day.

Anti-Gay Pacific Justice Institute Files Lawsuit To Force Schwarzenegger and Brown to Defend Prop 8

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The CHRISTOMANIACS are at it again.

This time the anti-gay Pacific Justice Institute has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to force California’s Gov. Schwarzenegger and AG Jerry Brown to defend Prop 8 on behalf of Joshua Beckley, pastor of Ecclesia Christian Fellowship church in San Bernardino, and included with it a declaration of support from former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III.

Jesus H. Fucking Christ!

From the Washington Post:

The institute is arguing that as the state’s chief law enforcement officer, Brown does not have discretion to defend only laws with which he personally agrees. And because the California Constitution gives the governor final say when he and the attorney general disagree on legal matters, Schwarzenegger must be compelled to file an appeal to preserve Proposition 8 as well, the group’s lawsuit states. “To allow an elected official to trump the will of the people by mere inaction and the lack of fulfillment of their duty to do their job would be an egregious violation of public trust,” Pacific Legal Institute Brad Dacus said Tuesday.

So basically someone is gonna sue someone else who lost a law suit, to make them appeal, even if they don’t
want to.

Someone please contact Lewis Black.  He could do 20 minutes on this alone.

The Ninth Circuit Responds To Prop 8 Overule Stay Motion – Deadline: Monday, August 16, 2010

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Yesterday The Ninth Circuit issued an Order for the Prop 8 case stating that the Plaintiffs’ response to the Motion to Stay is due by 11:00 p.m. tonight. The Prop 8 supporters’ reply, not to exceed 15 pages, is due by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 16, 2010.

How does this bode?  Well it’s hard to call actually.  Many of the Ninth Circut Judges are scheduled to be at a conference in Hawaii at the time Judge Walkers Stay was to expire. Or maybe they just don;t want to leave the gay community hanging in the wind since there is no definate answer to weather they ARE going to rule on the case or not.  But one thing is for sure the best little dig has to be the specific statement of limiting the Prop 8 supporters’ reply to 15 pages after seeing the rambling russian novels that they submitted previously, a page limit is smart to make them give only concise info, the best of the best of their position. I’m actually surprised they didn’t go for a shorter length than 15 pages. 

California’s Attorney General Jerry Brown has already entered his briefs OPPOSING the Stay to Prop 8. 

Read Jerry Brown’s opposition to the Stay after the jump.  (It’s only 6 pages…..)

California’s Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown Have Both Filed Motions Urging To Let Same-Sex Marriages to Resume

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California’s Republican Govenor (and T-800 model Terminator) Arnold Schwarzenegger has filed  a brief with U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn R. Walker.

“The Administration believes the public interest is best served by permitting the Court’s judgment to go into effect, thereby restoring the right of same-sex couples to marry in California,’ wrote Kenneth C. Mennemeier, an attorney representing Schwarzenegger, in the brief. ‘Doing so is consistent with California’s long history of treating all people and their relationships with equal dignity and respect.'”

Also today Attorney General Jerry Brown filed a motion opposing a stay of Judge Walker’s decision striking down Proposition 8:

“Brown told U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker that his historic ruling that overturned Proposition 8 probably will be upheld by higher courts. He said his office last year opposed a pretrial request to block Proposition 8 only because the legal and factual issues had not then been explored. ‘That has now occurred,  And while there is still the potential for limited administrative burdens should future marriages of same-sex couples be later declared invalid, these potential burdens are outweighed by this court’s conclusion, based on the overwhelming evidence, that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional”

Walker had given a deadline of today to recieve arguments about either removing or keeping the “stay” in place during the appeal process.

“Gallagher?  Maggie Gallagher?”.