California Legislature’s month-long summer recess has begun and will reconvene Aug.15. Equality California says this is a time to assess progress seven months into the legislative session and plan a course of action for when legislators return. “I am pleased to report that each piece of Equality California’s 2005 LGBT civil rights legislative package remains viable, with each having passed several key committees and some having already passed either the Assembly or the Senate,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “From marriage equality, to public accommodations non-discrimination, to domestic partnership pension protection, to fair campaign practices and calling for an end of discrimination in the military, EQCA’s 2005 legislative package seeks to add essential protections for LGBT Californians to the numerous protections we have already achieved.”

With a victorious 5 to 2 vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee has passed Equality California-sponsored Assembly Bill (AB) 849, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), and supported by more than 30 other co-authors. The act would grant equal marriage rights to same-sex couples and affirm the religious freedom of all Californians. AB 849 repeats the language formerly in AB 19, amending the section of the California Family Code defining marriage to provide that it is a civil contract between two persons, instead of a civil contract between a man and a woman. The bill also reaffirms that no religious institution would ever be required to solemnize marriages contrary to its fundamental beliefs.

State Senate Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Joe Dunn (D-Garden Grove) have been working with the LGBT Legislative Caucus to move the bill forward. The previous marriage bill, AB 19, was narrowly defeated by four votes in the Assembly in early June. Through a common procedural move, the exact language of the bill was placed into the body of another bill, AB 849, which was moving through the legislature. The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee after legislators return from summer recess.

“I am buoyed by the support of many of my colleagues in the Senate, who are co-authors of the measure, and who believe we can pass this bill this year and move it out of the Assembly and to the governor’s desk this September,” stated Assemblymember Leno, AB 849’s lead author. “Because civil rights battles are never won in a day, we must move this issue forward whenever we can.” He underscored, “This is the year to do it. We came so close to victory in June. With a few more months to make our case, the LGBT Legislative Caucus believes we will prevail.”

“Civil marriage licenses are a guaranteed protection in California that can no longer be offered to many but denied to some,” said Kors. “If one looks back at our nation’s history, we view those who stood for equality as great leaders.”

In California, 30 cities and counties have passed resolutions supporting marriage equality. The most recent was on July 12 when the Los Angeles City Council, representing the second-largest city in the country, unanimously voted to adopt a motion in support of any legislative or administrative action that would create marriage equality for same-sex couples in California. “We applaud Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles City Council for standing up for the thousands of same-sex couples who want the opportunity to protect and provide for their families,” said Kors. “Elected officials—from the second largest city in the country—have sent a powerful message that the government has a responsibility to protect basic fundamental rights.” He added, “Anti-equality organizations try to cherry pick different communities and go after us one at a time. By joining forces, and supporting equality for all, we can defeat these offensive efforts and move forward to create a state where all people are treated equally and with respect.”

“We will seek Senate support to move AB 849 out of the Senate and back to the Assembly for a vote this year,” announced Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), Chair of the Legislative LGBT Caucus. “The issue of marriage equality is not going to disappear after just one vote. The continuing harm being done to couples and families across this state merits our action now,” she said.

The Legislative LGBT Caucus was formed in June 2002. The caucus’ role is to present a forum for the California Legislature to discuss issues that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. Formation of the LGBT Caucus made California the first state in the country to recognize an official caucus of openly-LGBT state legislators. The LGBT Caucus currently consists of six members: Senators Sheila Kuehl, Christine Kehoe, and Carole Migden, and Assemblymembers Jackie Goldberg, John Laird, and Mark Leno.

“This is the civil rights issue of the decade,” said Senator Migden. “The tide is changing. We’re closer every day. Success is inevitable.” “When we ensure that all Californians are treated equally, we strengthen our own freedoms and liberties. When we stand up for one another, everyone shares in that victory because we will have demonstrated that discrimination, in any form, has no place in our laws,” added Senator Kehoe (D-San Diego). “We must end California’s endorsement of second-class citizenship for its LGBT citizens,” said Assemblymember Goldberg (D-Los Angeles). “Over the past year we built a strong foundation of 37 elected representatives of the people in support of marriage equality for all Californians,” said Assemblymember Laird (D-Santa Cruz). “That is something to build on, not walk away from.”

“As we move forward, we would like to take the opportunity to thank Senator Joe Dunn and Senator Sheila Kuehl for their exceptional leadership and Senator Liz Figueroa and Senator Gilbert Cedillo for their co-authorship,” said EQCA Associate Director of Legislative Affairs, Steve Hansen. “All supportive members of the Judiciary Committee have shown that momentum is truly on our side.”