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Jerry Brown on Civil Rights
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Eliminate "gay panic" tactic for criminal defendants
Legislative Counsel's Digest: A "gay panic" or "trans panic" defense allows a criminal defendant to claim that the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity provoked them to violence. This outrageous tactic sends the message that
violence against members of the LGBT community is understandable or acceptable. These defense tactics also hurt survivors and loved ones of victims by asking the jury to find that the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity excuses the
defendant's actions. AB 2501, the first bill of its kind in the nation, eliminates "gay panic" and "trans panic" as a tactic for criminal defendants, ensuring that attacks on members of the LGBT community can be seen for what they are.
Legislative Outcome: 8/26/14: Passed Senate, 25-9-6; 8/27/14: Passed Assembly, 58-15-6; signed by Governor Brown
Source: California legislative voting records for AB 2501
, Aug 27, 2014
40 years ago, wording didn't exist to talk about gay rights
Q: Over a 40-year political career, how have you changed?BROWN: Well, I was just reviewing my transcript from Meet the Press in 1975, and I find a lot of similarities. But I've changed; I'm 40 years older.
Q: You've seen in
Arizona the specter of discrimination against gays and lesbians.
BROWN: If you ask me how things have changed, 40 years ago, one couldn't even talk about gay rights. The wording didn't even exist then. And that has changed. So there is evolution.
Source: Meet the Press 2014 interview by David Gregory
, Mar 2, 2014
Prohibit sexual orientation conversion therapy
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest: The Legislature finds the following:- Being lesbian, gay, or bisexual is not a disease, disorder, illness, deficiency, or shortcoming.
The American Psychological Association advises
avoiding sexual orientation change efforts that portray homosexuality as a mental illness or developmental disorder and to seek services that reduce rejection of sexual minority youth.
- The potential risks of reparative therapy are great, including
depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient.
California has a compelling interest in protecting its minors
against exposure to serious harms caused by sexual orientation change efforts.
Status:Passed Senate, 23-13-4; passed Assembly 52 -22-6; Approved by the Governor 9/30/2012.
Source: California legislative voting records: SB 1172
, Sep 30, 2012
The right to marry is sacred for gay and straight people
The idea is that gay marriage involves a basic liberty interest. The issues raised here go far beyond the issue of same-sex marriage. The question is whether rights secured under the state Constitution's safeguard of liberty as an 'inalienable' right may
intentionally be withdrawn from a class of persons by an initiative. This litigation, perhaps for the first time, poses a more fundamental question: aren't some rights so sacred that they can't be taken away?
Source: Michael Lindenberger in Time Magazine
, Dec 23, 2008
Opposes Amendment to prevent same sex marriage.
Brown opposes the CC survey question on banning same-sex marriage
The Christian Coalition voter guide [is] one of the most powerful tools Christians have ever had to impact our society during elections. This simple tool has helped educate tens of millions of citizens across this nation as to where candidates for public office stand on key faith and family issues.
The CC survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Federal Marriage Amendment to prevent same sex marriage"
Source: Christian Coalition Survey 10-CC-q3 on Aug 11, 2010
Page last updated: Mar 10, 2019