California Senate moves to end discrimination-Youth Equality Act advances to Assembly

SACRAMENTO —  The Youth Equality Act (SB 323), designed to bring youth group tax exemptions in line with California’s existing non-discrimination laws, has passed the Senate with a vote of 27-9 making this the first LGBT rights bill to pass with a two-thirds majority in California history. The bill, authored by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Long…

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Hodgepodge

Usually I focus upon one topic; this week I thought I would change it up and give our readers three small messages. Equality California I had the opportunity to have lunch with John O’Connor, the new executive director of Equality California (EQCA). The organization is having an event in San Diego June 1 at the…

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Rethinking your space

Now that spring is upon us, so is the peak season for purchasing or rethinking a home. Many new home buyers’ fantasies of ownership become a reality after searching out the right sized dwelling. It is important to make the best use of your newly acquired or existing square footage. Typically, homeowners decorate and furnish…

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Senate passes new drug sentencing reforms for California

SACRAMENTO – The Senate today passed legislation authored by Sen. Mark Leno that reforms California’s drug sentencing laws for simple possession. SB 649 allows counties to significantly reduce incarceration costs by giving prosecutors the flexibility to charge low-level, non-violent drug offenses as misdemeanors instead of felonies. The bill also gives judges discretion to deem a non-violent…

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Abused children’ pawns in marriage wars, claims disgraced former Navy chaplain Gordon Klingenschmit

As Supreme Court victories in both the Prop. 8 and DOMA cases look increasingly likely, the Religious Right is ratcheting up its attacks on the ‘homosexual’ agenda in an effort to slow the inevitable march of progress. On Wednesday, retired Lt. Gordon Klingenschmit in an email to members of the Pray in Jesus Name project issued…

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California bans insurance discrimination against transgender patients

SAN FRANCISCO — California’s Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has issued guidance clarifying the obligations of California’s health plans under the Insurance Gender Nondiscrimination Act.  In a groundbreaking directive to health plans, the DMHC confirmed that California’s Insurance Non-Discrimination Act of 2006, authored by former Assemblymember Paul Koretz, guarantees all people the right to…

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