Blogcabin California

Jeff Bissiri, California Log Cabin Director, Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin and two other Log Cabin members were invited to meet with top staff members of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday. They were a part of a larger group of leaders of the gay and lesbian community who discussed Gay Marriage and the larger issue, defeating the proposed initiative which would eliminate domestic partnership rights in California.

While Log Cabin and other gay leaders at the meeting expressed their disappointment in Schwarzenegger’s staff announcement that he intended to veto AB 849 (the Marriage Equality bill), there remain critical pieces of legislation on which the Governator will render his judgment.

AB1400(Laird) Civil Rights Act of 2005
This adds sexual orientation and marital status to the listed categories in the Unruh Civil Rights Act.

SB565(Migden) Property Tax Reappraisal Exclusion- Domestic Partners
Amends existing law to treat registered Domestic Partners the same as married couples regarding reappraisal of property when a partner passes away.

SB973(Kuehl) Public Employee Retirement- Domestic Partner
Amends existing law to allow public employees who retired before AB205 or AB26 went into effect to add a Domestic Partner as a beneficiary.

In addition, Log Cabin members are encouraging Schwarzenegger to stick by his record of expanding Domestic Partnership rights and come out in opposition to the “Protect Marriage” initiatives.

The gay community in California can’t let our anger over AB 849 get in the way of our pushing to advance these important bills for gays rights!