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09/29/2006
Action, inaction from Schwarzegger elicits boos, 'right ons' from us
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday vetoed AB 606 and AB 1056, bills that would've worked to thwart gay discrimination in the state's schools.
::sigh:: Because apparently that problem's solved.
Of AB 606, Schwarzenegger cited already in place "efforts to provide more avenues to teach about tolerance and human rights" and a prudence "to review the progress being made before any additional actions are contemplated" as reasons for his veto. As for AB 1056, the governor referred to the bill's creation of "a new state mandate on schools at a time when our state currently owes almost half a billion dollars in unpaid mandates" and the current harassment protections afforded by the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 to justify his non-signature.
Meanwhile, Johnny Apple, queer eighth grader, cites a desire to not feel like shit as a reason why these reasons matter little.
In happier news, the governor did sign the Civil Rights Housing Act of 2006, which works to prohibit discriminatin in housing laws; the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act, which addresses the use of so-called "panic defense" strategies; and AB 1207, which discourages negative prejudices based on sexual orientation or gender identity in political capaigns. So thanks for these, Gov. Schwarzenegger! Here's hoping in the future, however, you'll realize that the seed of the sorts of adult biases that these passed measures address, is really planted during the schoolyard "Smear The Queer" matches that the vetoed measures would've targeted.
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER VETOES ANTI-BULLYING LAW [EQCA]
GOVERNOR SIGNS HOUSING NON-DISCRIMINATION MEASURE INTO LAW [EQCA]
Earlier veto: We refuse to use 'terminator' or 'girlie-man' in this headline, so stop asking, 'predator' [G-A-Y]
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