California is on its way to officially recognize June as LGBT Pride Month. Photo: LPETTET/iStock
California is on its way to officially recognize June as LGBT Pride Month.
On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Governmental Organization unanimously approved AB 2969 in a bipartisan 9-0 vote.
LGBT PRIDE MONTH BILL
“California has the largest LGBT population of any state in the union, and the state is home to over 40 LGBT Pride celebrations each year,” Assemblyman Evan Low, the bill’s author, said in a statement. “We have codified many other cultural celebrations into statute; it’s time to add Pride to that list.”
Nationally, June generally is recognized as LGBT Pride Month. LA Pride hosted the nation’s first, permitted Pride Parade on June 28, 1970.
The proposed legislation, which passed the Assembly in May, moves to the Senate floor.
Low also two other queer bills in the Senate. One would require California to apologize for discrimination and persecution of queer people, and the second would classify conversion therapy as consumer fraud.
LGBT CAUCUS
The bill is co-authored by the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, where Low is chair.
The Caucus was established in 2002 to present a forum for the State Legislature to discuss issues that affect LGBT Californians and to further equality and justice for all people.
California the first state in the country to recognize an official caucus of state legislators who identify as LGBT.
