- Dan Morain
Assembly OKs Bill Banning Anti-Gay Bias But Rejects Another
SACRAMENTO — The Assembly gave approval to legislation that would bar discrimination against homosexuals on the job, but rejected a bill to ban discrimination against gay students in public schools after an emotional debate in which both sides quoted Scripture and spoke of toleration.
The employment discrimination bill by Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) late Tuesday won the bare minimum 41 votes needed to pass in the 80-member Assembly.
On Wednesday, Republicans, insisting that the bill could require Boy Scouts to hire gays as leaders, attempted to win enough votes to force reconsideration of the bill, but failed.