LGBT
As other parts of the country race to roll back protections and curtail basic civil liberties, Senator Leland Yee and Bay Area legislators are leading the charge for equality in California.
Whether fighting to guarantee equal health coverage and retirement benefits for domestic partners, combating gender discrimination, or working to fund HIV prevention and treatment programs, Leland Yee is a strong voice in Sacramento for the LGBT community.
Senator Yee’s record on civil rights and LGBT issues earned him the highest ratings from Equality California and the Lambda Letters Project.
• Rated 100% - Equality California
• Rated 100% - Lambda Letters Project
Coauthor, Marriage Equality Law
Senator Yee was proud to be a coauthor of Assemblyman Mark Leno’s historic marriage equality bill, which passed the legislature but was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. He will continue to strongly support same-sex marriage rights.
Strengthening Domestic Partnerships
Until California achieves true marriage equality for same-sex partners, Senator Yee will work to strengthen domestic partnerships to provide security, property rights and benefits for LGBT couples.
• Property Rights.
Supported legislation that enables domestic partners to transfer property as married couples can, without incurring a Prop 13 tax reassessment and severe property tax penalty
• Corporate Responsibility.
Voted to outlaw granting state contracts to corporations that don’t offer domestic partner benefits
• Insurance Equality.
Worked to pass the California Insurance Equality Act, which requires group health plans and health insurance to provide equal coverage to registered domestic partners
Fighting Gay Baiting and Discrimination
As an immigrant who has faced and broken racial barriers all his life, Leland Yee understands that we must combat discrimination in any form. He is proud to join with LGBT community members to create equal rights without reference to gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Gay Baiting in Political Campaigns.
Senator Yee wrote and passed legislation, sponsored by Equality California, which outlawed political attacks based on prejudice against the LGBT community.
• Discrimination Against Foster Children.
Supported legislation that explicitly prohibits discrimination and harassment against foster children and caregivers on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity
• Teaching Tolerance.
Helped pass bill requiring that public school instruction on HIV/AIDS prevention, sexually transmitted diseases, sex and marriage should not be prejudiced against any person on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity
• Fair Housing.
Supported and voted for legislation written by Senator Mark Leno that extends the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibition against discrimination to that based on perceptions of an individual’s gender, so that employees are allowed to appear or dress consistently with their gender identity.
