Sacramento - Today, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law legislation that will strengthen current law that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians against discriminatory business practices. This is the first and most significant LGBT civil rights bill the Governor has signed into law this year. Assembly Bill (AB) 1400, the Civil Rights Act of 2005, authored by Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) and sponsored by Equality California, builds upon the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Unruh Act) and related provisions to clarify and reinforce that all businesses that provide services, goods or accommodations to the public cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.

"Governor Schwarzenegger made the right decision to sign into law significant improvements to a significant civil rights law, the Unruh Act, making clear for businesses and customers that discrimination in any form is unacceptable," said Assemblymember John Laird. "With the Governor’s signature, we’ve strengthened one of the most comprehensive non-discrimination protections for California’s LGBT community."

"The Governor has shown leadership here by committing to protect true equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Californians," said Executive Director Geoffrey Kors of Equality California. "Businesses should be discrimination-free, and our community deserves nothing less than full equality. We applaud Assemblymember Laird for his commitment to protecting all Californians from discrimination. This is certainly model legislation that other states will soon follow."

Businesses subject to the Unruh Act include, but are not limited to, shopping centers, mobile home parks, bars and restaurants, schools, medical and dental offices, hotels and motels, and condominium homeowners’ associations. The Unruh Act explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability or medical condition. Courts have held that the categories listed in the law are merely examples and that the Unruh Act should be interpreted broadly to prohibit arbitrary discrimination, including discrimination based on personal characteristics, geographical origin, physical attributes, and individual beliefs.