California Passes Gay Labor Law

California Passes Gay Labor Law
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: August 16, 2004 5:01 pm ET

(Sacramento, California) The California Senate Monday passed the Omnibus Labor and Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The law standardizes over 30 labor and employment non-discrimination provisions to make them consistent with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The bill now moves to the Governor's desk.

“This legislation ensures that California workers and employers have one standard—the Fair Employment and Housing Act—by which to judge discrimination and that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender are included in that standard,” said Geoffrey Kors, Executive Director of Equality California.

FEHA prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, sex (including gender identity), age, marital status, and sexual orientation.

Because other labor and employment-related provisions did not include all of these protected classes, there was a deficiency in protection for California employees.