BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SR 18|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SR 18
Author: Leno (D), et al.
Amended: 8/28/13
Vote: Majority
SENATE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT & RETIRE. COMMITTEE : 4-1, 8/26/13
AYES: Beall, Block, Gaines, Yee
NOES: Walters
SUBJECT : Government of Russia
SOURCE : Equality California
National Center for Lesbian Rights
DIGEST : This resolution condemns the Russian governments
attacks on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
community and laws targeting LGBT people and their supporters,
including tourists, athletes, and other participants in the XXII
Olympic Winter Games; and deplores and condemns all laws and
acts of violence, in both word and in action, that use the
government as an instrument of discrimination, persecution, and
legislation against the LGBT community and its supporters.
ANALYSIS : This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1. The government of Russia has recently undertaken an
aggressive course of action on both the local and national
level to pass laws targeting the LGBT community.
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2. The government of Russia has enacted a law banning the
adoption of Russian-born children by LGBT couples and also by
any couple or single parent living in a country where
marriage equality exists in any form.
3. The government of Russia has enacted a law banning
"propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" that
penalizes LGBT-affirming and positive messages or actions,
including, but not limited to, messages on the Internet, and
violates the fundamental human rights of freedom of speech,
assembly, expression, and equality, all under the guise of
protecting children.
4. Russia is the host of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and
representatives of the Russian government have indicated they
intend to enforce the new law against visitors and athletes
during the XXII Olympic Winter Games.
5. Representatives of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC), rather than condemning the new laws, have indicated
their view that statements in support of LGBT people and LGBT
rights would violate Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which
prohibits demonstrations or political, religious, or racial
propaganda.
6. Other international events are scheduled to occur in Russia
this year, including the Miss Universe Pageant in Moscow on
November 9, 2013, which is seen by billions of people across
the globe.
7. President Barack Obama has publicly stated that he is
offended by the anti-LGBT laws.
This resolution further calls upon the United States President,
the U.S. Congress, and the U.S. Department of State to increase
efforts to encourage the decriminalization of homosexuality in
every country and to use all means possible to increase the
number of countries supporting decriminalization, including, but
not limited to, the United Nations, trade and diplomatic
relationships, and the implementation of international treaties
and declarations on human rights; and
urges the IOC to withdraw their statements expressing that
support for LGBT people and their rights is a violation of Rule
50 and to seek written agreement from the Russian government
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that the new "gay propaganda" law will not affect those
attending, participating, or competing in the XXII Olympic
Winter Games. This resolution also urges NBCUniversal, as
broadcaster of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in the U.S., to
increase awareness of Russia's homophobic laws and the threat
they pose to participating athletes and visitors by discussing
them on air at every opportunity, including during the opening
and closing ceremonies when millions of Americans will be
watching; the Senate urges other organizations holding large
internationally televised events in Russia, including the Miss
Universe Organization and its owner Donald Trump, to move their
events to countries without such virulently antigay laws; and
strongly encourages the California Public Employees' Retirement
System and the California State Teachers' Retirement System,
whenever feasible and consistent with their fiduciary
responsibilities, to cease making direct investments in Russia
and to encourage companies in which employee retirement funds
are invested and that are doing business in Russia not to take
actions that promote or otherwise enable human rights violations
in Russia.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/14/13)
Equality California
National Center for Lesbian Rights
JL:k 8/29/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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