Call Governor Brown Signs AB 2119!

BREAKING NEWS:

Thank You Assemblyman Low for Pulling AB 2943 and Listening to our Concerns

AB 2943 is Officially Dead

Thank You All for Your Prayers and Your calls

California Family Council release this press release:

In an incredible answer to the prayers of thousands across the country, California’s controversial AB 2943 has been withdrawn by the author, Assemblymember Evan Low.

“I knew this was an emotionally charged issue, so I spent the past few months traveling up and down the state meeting with a wide variety of faith leaders,” said Assemblymember Low. “I was heartened by the conversations.”

After meeting personally with pastors, professional counselors, and former homosexuals who lead ministries to others in the LGBT community, the Assemblymember decided to continue the dialogue beyond this legislative session. “With a hopeful eye toward the future, I share with you that, despite the support the bill received in the Assembly and Senate, I will not be sending AB 2943 to the Governor this year,” Low concluded.

Mr. Low’s decision was greeted with relief and gratitude by Jonathan Keller, President of California Family Council.

“People of faith across California and around the nation care deeply about our family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers who identify as LGBTQ,” Keller said. “AB 2943 would have tragically limited our ability to offer compassionate support related to sexual orientation and gender identity, and even to preach Jesus’ message of unconditional love and life transformation.”

Keller went on to thank Assemblymember Low for his unprecedented outreach to the faith community in response to threat AB 2943 posed to their constitutionally-protected first amendment freedoms.

“We are inexpressibly grateful to Assemblymember Low for meeting personally with faith leaders over the last several months and sincerely listening to our concerns,” Keller continued. “Today is also a testament to the courageous counselors, ministry leaders, pastors, and OnceGay individuals who bravely shared their personal stories, ensuring that these vital perspectives were not overlooked in the legislative process.”

California Family Council helped lead a broad coalition of local, state, and national organizations and mobilized tens of thousands of Californians in expressing their concerns about AB 2943. To find out more about the organization and their mission, visit www.CaliforniaFamily.org

More Resources

Below you will find reference materials that will help your opposition efforts against two bills supported or introduced in 2018 by the California LGBT Caucus: AB 2943 and AB 2119.

AB 2943: Bill that Outlaws Helping Anyone with Unwanted Same-Sex Desires or Gender Confusion

AB 2943 (bill text) declares “advertising, offering to engage in, or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual” as illegal under state’s consumer fraud law. Sexual orientation change efforts is defined as “any practices that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation. This includes efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.”

Alliance Defending Freedom Attorney Matt Sharp explain the implications: “California AB 2943 makes it unlawful for any person to sell books, counseling services, or anything else that helps someone overcome unwanted same-sex attraction or gender identity confusion. As a result, it could be a violation if a pastor encourages a congregant to visit the church book store to purchase books that help people address sexual issues, perhaps including the Bible itself, which teaches about the importance of sexual purity within the confines of marriage between a man and woman.”

Reference material opposing AB 2943

Leaders and organizations explaining their opposition to AB 2943

Pastor Dan Carroll, Water of Life Community Church, calls on pastors to speak up.
Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Memorandum against AB 2943.
Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Memorandum: The implications of the NIFLA Supreme Court victory on therapy bans: It’s good news!
Pacific Justice Institute‘s legal memo against AB 2943.
Liberty Counsel’s legal memo and video against AB 2943.
Liberty Counsel’s legal memo: The implications of the NIFLA Supreme Court victory on therapy bans
National Center for Law and Policy‘s article against AB 2943: Religious Freedom Alert: Orwellian California Targets Free Speech Again!; Letter of opposition.
National Center for Law and Policy: Legal Memo on the Unconstitutionality of AB 2943 Pursuant to Recent Supreme Court Rulings
President of Focus on the Family Jim Daly: This California Bill Threatens Religious Freedom, Radio interview
California Family Council article: New CA Bill Outlaws Helping Anyone with Unwanted Same-Sex Desires or Gender Confusion
John Stonestreet with Breakpoint and the Colson Center for Christian Worldview: California To Ban Books? AB 2943 An ASSAULT ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Alan Shlemon with Stand to Reason posts warning against AB 2943.
The Heritage Foundation: Anti-First Amendment Bill Poses Imminent Threat in California
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention:
California’s latest threat to religious liberty and free speech
National Task Force for Therapy Equality: AB 2943 Opposition Letter
American College of Pediatricians: Unlawful, Dangerous and Unnecessary – Oppose AB 1779 & AB 2943
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons:Oppose AB 2943, AB 2119 & AB 1779.
Professionals for Fact Based Public Policy: AB 2943 Opposition Letter
David French, National Review: California Progressives Launch (Another) Attack on Free Speech and Yes, California Is on the Verge of Banning Some Christian Books, Here’s How
Albert Molher: California set to enact legislation barring sale of any books expressing orthodox Christian beliefs on sexuality
Walt Heyer, author, speaker, once lived identifying as a woman: If California’s LGBT Therapy Ban Had Been Law 30 Years Ago, I Might Have Killed Myself
Professor Robert A. J. Gagnon: Snopes Is a Sneaky Liar About California’s Bill To Ban Christian LGBT Talk
California Catholic Conference: Oppose Bill Adding Sexual Orientation Counseling to Consumer Code
In the Line of Fire: Dr. Michael Brown interviews ADF Attorney Matt Sharp and Restored Hope Network President Anne Paulk regarding implications of AB 2943.
LA Times Editorial Board: Target ‘gay conversion therapy,’ not religion

Other reference material related to AB 2943

Effects of Therapy on Religious Men Who Have Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction: Study by Paul L. Santero, PhD; Neil E. Whitehead, PhD; and Dolores Ballesteros, PhD.
Why the ACLU of Rhode Island Opposes legislation banning sexual orientation change therapy.
National Task Force for Therapy Equality Fact Sheet: What Happens When Therapy is Banned?
Laura A. Haynes, Ph.D., California Psychologist: The American Psychological Association Says Born-That-Way-And-Can’t-Change Is Not True of Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity
Christopher Rosik, Ph.D., with Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity: My Conversation With a Typical Opponent of Professional Therapies that Include Change
Focus on the Family: Why we support sexual orientation change efforts.
Restored Hope Network: Transformation of Persons with Same-sex Attraction: Becoming Who We Are
Joseph Nicolosi, Phd.: If gay doesn’t define you: YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE GAY
PFOX: Parents and friends of Ex-Gays and Gays: Change Happens, Ex-Gays are Everywhere
Such Were Some of You (documentary) by Pure Passion Ministries: Trailer, extended interviews, movie.
Family Policy Alliance: Why 25 States Have Said No to the LGBT Lobby’s Top Priority

Equipped to Love founders Ken Williams and Elizabeth Woning testified against AB 2943: See their reaction; hear their insight below:

Church United: Eight Californian residents declared a fraud? AB 2943 says they are. View the video below to hear former homosexuals, former lesbians, and those who deal with same sex attraction share their stories of hope in this condensed video of their life experiences.

AB 2943 status

AB 2943 was approved 8-2 by the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on April 3. Assembly members Kevin Kiley (R) and Jay Obernolte (R) voted no. Assembly members Catherine Baker (R), Marc Berman (D), Ian Calderon (D), Ed Chau (D), Jacqui Irwin (D), Kevin Mullin (D), Eloise Gómez Reyes (D), and Philip Y. Ting (D) voted yes. You will find phone numbers the offices of these members below. Please call their offices and let them know what you think about how they voted.

Watch the hearing below.

AB 2943 was approved 8-1 by the Assembly Judiciary Committee on April 10th.
Assembly member Kevin Kiley (R) voted no. Assembly member Jordan Cunningham (R) didn’t vote. Assembly members Ed Chau (D), David Chiu (D), Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D), Chris Holden (D), Ash Kalra (D), Brian Maienschein (R), Eloise Gómez Reyes (D), and Mark Stone (D) voted yes. Please call their offices and let them know what you think about how they voted.

Watch the excerpts from the hearing below. (Pay special attention to how concerned Democrat Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher is regarding the bill’s effect on religious liberty at the 6:00 min mark.)

Watch entire 37 minute hearing.

AB 2943 was approved by the Assembly on Thursday, April 19th 50-18, with 10 legislators not voting. Here is how members voted:

Voting yes: Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bloom, Bonta, Burke, Caballero, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Daly, Eggman, Frazier, Friedman, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O’Donnell, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Weber, Wood, Rendon

Voting No: Travis Allen, Bigelow, Brough, Chávez, Chen, Choi, Dahle, Fong, Gallagher, Harper, Kiley, Lackey, Mathis, Mayes, Obernolte, Patterson, Steinorth, Waldron

No Votes Recorded: Acosta, Calderon, Cunningham, Flora, Cristina Garcia, Gray, Melendez, Mullin, Quirk, Voepel

Watch the Floor Debate on AB 2943 below.

AB 2943 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 12, with a vote of 5 -2. Here is how Judiciary committee members voted members voted:

Voting yes: Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (Chair), Senator Robert M. Hertzberg, Senator Bill Monning, Senator Henry Stern, Senator Bob Wieckowski

Voting no: Senator John M. W. Moorlach (Vice Chair), and Senator Joel Anderson

Watch the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing below.

AB 2943 was approved by the full Senate August 16th with a 25 to 11, with 4 Senators not voting. The bill nows goes to the Assembly for a vote to approve the Senate Amendments. The Assembly have until August 31st to approve this bill. Here is how the Senators voted:

Voting yes: Allen, Atkins, Beall, Bradford, De León, Delgado, Dodd, Galgiani, Glazer, Hernandez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Jackson, Lara, Leyva, McGuire, Mitchell, Monning, Pan, Portantino, Skinner, Stern, Wieckowski, Wiener

Voting no: Anderson, Bates, Chang, Gaines, Moorlach, Morrell, Nguyen, Nielsen, Stone, Vidak, Wilk

Not voting: Berryhill, Cannella, Fuller, Roth

Watch the full Senate Floor Debate from August 16th below:

CALL TO ACTION: Tell your state representative what you thought about their vote on AB 2943.

Find out who your member is here. Find out how they voted on AB 2943 here.

Tell Your Assembly member:

People should have the freedom to pursue what brings true happiness and joy.
At the heart of many religions is the idea that people can change and find true joy in embracing and living out their faith. Government should protect the right of individuals to practice their faith.
Many people find joy in living consistent with their beliefs regarding sexuality and gender.

Other great points:

People looking for change should be free to find services and resources from counselors, schools, and religious organizations to help them achieve their desired goals.
Politicians have no business telling people that their counseling goals are illegal.
By applying to any “transaction,” AB 2943 would prevent a counselor from helping an adult client explore all options to address questions over sexual orientation, an author from selling a book challenging gender identity ideology, and even a church from hosting a ticketed conference addressing issues of sexuality and identity.
It uses threats of lawsuits and punitive damages under the consumer protection act to punish speaking of views the government doesn’t like.
Politicians have no business denying people the freedom to find counseling and resources to help them find happiness or to shut down counselors, schools, and religious organization that provide those services.
Thirty years of research have failed to find a genetic or biological cause for the development of same-sex attractions. There’s no conclusive evidence – no DNA testing, no medical test finding – that science can point to proving someone is homosexual.
Faith traditions all agree: a person’s identity isn’t about sexual desires, but about the values a person chooses.

AB 2119 Forces Puberty Blocking Drugs/Sex Change Operations on Foster Kids

Breaking News: Governor Brown signs AB 2119 on September 14, 2018.

AB 2119 (text) guarantees foster kids with gender dysphoria have access to treatment that includes dangerous puberty blocking drugs, cross sex hormones, sex change operations, and counseling that affirms their gender confusion. The bill labels this “gender affirming care.” If this bill passes, the “county child welfare agency” must provide this treatment to any minor, no matter what the age, if it is requested by the child, “or his or her caregiver, attorney, Court Appointed Special Advocate, or social worker.”

Reference material opposing AB 2119

American College of Pediatricians: Protect Children: Vote NO on AB 2119
National Task Force for Therapy Equality: AB 2119 Fact Sheet & AB 2119 Letter of Opposition
Dr. Michael Laidlaw: Childhood Gender Dysphoria and Foster Children FAQ Sheet
Dr. Andre X Van Mol, with American College of Pediatricians: Testimony against AB 2119.
Laura A. Haynes, Ph.D., California Psychologist: The American Psychological Association Says Born-That-Way-And-Can’t-Change Is Not True of Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity
California Family Council article: CA Bill Forces Puberty Blocking Drugs/Sex Change Operations on Foster Kids

AB 2119 Status

AB 2119 was approved 5 -1 by the Assembly Human Services Committee on April 10.
Here is how members voted:

Voting Yes: Assembly members Blanca E. Rubio (D), Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D), Eloise Gómez Reyes (D), Mark Stone (D), and Tony Thurmond (D).

Voting no: Assembly member Steven S. Choi (R)

Not voting: Assembly member Brian Maienschein.
Watch entire hearing below.

AB 2119 was approved 11-5 on May 9th, by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Here is how the members voted:

Voting Yes: Assembly members Richard Bloom (D), Rob Bonta (D), Ian Calderon (D), Wendy Carrillo (D), Ed Chau (D), Laura Friedman (D), Eduardo Garcia (D), Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D), Adrin Nazarian (D), Bill Quirk (D), Eloise Gomez Reyes (D).

Voting No: Assembly members Frank Bigelow (R), Bill Brough (R), Deborah Flora (R), Vince Fong (R), and James Gallagher (R).

Not voting: Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D).

AB 2119 was approved by the Assembly on Monday, May 22nd 46-22 with 10 legislators not voting. Here is how members voted:

Voting Yes: Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bloom, Bonta, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Chu, Cooper, Daly, Frazier, Friedman, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Levine, Limón, Low, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O’Donnell, Quirk, Reyes, Rodriguez, Rubio, Santiago, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Weber, Wood, Rendon

Voting No: Acosta, Travis Allen, Bigelow, Brough, Chávez, Chen, Choi, Cunningham, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Harper, Kiley, Lackey, Mathis, Melendez, Obernolte, Patterson, Steinorth, Voepel, Waldron

No Votes Recorded: Cooley, Eggman, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gray, Grayson, Maienschein, Mayes, Quirk-Silva, Salas

AB 2119 was approved by the Senate Human Services Committee 5-0, with two not voting, on June 12, 2018. Here is how the members voted:

Voting yes: Senator Scott D. Wiener (Chair), Senator Steven M. Glazer, Senator Connie M. Leyva, Senator Mike McGuire, and Senator Anthony J. Portantino.

Not voting but present: Senator Janet Nguyen.

Absent: Senator Tom Berryhill (Vice Chair)
Watch the entire hearing below:

AB 2119 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee with a vote of 5 to 2 on June 26, 2018.

Here is how the members voted:

Voting Yes: Senator Hanna-Beth Jackson, Senator Robert Hertzberg, Senator Bill Monning, Senator Henry Stern, and Senator Bob Wieckowski

Voting No: Senator Joel Anderson and Senator John Moorlach

Watch the entire hearing below:

AB 2119 was approved by the Senate with a vote of 26 to 12 on August 27, 2018.
Here is how the members voted:

Voting yes: Allen, Atkins, Beall, Bradford, De León, Delgado, Dodd, Galgiani, Glazer, Hernandez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Jackson, Lara, Leyva, McGuire, Mitchell, Monning, Pan, Portantino, Roth, Skinner, Stern, Wieckowski, Wiener

Voting No: Anderson, Bates, Chang, Fuller, Gaines, Moorlach, Morrell, Nguyen, Nielsen, Stone, Vidak, Wilk
Not voting: Berryhill, Cannella

AB 2119 amendments were approved in the Assembly with a vote of 53 to 22 on August 29, 2018.
Here is how the members voted:

Voting yes: Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bloom, Bonta, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Chu, Cooper, Daly, Frazier, Friedman, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Levine, Limón, Low, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O’Donnell, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rivas, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Weber, Wood, Rendon
Voting No: Acosta, Travis Allen, Bigelow, Brough, Chávez, Chen, Choi, Cunningham, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Harper, Kiley, Lackey, Mathis, Melendez, Obernolte, Patterson, Steinorth, Voepel, Waldron
No Votes Recorded: Cooley, Eggman, Grayson, Maienschein, Mayes

Governor Brown signed AB 2119 on September 14, 2018

CALL TO ACTION: Tell your state representative what you thought about their vote on AB 2119.

Find out who your member is here. Find out how they voted on AB 2119 here.

Important points to make:

Transgender belief in childhood disappears most of the time by the end of adolescence.
The short and long-term risks of transitioning to the opposite sex are sobering.
There is a lack of proven safety or benefit for minors to have transgender surgery or drug treatment. It’s not pro-science—it’s no science.
Regret and de-transitioning are not rare, but what’s gone is gone.
A child or teen has a developing brain; adult decisions are beyond them.
People of faith are often those who keep troubled foster systems afloat, but this bill will drive them out of foster parenting; a blow the system doesn’t need.