Civil Rights Bill Clears First Hurdle in Assembly : Legislation: Brown’s proposal would crack down on sexual harassment and outlaw job discrimination against gays. Some vocal opponents object to protection for homosexuals.

Carol Hunt said she was told the sexual harassment aimed at her on the job in an otherwise all-male paint shop at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo was “uncontrollable.” Cuss back at them, her boss suggested.

Shawn Hansen said she was discriminated against during six years as a Sacramento police officer because she is a lesbian and refused to hide the fact.

The two women were among witnesses testifying Wednesday on behalf of a sweeping civil rights bill authored by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, (D-San Francisco), that survived its first legislative hearing before the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.

A 7-3 vote sent the legislation to the Ways and Means Committee for further screening. Although the bill also is expected to clear this committee hurdle, a major fight looms on the Assembly floor, where conservatives have objected to at least one of the provisions.

Among other things, Brown’s bill would outlaw job discrimination against homosexuals, which was hotly disputed by conservatives and barely passed the Legislature before Gov. Pete Wilson’s controversial veto. The Speaker’s measure also would restore the authority of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission to award monetary damages in sexual harassment cases, forbid discrimination against the disabled, and prohibit employers from requiring employees to speak only English in the workplace.

Combining half a dozen or more other pending measures, the omnibus bill also would reverse four recent California Supreme Court decisions, including one that restricted the rights of families denied housing because they could not show proof of minimum income requirements.

Opponents of the bill testifying Wednesday included the Rev. Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition, who said his group represents 7,800 churches throughout California.

“This bill cuts across our culture and destroys the heterosexual lifestyle,” Sheldon said. “Where does it stop? When does bestiality and pedophilia come in?”

Art Croney of the Committee on Moral Concerns said his group particularly objected to outlawing job discrimination because of homosexuality, especially in the case of schoolteachers who work with young pupils.

Roxanne Gould of the California Chamber of Commerce said the legislation “would place California employers at a higher level of disadvantage.” Business groups have complained in the past that they fear being faced with baseless but expensive lawsuits.

Among the supporters, Carol Hunt told the committee she was subjected to continual sexual harassment while working at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo during the 1970s.

She said the men she worked with called her obscene names and asked her whom she had been sleeping with.

“My supervisor said such behavior was uncontrollable and I should toughen up and curse back at them. . .” Hunt said. “Sexually harassed workers must have a way to deter such unacceptable behavior.”

Hansen claimed she encountered problems as a Sacramento police officer only because she is openly gay.

“I was dedicated to my job and I know I performed well,” she said. “However, that was never enough for the department. Instead, I was discriminated against, harassed and treated differently than my fellow officers because of my gender and because I refused to hide my sexual orientation.”

Hansen said she recently filed a lawsuit seeking reinstatement, but a Sacramento Police Department spokeswoman said Hansen was never fired. The spokeswoman described Hansen’s absence from the force as unauthorized leave.

Brown told the committee his bill would “provide the guidelines for the civil rights protection of all of the people of this state.” He added that it is supported by an estimated 100 civil rights groups.

Brown said that if passed, the bill would give California the toughest such law in the country.