Tim Willert
GLENDALE -- A bill that would grant marriage benefits to domestic
partners passed the state Assembly on Thursday, despite strong opposition
from a pro-family organization.
Assembly members Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) and Carol Liu (D-La
Crescenta) were among those who voted for the bill, which would grant
domestic partners more than a dozen health and legal benefits, including
power of attorney and the right to adopt the children of a partner.
"During the campaign I said I was in favor of domestic partnership
laws," Frommer said Friday. "This bill only strengthens existing law."
Attempts to reach Liu on Friday were unsuccessful.
In the days leading to the vote, Frommer and Liu were targeted by
Campaign for California Families, a statewide organization that ran
full-page newspaper ads against "the homosexual marriage agenda."
Members of the organization gathered outside Frommer's Glendale office
last month in an attempt to dissuade him from supporting AB 25, claiming
it would undermine Proposition 22, which only recognizes marriage between
a man and a woman.
"They came to the office and I reviewed their concerns," Frommer. "I
did not think that their characterization of that bill was correct at
all. "This group has mischaracterized this bill because they say that
it violates Prop. 22, which it does not. And they want you to think it's
only for same sex partnerships. It's not. It applies broadly."
Randy Thomasson, executive director of Campaign for California
Families, did not return phone calls Friday seeking comment.
But Natalie Williams, the executive director of Capitol Resource
Institute, a pro-family, public policy organization, said Thursday's
42-31 vote is just the first step and that the fight to defeat AB 25 is
ongoing.