California May Ban State-Paid Trips To Protest Anti-Gay Laws
SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) -- California lawmakers are advancing a ban on publicly funded travel to states that have laws restricting the rights of gay or transgender individuals.
The state Assembly approved AB1887 Monday, the same day that the U.S. Justice Department and North Carolina's governor sued each other over that state's bathroom law. The North Carolina law requires that transgender people use restrooms matching the sex on their birth certificate.
The bill bars using state money for non-essential travel to states with laws that sanction or require discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It also blocks California state agencies from requiring its employees to travel to those states.
The measure by Democratic Assemblyman Evan Low of Campbell passed on a 54-21 vote. It now goes to the Senate.
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