Proposal Makes Petition Signatures Open to California Public Records Act
Sacramento, CA – Assemblyman Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) today instructed Legislative Counsel to draft a proposal to counter “The Sodomite Suppression Act,” the barbaric ballot initiative calling for legalizing the murder of LGBT Californians.
“Voters must be informed when a petition they sign violates the United States Constitution,” said Rendon. “My proposal is simple: initiative signatures – particularly those that give permission to violate constitutional rights – shall be subject to the California Public Records Act.”
In 2003, the United States Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas struck down sodomy laws in 14 states, making same-sex activity legal in U.S. states and territories. The so-called “Sodomite Suppression Act” directly violates Lawrence by calling for “any person who willingly touches another person of the same gender for purposes of sexual gratification be put to death by bullets to the head or by any other convenient method.”
Rendon’s proposal allows initiative petitions to be open to inspection by the public and adds the following statement to the top of petitions: “Your information as a signatory to this petition is subject to the California Public Records Act."
Assemblyman Anthony Rendon is serving in his second term representing the 63rd Assembly District, which includes the cities and communities of Bell, Cudahy, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, North Long Beach, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, and South Gate. Rendon is chair of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce and serves on the following committees: Water, Parks and Wildlife; Natural Resources; Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security; and Appropriations.