HRC Hails Attorney General Harris' Efforts to Stop 'Sodomite Suppression Act' from Advancing

by Ianthe Metzger

WASHINGTON--Today, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, hailed California Attorney General Kamala Harris for seeking to stop an abhorrent and unconstitutional proposed ballot initiative that would seek to criminalize same-sex relationships and potentially threaten those convicted with death.

This afternoon, Harris announced that she was seeking judicial authorization to not issue a title and summary for the so-called "Sodomite Suppression Act," which would prevent the horrific proposal from advancing to the next stage in California's ballot measure process.

"This disgusting, barbaric measure should be stopped in its tracks, and once again Attorney General Harris has demonstrated leadership in standing up for the rights and dignity of LGBT Californians," said HRC President Chad Griffin.  "It is our sincere hope that the Supreme Court of California gives her the authority to prevent it from advancing." 

Should Harris be compelled to issue a title and summary for the proposal, it would then advance to a 90-day window during which organizers would seek to collect the 365,000 signatures needed to put it on the 2016 ballot.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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