West Hollywood, California (Monday, August 11, 2008) -On Mon., July 21, the West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously to oppose Propositions 4 and 8, and to support Propositions 2 and 5. 
The West Hollywood City Council. Photo By Richard Settle. WeHo News - West Hollywood’s ONLY Newspaper, ONLY ONLINE! |
Each of these measures will appear on California’s Nov. 4 ballot.
Proposition 4 seeks to amend the California Constitution to prohibit abortion for an unemancipated minor until 48 hours after the physician notifies minor’s parent, legal guardian or, if parental abuse reported, an adult family member.
It provides exceptions for medical emergency or parental waiver and permits courts to waive notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor’s maturity or best interests.
It mandates reporting requirements, including reports from physicians regarding abortions on minors, and authorizes monetary damages against physicians for violations.
It requires minor’s consent to abortion, with exceptions and permits judicial relief if minor’s consent is coerced.
“This is the third time anti-choice extremists have placed this measure on the ballot. California voters have already rejected it twice, because they understand that it has the potential to bring harm to young women who may have abusive parents or guardians, and could force minors to seek out harmful alternatives to physician-assisted abortion,” said West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Abbe Land.
Mayor Pro Tem Abbe Land. Photo By WeHo News - West Hollywood’s ONLY Newspaper, ONLY ONLINE! |
The City of West Hollywood became the nation’s first “pro-choice city” in 1991, and has an extensive history of supporting measures related to reproductive choice.
The Council also passed a resolution opposing Proposition 8, which would amend the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.
This would have the affect of invalidating the California Supreme Court’s decision that declared denying access to the institution of marriage unconstitutional.
Since its incorporation in 1984, the City of West Hollywood has been one of the most ardent advocates for the legal rights of same-sex couples and the freedom to marry.
The City of West Hollywood was one of the first cities in the country to pass a resolution in support of marriage for gay and lesbian couples.
“This ballot initiative attempts to write discrimination into the California Constitution by denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry the people they love,” said Councilmember John Duran.
Council member John Duran. Photo By Jerome Cleary. WeHo News - West Hollywood’s ONLY Newspaper, ONLY ONLINE! |
“As such, it is only natural that the City of West Hollywood take a stand against intolerance and continue to affirm the core constitutional principles of the right to liberty, happiness and the pursuit of freedom.”
West Hollywood, along with a number of other cities in California, filed an amicus brief in the case in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples. The City of West Hollywood is known throughout the world for its pioneering efforts of LGBT civil rights and established one of the first domestic partnership laws in the country in 1985.
At the July 21 meeting, the City Council also passed resolutions supporting Proposition 2, the California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, and Proposition 5, which would require the state to increase funding and oversight for individualized treatment and rehabilitation programs for non-violent drug offenders and parolees.
For more information, please contact Hernan Molina, deputy to Councilmember John Duran, or Corri Planck, deputy to Mayor Pro Tempore Abbe Land, at (323) 848-6460.
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