May 30, 2013 - The San Juan Daily Star
has exclusive New York Times News Service in English in Puerto Rico
Governor Signs Gay Rights Bills Into Law
By EVA LLORENS VELEZ
Gov. Alejandro García Padilla on Wednesday signed into law the two bills
that would broaden gay rights in
Puerto Rico.
He was also slated to sign legislative reform into law, but did not do so immediately
on Wednesday. He signed the laws during a
ceremony at La Fortaleza with lawmakers and
other offi cials.
The Senate in a voice vote on Tuesday
passed House Bill 488, which extended Law
54 domestic violence protections to all kinds
of couples, including gay partners. The upper
chamber concurred with House amendments to
Senate Bill 238, which prohibits discrimination
on the job on the basis of sexual orientation.
House Bill 488 was passed without a debate except for brief remarks made by Sen. Ramón
Luis Nieves, who authored Senate Bill 238.
Nieves said the bill sought to clarify the
original intent of Law 54 when it was created
in 1989 to shelter all sorts of people in a relationship, without any distinction.
The Popular Democratic Party (PDP) senator recalled that the purpose of the law was
invalidated by a Puerto Rico Supreme Court
decision that excluded the application of the
statute to same-sex couples.
“[The move] was to correct the misinterpretation of Law 54 and to add that it applies to couples
irrespective of their sexual orientation, gender identity and immigration status,” Nieves said.
The vote was not unanimous when it
came to Senate Bill 238. Puerto Rican Independence Party Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago voted against the bill because she said the House
amendments watered it down. The House eliminated the job discrimination ban from the Youth
Bill of Rights, the Civil Rights Law and the Veterans Bill of Rights. She said the changes allow for
continued discrimination against gays.
“If the Senate concurs today with the
mutilation of Senate Bill 238 that was done
by the House, we are sending the message to
the gay community that it is permissible to,
let’s say, ask a lesbian couple at a restaurant
to leave, but if one of them tries to get a job, it
could not be denied,” she said.
Senate President Eduardo Bhatia said
that while the bill was not what everyone expected, it was still a huge step toward equal
rights for everyone.
Starting today, nonetheless, discrimination
on the job against gays will be criminalized.
______________________________________________
Aponte Calls Immigration Reform Statehood for Illegals
By EVA LLORENS VELEZ
Gov. Alejandro García Padilla on Wednesday signed into law the two bills
that would broaden gay rights in
Puerto Rico.
He was also slated to sign legislative reform into law, but did not do so immediately
on Wednesday. He signed the laws during a
ceremony at La Fortaleza with lawmakers and
other offi cials.
The Senate in a voice vote on Tuesday
passed House Bill 488, which extended Law
54 domestic violence protections to all kinds
of couples, including gay partners. The upper
chamber concurred with House amendments to
Senate Bill 238, which prohibits discrimination
on the job on the basis of sexual orientation.
House Bill 488 was passed without a debate except for brief remarks made by Sen. Ramón
Luis Nieves, who authored Senate Bill 238.
Nieves said the bill sought to clarify the
original intent of Law 54 when it was created
in 1989 to shelter all sorts of people in a relationship, without any distinction.
The Popular Democratic Party (PDP) senator recalled that the purpose of the law was
invalidated by a Puerto Rico Supreme Court
decision that excluded the application of the
statute to same-sex couples.
“[The move] was to correct the misinterpretation of Law 54 and to add that it applies to couples
irrespective of their sexual orientation, gender identity and immigration status,” Nieves said.
The vote was not unanimous when it
came to Senate Bill 238. Puerto Rican Independence Party Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago voted against the bill because she said the House
amendments watered it down. The House eliminated the job discrimination ban from the Youth
Bill of Rights, the Civil Rights Law and the Veterans Bill of Rights. She said the changes allow for
continued discrimination against gays.
“If the Senate concurs today with the
mutilation of Senate Bill 238 that was done
by the House, we are sending the message to
the gay community that it is permissible to,
let’s say, ask a lesbian couple at a restaurant
to leave, but if one of them tries to get a job, it
could not be denied,” she said.
Senate President Eduardo Bhatia said
that while the bill was not what everyone expected, it was still a huge step toward equal
rights for everyone.
Starting today, nonetheless, discrimination
on the job against gays will be criminalized.
______________________________________________
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