California State Senator Melissa Melendez, a Republican, proposed two bills addressing cancel culture on February 16.
According to a press release from her office, one bill would outlaw discrimination based on political beliefs when it comes to housing and employment, and another would protect students from similar discrimination on campuses throughout the state.
“It is unfathomable to me that corporations and members of the public would ruin a person’s career, business and family because of their political ideology,” Melendez said. “A free society shouldn’t allow thoughts and ideas to be censored. Free speech covers all speech, not just that with which you agree.”
She added: “Cancel culture and the efforts to silence differing opinions and voices should be a growing concern for all of us. A climate of intolerance has been established and has stifled healthy and normal debate. Anyone who values their own freedom of speech should be concerned. This cannot and should not be allowed to continue.”
On the other hand, Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, a Democrat, tweeted: “I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but: Your racist, pro-domestic terrorism, xenophobic, misogynistic views do not warrant protection ‘from discrimination.’ Your choice to hate & actively pursue hate does not make you part of a protected class.”
I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but: Your racist, pro-domestic terrorism, xenophobic, misogynistic views do not warrant protection “from discrimination.” Your choice to hate & actively pursue hate does not make you part of a protected class.
— Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (@LorenaSGonzalez) February 16, 2021
Jeremy Lambe of the Law&Crime news site argued that political discrimination is already outlawed under various state statutes, so he thinks the bill is nothing more than a political stunt. He added that Melendez’s office didn’t respond to his request for comment “on what currently legal form of political affiliation discrimination the bill aims to outlaw.” The Los Angeles Times also noted that “it is unclear if anyone in the state has been evicted or denied a mortgage because of political convictions.”
