Sen. Melissa Melendez Battles Cancel Culture

Sen. Melendez Introduces Anti-Discrimination Package to Fight Cancel Culture

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Melissa Melendez, R -Lake Elsinore, today introduced an Anti-Discrimination bill package aimed to protect against cancel culture discrimination.

“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 in a prepared statement. “A free society shouldn’t allow thoughts and ideas to be censored. Free speech covers all speech, not just that with which you agree.”

Senate Bill (SB) 238, known as the Diversity of Thought Act, aims to amend the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) in the Government Code, by adding political affiliation as a protected class under California’s Anti-Discrimination laws.  If enacted, the bill protects California residents from discrimination when seeking employment opportunities or housing, based on political affiliation.

Senate Bill (SB) 249 amends the Education Code, including political affiliation, to prohibit discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools. The package affirms Californians are supported in their right to open dialogue and diversity of thought.

“Cancel culture and the efforts to silence differing opinions and voices should be a growing concern for all of us,” said Melendez. “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.”