How many people here knew Brown was Gov who decriminalized homosexuality?

Because of Brown, all the sections of the PENAL CODE pertaining to homosexuality were thrown out.

It was illegal to be gay in California?

:-)

the Medfly.

Actually, he did a number of good things but then got stuck with the Medfly.

Brown led the charge to legalize it.

the Brown Act refers to assemly speaker Wille Brown. I rmember it well Also decriminalized Oz or less of cannibus.

He had the courage that other Democrats have always lacked. How many governors do you know who have the courage to veto a death penalty statute?

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Gov Brown was key to getting this bill into law, but don't downplay Willie Brown's work on this year after year until the victory was won. And as you can see later assasinated Mayor Moscone also fought hard for this bill to pass. Just share credit where credit is due.

And apart from Brown, the only gov who constantly opposed death penalty bills that I can remember was Mario Cuomo. Both Cuomo and Brown are men who take ethics seriously.

http://www.sodomylaws.org/history/history.htm

"California’s sodomy repeal effort began in 1969 with urging from Morris Kight, Rev. Troy Perry and others. The repeal bill was introduced to the California legislature starting in 1969 by Assemblyman Willie Brown, and every year afterwards until its passage in 1975. In 1975, the liberal Democratic state Senate Majority Leader, George Moscone — running for Mayor of San Francisco — twisted many arms for its passage. The Senate deadlocked on a 20-20 vote, Moscone locked the chamber doors, until Lieutenant Governor Merv Dymallyin could fly back from Denver and cast the tie-breaking vote. It was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown."

Your write-up shows how important Jerry, Willie, Moscone and others were to the process. These men should be celebrated.

I just watched the Life and Times of Harvey Milk again a few weeks ago, so the period was fresh in my mind. Moscone and Harvey Milk were tragically thrwarted by a conservative christian assassin. Moscone would probably be in the Senate now instead of Feinstein or who knows if he would have went to a higher office. (the sadness of what if...)

Willie was a master of the Assembly and kept the Repubs at bay for years, a master strategist.

And Jerry keeps on working and serving California and the nation. I hope he becomes AG next year. Oh, and I am glad to see Dymally still a maverick in his late 70s.