Assembly Passes Gay Job Bias Ban : Legislature: Governor vetoed a similar measure last year, but a spokesman says Wilson has no position on current legislation. Senate OKs separate civil rights bill.

SACRAMENTO —  The Assembly on Wednesday narrowly passed a controversial bill to ban job discrimination against gays and lesbians similar to one vetoed last year by Gov. Pete Wilson.

Another bill with civil rights provisions passed 22-13 in the Senate--where a Latino member called on Anglo colleagues to vote for it, counseling them that as the ethnic makeup of the state changes, the day will come when they will need it.

A 44-31 vote sent the Assembly bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Terry Friedman (D-Los Angeles), to the governor’s desk after a minimum of debate.

A Wilson press spokesman said the governor has no position on the homosexual protection measure at this time.

Last year’s veto prompted thousands of gays and lesbians and their supporters to protest in the streets of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento.

The legislation would prohibit job discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation. It would not apply to business firms with four or fewer employees, churches or other nonprofit religious organizations.

During debate on the bill before the Senate--seeking protection for a broader segment of society--Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles), one of three Latino senators, noted that ethnic minorities will one day become the majority in California and suggested it was in the interests of his Anglo colleagues to support anti-discrimination legislation.

Torres said they should “vote for the future of the white American living in this state . . . when people who look like me become your governor, president, employers and CEOs--so that we will not be able to discriminate against you.”

This bill, authored by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), among other things would forbid discrimination against disabled people, prohibit employers from requiring employees to speak only English on the job and restore the authority of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission to award relief to victims.

The Brown bill also contained a provision barring workplace discrimination against homosexuals, but that provision was deleted some days ago. Aides said Brown intends to restore the language when the bill goes before a two-house conference committee this week.

The Friedman bill, meanwhile, would write into law a 1991 state Court of Appeal ruling that extends job protection to gays, but which has been temporarily set aside by the state Supreme Court pending a review of the case.