Bill Recognizing ‘Multiracial’ People Advances In California
SACRAMENTO
A bill that would allow Californians to identify themselves with one or more racial or ethnic backgrounds on government forms passed its first hurdle this week, passing the California State Senate Judiciary.
The bill, The Ethnic Heritage Respect and Recognition Act, is the first bill of its kind in the nation. It would only apply to forms that already ask for racial identity.
“This state is the largest and most diverse in the nation, and Californians strongly value that diversity,” says state Senator Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, who authored the bill. “But that value is illusory if it’s not made real and if the state continues to force its citizens to ‘choose just one’ on a daily basis. This is a matter of accuracy, respect and even life or death with respect to certain medical conditions.”
The bill, called “SB 1615,” still faces a long road to passage, as it must be approved by the entire Senate, the State Assembly and signed by the governor.
Proponents of the bill say California’s large and rapidly growing demographic of individuals who identify with two or more racial or ethnic backgrounds has long been ignored despite the challenges faced by multiracial people. The measure would help California agencies identify and address these needs by ensuring that information about multiracial Californians is collected and publicly reported.
