California state lawmaker unveils two bills to combat political ‘cancel culture’

With each day that passes, cancel culture seems to grow more vicious and hungry to find its next victim; the more you feed it, the stronger it becomes. 

But, one California lawmaker has had enough. 

Republican state Sen. Melissa Melendez has unveiled two legislative proposals designed to combat cancel culture and the harm it causes. 

She claims that “a climate of intolerance has been established” in the Golden State, so political affiliation should be protected under state law to protect residents from descrimination. 

“Anyone who values their own freedom of speech should be concerned,” she said. “This cannot and should be allowed to continue.” 

The “Diversity of Thought Act” would protect people from discrimination over politics when seeking housing, bank loans or employment by amending the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Fox News reports. 

If this bill becomes a law, it would be illegal to deny someone a job or housing on the basis of that person’s political affiliation, according to the Los Angeles Times. Landlords could not legally evict someone because of political beliefs, and banks would be prohibited from denying financing on the basis of politics. 

The second bill would protect students from being bullied over their political views by requiring an amendment to the state’s education code. 

Schools are compelled to have policies against discrimination on the basis of gender race, religion and sexual orientation. Melendez’s bill would add political beliefs to that list. 

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

But, to no surprise, she’s already facing backlash from the left. 

Democratic state Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez blasted Melendez. 

“Your choice to hate & actively pursue hate does not make you part of a protected class,” Gonzalez wrote on Twitter. 

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 (@LorenaSGonzalez) February 16, 2021

“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 per The Hill. “Free speech covers all speech , not just that with which you agree.”