ASSEMBLY PANELS APPROVE BILLS ON DOMESTIC PARTNERS.

Byline: Jennifer Kerr Associated Press 

After ardent debate about the nature of the family, Assembly committees Wednesday approved three bills granting adoption, domestic partner and housing rights to gays, lesbians and unmarried heterosexuals.

Backers of the bills said gay and lesbian couples, singles and unmarried couples can be good parents and need hospital visiting rights and freedom from housing discrimination.

``Gay and lesbian families . . . should not be burdened with second-class status,'' said Ed Condon of Sacramento, a gay man whose adopted 3-year-old daughter played at his feet while he testified.

Religious groups argued that the traditional male-female marriage is the only relationship that California law should recognize.

``The historical family relationship works best for individuals in society,'' said Art Crony of the Committee on Moral Concerns. ``We believe homosexual relationships should be discouraged, not encouraged in law.''

The Judiciary Committee approved two bills by Assemblyman Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, and sent them to the Appropriations Committee.

One bill, approved by a 10-3 vote, would block a proposed Wilson administration regulation and allow single adults and unmarried couples to adopt children.

The other, approved 10-2, would establish a state domestic partners registry and give such couples hospital visitation, conservatorship and inheritance rights. Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed a similar bill in 1994.

The Housing and Community Development Committee voted 7-5 for a bill by Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa, D-Los Angeles, that would prohibit housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.