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From One To Many Boxes
New
bill could give multiple heritage recognition.
A groundbreaking piece of legislation looks set to make its way onto
the books of the California State Legislature.
SB 1615, The Ethnic Heritage Respect and Recognition Act, addresses the
changing face of race and diversity in the nation by making California
the first state to give multiracial individuals the right to identify
with 'one or more' racial or ethnic backgrounds on forms that ask for
this information.
California forms typically give a list of ethnic and racial designations
and then ask respondents to 'choose one.' Proponents say that forces
multiracial Californians to deny significant parts of their identity,
provides an inaccurate picture of the state's diversity and can lead
to delayed detection and treatment of medical conditions that are prevalent
among some racial or ethnic groups.
If the bill is passed it would make California the first state in the
U.S. that enables multiracial individuals to identify with multiple racial
and ethnic categories on forms. It would also enable Californian agencies
to understand and address the needs of multiracial Californians by ensuring
that information about them is collected and publicly reported.
'This would put an end to state forms rendering multiracial people invisible,'
said Jilchristina Vest of iPride, a Bay Area multiracial advocacy group.
'It's about self-identity. I don't want to check black if that means
I have to deny my mother,' who is white.
'I want to claim 100 percent of me.'
The bill if approved could cost the state money and though it was approved
recently by the Senate Judiciary Committee, it will still have to pass
both legislative chambers’ appropriations committees.
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