Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed 97 bills and vetoed 58 last week, including AB 43, legislation that would have given same-sex couples the right to marry.

Schwarzenegger, however, signed seven bills protecting GLBT people including Sen. Christine Kehoe’s, D-San Diego, legislation – Senate Bill 559, which provides relief to registered domestic partners who paid discriminatory property taxes before 2006.

The new law reverses the tax increase assessed to couples who separated or whose partners died and whose property changed hands before a 2006 law went into effect protecting them against unfair property reassessments. Property is not reassessed when real estate transfers between married spouses.

Kehoe said the new law closes the loophole the 2006 law created.

“Domestic partners who built a home together should not be squeezed by property taxes any more than other loving families,” Kehoe said. “These committed couples should not be penalized simply because one of them dies or the partnership ends.

“When people are being treated unfairly, it’s a perfect example of how unfair our lack of civil rights is.”

Kehoe also authored a resolution passed by the legislature not requiring the governor’s signature that calls on the federal government to recall the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

“San Diego is home to thousands of active duty and retired military LGBT service members, and ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is a huge disservice to our military personnel,” said Kehoe. “It forces them to serve in silence, not live in truth, and it damages morale. It would be best if they could serve openly.”

Kehoe said the resolution puts the California Senate on record as opposing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and may aid Congressmembers who seek to overturn the policy.

A second resolution, also passed by the legislature and not requiring Schwarzenegger’s signature, authored by Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park, asks Congress and the president to strengthen the nation’s hate crimes law to include sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.

The six other GLBT-specific bills Gov. Schwarzenegger signed include:

• AB 14 (John Laird, D-Santa Cruz) – extends sexual orientation as a protected class to all state anti-discrimination ordinances;

• AB 102 (Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco) – makes it easier for couples who marry or enter a registered domestic partnership to change their last name;

• AB 394 (Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys) – protects all youth who identify as GLBT from bullying and harassment in schools;

• SB 777 (Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica) – will protect students from harassment and bullying in public by making sure teachers and school administrators fully understand their responsibilities to protect youth;

• SB 105 (Carole Midgen, D-San Francisco) – clarifies that a registered domestic partner would be treated as a spouse or former spouse for personal income tax and corporation tax purposes; and SB 518 (Midgen, D-San Francisco) – protects GLBT youth residing in juvenile justice facilities from violence.

“When these laws go into effect next year, millions of LGBT Californians and their families will have greater protections and rights than ever before,” said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, a nonprofit, nonpartisan GLBT advocacy organization that sponsored the seven bills signed into law.

In a statement, Kors said Equality California is disappointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger’s veto of the marriage equality measure, AB 43, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. Kors said, however, the organization won’t rest until “all families in California are treated with the dignity, respect and universal understanding that only marriage provides.”

The organization was thrilled by the protections afforded to GLBT youth, particularly youth in juvenile justice facilities, where, Kors said, some at-risk GLBT youth end up after being kicked out of homes, or dropping out of school.

“California has shown that we truly care about our kids – all of our kids,” said Jody Marksamer, staff attorney and youth project director for the National Center of Lesbian Rights. “By signing this bill, California has said that we are serious about protecting our kids in DJJ facilities from harassment and discrimination.”