California Legislature Debates Ban on Caste Discrimination

A bill to ban caste discrimination in California has drawn both support and opposition from South Asian groups. The bill, which would be the first statewide measure of its kind in the US, seeks to add caste as a protected category to the state Unruh Civil Rights Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and the state policy that bans discrimination in public schools. While some argue that existing laws and protections are sufficient, others say that caste discrimination is still prevalent in some South Asian societies and needs to be addressed specifically. The bill has already been approved by the Senate but faces opposition in the Assembly.