Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Arnold Schwarzenegger and LGBTQ rights

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 31, 2026

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Arnold Schwarzenegger and LGBTQ rights.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's record on LGBTQ rights presents a nuanced picture. While he opposed same-sex marriage during his time as Governor of California, he also supported other LGBTQ rights legislation, notably civil unions. His stance reflected a common political position at the time, distinguishing between marriage and other forms of legal recognition for same-sex relationships. Despite opposing same-sex marriage, Schwarzenegger signed several bills into law that provided protections and rights to the LGBTQ community in California. This mixed record demonstrates a complex approach to LGBTQ issues during his political career.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

February 2004: Schwarzenegger Opposes Same-Sex Marriages but Supports Civil Unions

In February 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger opposed San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's order to allow same-sex marriages, stating it exceeded the mayor's powers. However, he also expressed support for gay rights and a law to grant civil unions to gay couples.

September 29, 2004: Schwarzenegger Vetoes AB 1520 and Signs Domestic Partner Technical Clean-up Bill

On September 29, 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 1520, which would have established the California Veterans Memorial Commission. However, on the same day, he signed the Domestic Partner Technical Clean-up Bill into law, making technical changes to the California Domestic Partner Rights & Responsibilities Act.

September 6, 2005: Schwarzenegger Vetoes the Code of Fair Campaign Practices

On September 6, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the Code of Fair Campaign Practices, a bill that would have added sexual orientation to a voluntary list of prohibited topics in political campaign advertising.

September 29, 2005: Schwarzenegger Vetoes AB 849 and Signs Civil Rights Act of 2005

On September 29, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 849, a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage in California. On the same day, he signed the Civil Rights Act of 2005 into law, which expanded the Unruh Civil Rights Act to further prohibit discrimination based on sex/gender, sexual orientation, and marital status in public accommodations.

September 6, 2006: Schwarzenegger Vetoes SB 1437

On September 6, 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 1437, a bill that would have amended the Education Code to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in textbooks, classroom instruction, and school-sponsored activities.

September 29, 2006: Schwarzenegger Signs State Income Tax Equity Act and Vetoes AB 1056 and SB 1471

On September 29, 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed the State Income Tax Equity Act, requiring couples registered as California domestic partners to file their state income taxes as married couples. He also vetoed AB 1056 and SB 1471.

October 12, 2007: Schwarzenegger's Actions on LGBTQ+ Rights Legislation

On October 12, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the Religious Freedom & Civil Marriage Protection Act, which aimed to legalize same-sex marriage in California. On the same day, he signed the Civil Rights Act of 2007 into law, reinforcing non-discrimination sections within California Codes. He also signed AB 102, enabling name changes on marriage licenses or domestic partnership certificates, AB 394, mandating school assessments for anti-discrimination compliance, SB 559, allowing reassessment reversals for registered domestic partners' property, and SB 777, updating California's Education Code to ensure uniformity in non-discrimination policies across publicly funded schools.

October 13, 2007: Schwarzenegger Signs and Vetoes LGBTQ+ Related Bills

On October 13, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 629, mandating state-funded sex education programs to be medically accurate and unbiased, and SB 518, enacting the Youth Bill of Rights to protect LGBT youth in the juvenile justice system. On the same day, he vetoed SB 549, which proposed bereavement leave for employees upon the death of a family member or domestic partner, SB 727, which would have conformed the unpaid family leave law to include care for ill domestic partners and expand the definition of family leave, and SB 836l, which aimed to add familial status to non-discrimination bases under the Fair Employment & Housing Act (FEHA).

September 28, 2008: Schwarzenegger on Civil Rights and Discrimination Training

On September 28, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 2874, which would have removed the $150,000 limitation on actual damages assessed by the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission against a respondent who violates the California Civil Rights Act of 2005. On the same day, he signed SB 1729, mandating that healthcare workers in skilled nursing facilities participate in a training program focusing on preventing and eliminating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

September 30, 2008: Schwarzenegger's Decisions on LGBTQ+ Related Bills

On September 30, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 2567, which would have declared May 22 as Harvey Milk State Holiday and designated it as a special day in public schools. On the same day, he signed AB 2654 into law, conforming statutory code provisions prohibiting discrimination in specific government and business operations, and AB 3015, requiring additional training for foster care providers on the safety of foster youth, including the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000. He also vetoed SB 153, which would have excluded certain property transfers from tax reassessment, and SB 1661, which would have provided that an individual shall be deemed to have left their most recent work with good cause if the individual's employment is terminated as a result of the individual's taking a qualifying leave under the family temporary disability insurance program.

October 11, 2009: Schwarzenegger's actions regarding LGBTQ+ rights

On October 11, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 54 into law, which recognizes same-sex couples as being married if they married outside of California before Proposition 8 went into effect and would also give same-sex couples who married elsewhere after Proposition 8 went into effect the same rights as heterosexual couples, except for the designation of marriage. Also that day, he vetoed AB 115, AB 382, AB 772, AB 985, AB 1185. Also that same day, he signed AB 1003 into law, which expands access for LGBT service providers to a state fund that supports LGBT-specific domestic violence programs across the state and is subsidized by a $23 fee on new domestic partner registrations. Also that same day, he signed SB 273, which changes the definition of domestic violence to mean the infliction or threat of physical harm against past or present adult or adolescent intimate partners, to include physical, sexual, and psychological abuse against the partner, that is a part of a pattern of assaultive, coercive, and controlling behaviors directed at achieving compliance from, or control over, that partner. Also that same day, he signed SB 572, which requires the governor to proclaim May 22 each year as Harvey Milk Day. Also that same day, SB 739, which prohibits the spouse or domestic partner of an elected officer or a candidate for elective office from receiving compensation from campaign funds held by a controlled committee of the elected officer or candidate for services rendered in connection with fundraising for the benefit of the elected officer or candidate.

September 23, 2010: Governor Vetoes AB 633

On September 23, 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 633, which would have required the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to consider sexual orientation and gender identity when classifying inmates in order to prevent sexual violence.

September 30, 2010: Schwarzenegger Vetoes AB 1680 and SB 906

On September 30, 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 1680, which would have prohibited contracts from requiring a person to waive their legal rights and procedures under civil rights laws regarding bias-motivated violence and hate crimes. Also that same day, he vetoed SB 906, which would specify that no priest, minister, rabbi, or authorized person of any religious denomination would be required to solemnize a marriage contrary to their faith.