Fact check: Is it true that part of the big bill was making rape a misdemeanor?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the claim that "part of the big bill was making rape a misdemeanor" is false. The sources consistently indicate that California Senate Bill 145 (SB 145) does not make rape a misdemeanor or reduce penalties for rape ^{[1] [2]}.

The actual purpose of SB 145 was to equalize how state law treats cases of statutory rape, regardless of the type of intercourse involved ^[3]. The bill aimed to end discrimination against LGBT young people by giving judges discretion in certain statutory rape cases involving same-sex relationships, similar to discretion already available in heterosexual cases ^[1].

The bill does not alter existing penalties for sexual assault, rape, or child exploitation but rather gives judges discretion in certain cases ^[2]. Multiple sources confirm that claims about the bill legalizing pedophilia or reducing rape penalties are false ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about what "the big bill" specifically refers to and the actual legislative details. The analyses reveal several important missing elements:

• SB 145 was specifically designed to address discriminatory application of sex offender registration laws against LGBT individuals ^[1]
• The bill became a significant political issue and source of misinformation during campaign seasons ^[2]
• There are legitimate concerns from some perspectives that SB 145 could potentially allow sex offenders to evade registration ^[4]
• Related legislation like Senate Bill 680 aimed to close loopholes in California's sex offender registry law ^[5]
• California also implemented a Tiered Sex Offender Registration system (Senate Bill 384) that created different registration requirements based on offense severity ^[6]

Political actors and advocacy groups would benefit from either supporting or opposing this narrative depending on their stance on LGBT rights and criminal justice reform.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains significant misinformation by suggesting that rape was made a misdemeanor. The analyses show this claim has been repeatedly fact-checked and found to be false ^[1].

The phrasing "the big bill" is vague and potentially misleading, as it doesn't specify which legislation is being referenced. The analyses indicate that falsehoods about sex-offender laws have been used as political campaign tools ^[2], suggesting the question may stem from politically motivated misinformation.

One source specifically addresses how posts spread old claims about California sex crimes bills with missing context ^[7], indicating this type of misinformation has circulated repeatedly. The question appears to perpetuate these debunked claims rather than seeking factual information about the actual legislative changes.