California Legislative LGBT Caucus
Encyclopedia
The California Legislative LGBT Caucus is an American political organization formed in June 2002 and composed of openly lesbian
, gay
, bisexual and transgender
members of the California State Legislature
. The caucus currently has eight members, including Assembly Speaker John Pérez
.
(both vetoed by the governor), bills prohibiting discrimination in state government, tackling orientation-based bullying in schools and adequately funding HIV/AIDS treatment. In December 2008, in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8
, members of the LGBT Caucus pushed a resolution expressing the legislature's opinion that the proposition was unconstitutional.
In addition, the caucus sponsors an annual LGBT Pride Exhibit every June and presents the LGBT Pride Recognition Awards to outstanding Californians. In 2006, several Republican
legislators boycotted the awards ceremony, walking off the Assembly floor as the awards were presented. This boycott stalled the ceremony for several years until 2009 when it was resurrected. In each year since, many Republicans have boycotted the ceremony.
people have served in the legislature and been members of the caucus – all gay or lesbian and Democrats
. Eight of them hold office in the 2011–12 biennium.
Notes:
In addition, there has been one gay member of the legislature who, despite being open about his sexual orientation, was not a member of the caucus. Republican
state senator Roy Ashburn
came out in March 2010 after having been arrested while driving under the influence
on his way home from a gay bar. He served the remaining eight months of his term but did not join the caucus.
There have also been members of the legislature who, though not open about their sexuality at the time they served in public office, subsequently declared themselves gay or lesbian. Dennis Mangers, who represented Orange County
in the Assembly from 1976 to 1980, married his partner of 17 years, Michael Sestak, in June 2008. Art Torres, who served 8 years in the Assembly and 12 in the State Senate before going on to spend 13 years as chair of the California Democratic Party
, came out publicly
in April 2009.
Note: Roy Ashburn came out in March 2010, having served since 1996 (Assembly, 1996–2002; Senate, 2002–2010). Cathleen Galgiani came out in November 2011, having served in the Assembly since 2006.
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, bisexual and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
members of the California State Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
. The caucus currently has eight members, including Assembly Speaker John Pérez
John Pérez
John A. Pérez is a union organizer and politician from Los Angeles, California, who has been the Speaker of the California State Assembly since March 1, 2010. A Democrat, he represents the 46th district in the California State Assembly.-Early life and career:Pérez grew up in El Sereno and Highland...
.
Role
The caucus was established to champion legislation that advances equality and the rights of LGBT Californians. Its members have introduced and passed numerous measures related to gay rights, including two same-sex marriage billsSame-sex marriage in California
The status of same-sex marriage in California is unique among the 50 U.S. states, in that the state formerly granted marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but has discontinued doing so...
(both vetoed by the governor), bills prohibiting discrimination in state government, tackling orientation-based bullying in schools and adequately funding HIV/AIDS treatment. In December 2008, in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
, members of the LGBT Caucus pushed a resolution expressing the legislature's opinion that the proposition was unconstitutional.
In addition, the caucus sponsors an annual LGBT Pride Exhibit every June and presents the LGBT Pride Recognition Awards to outstanding Californians. In 2006, several Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
legislators boycotted the awards ceremony, walking off the Assembly floor as the awards were presented. This boycott stalled the ceremony for several years until 2009 when it was resurrected. In each year since, many Republicans have boycotted the ceremony.
Current members
Twelve openly LGBTLGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
people have served in the legislature and been members of the caucus – all gay or lesbian and Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Eight of them hold office in the 2011–12 biennium.
| Name | Residence | Party | Years in Assembly | Years in Senate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christine Kehoe Christine Kehoe Christine T. Kehoe is an American politician from San Diego, California. A Democrat, she has served since 2004 as a member of the California State Senate representing the 39th district... |
San Diego San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
Democratic | 2000–2004 | 2004–present |
| Mark Leno Mark Leno Mark Leno is an American politician, representing California's 3rd Senate district, which includes parts of San Francisco and Sonoma County, as well as the entirety of Marin County. He was elected in 2008 and is the first openly gay man to serve in the Senate... |
San Francisco San Francisco, California San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland... |
Democratic | 2002–2008 | 2008–present |
| Cathleen Galgiani Cathleen Galgiani Cathleen Galgiani is an American politician who currently serves in the California State Assembly, where she has represented the 17th district since December 2006... |
Livingston Livingston, California Livingston is a city in Merced County, California. Livingston is located west-northwest of Atwater, at an elevation of 131 feet . According to the 2010 census, the city population was 13,058, up from 10,473 at the 2000 census. Livingston's total area is , including undeveloped farmland annexed in... |
Democratic | 2006–present Galgiani came out in November 2011 | — |
| Tom Ammiano Tom Ammiano Tom Ammiano is an American politician and LGBT rights activist from San Francisco, California. Ammiano is a Democrat who has served as a member of the California State Assembly since 2008, representing the 13th district... |
San Francisco San Francisco, California San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland... |
Democratic | 2008–present | — |
| John Pérez John Pérez John A. Pérez is a union organizer and politician from Los Angeles, California, who has been the Speaker of the California State Assembly since March 1, 2010. A Democrat, he represents the 46th district in the California State Assembly.-Early life and career:Pérez grew up in El Sereno and Highland... |
Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... |
Democratic | 2008–present | — |
| Toni Atkins Toni Atkins Toni G. Atkins is an American Democratic politician and a member of the California State Assembly from San Diego's 76th district. She formerly served on San Diego City Council, leaving office in December 2008 due to term limits... |
San Diego San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
Democratic | 2010–present | — |
| Rich Gordon Rich Gordon Richard S. Gordon is an American politician from Menlo Park, California who currently serves in the California State Assembly representing the 21st district... |
Menlo Park Menlo Park, California Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City... |
Democratic | 2010–present | — |
| Ricardo Lara Ricardo Lara Ricardo Lara is a politician from Los Angeles County, California who serves in the California State Assembly, where he represents the 50th district... |
Bell Gardens Bell Gardens, California Bell Gardens is a city in Los Angeles County, California. The population was 42,072 at the 2010 census, down from 44,054 at the 2000 census.Bell Gardens is notable for being one of only five Los Angeles County cities to permit casino gambling... |
Democratic | 2010–present | — |
Notes:
Former members
| Name | Residence | Party | Years in Assembly | Years in Senate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheila Kuehl Sheila Kuehl Sheila James Kuehl is an American politician, and a former child actress. She most recently served as a Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing the 23rd district in Los Angeles County and parts of southern Ventura County... |
Santa Monica Santa Monica, California Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and... |
Democratic | 1994–2000 | 2000–2008 |
| Carole Migden Carole Migden Carole Migden is an American politician from San Francisco, California who represented the third district of the California State Senate from 2004 to 2008 and the 13th district of the California State Assembly from 1996 to 2002.... |
San Francisco San Francisco, California San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland... |
Democratic | 1996–2002 | 2004–2008 |
| Jackie Goldberg Jackie Goldberg Jackie Goldberg is an American politician and teacher, and a member of the Democratic Party. She is a former member of the California State Assembly.... |
Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... |
Democratic | 2000–2006 | — |
| John Laird | Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946... |
Democratic | 2002–2008 | — |
In addition, there has been one gay member of the legislature who, despite being open about his sexual orientation, was not a member of the caucus. Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
state senator Roy Ashburn
Roy Ashburn
Roy Arthur Ashburn is an American politician from Kern County, California. A Republican, he served as a California State Senator from 2002 to 2010 representing the 18th district. He previously served three terms in the California State Assembly, representing the 32nd district and 12 years on the...
came out in March 2010 after having been arrested while driving under the influence
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
on his way home from a gay bar. He served the remaining eight months of his term but did not join the caucus.
There have also been members of the legislature who, though not open about their sexuality at the time they served in public office, subsequently declared themselves gay or lesbian. Dennis Mangers, who represented Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
in the Assembly from 1976 to 1980, married his partner of 17 years, Michael Sestak, in June 2008. Art Torres, who served 8 years in the Assembly and 12 in the State Senate before going on to spend 13 years as chair of the California Democratic Party
California Democratic Party
The California Democratic Party is the state branch of the Democratic Party in the state of California, headquartered in Sacramento. It is chaired by veteran Democratic politician and former United States Representative John L. Burton, who succeeded Art Torres in April 2009. It is the majority...
, came out publicly
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
in April 2009.
Chronology of openly LGBT legislators
The table below shows members of the legislature who were openly LGBT at the time they served. It extends back to the election of the first openly gay member of the California legislature: Sheila Kuehl (elected November 1994). The caucus was founded in 2002.| Legislative session |
Openly LGBT members (in Assembly, in Senate) |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–1996 | Sheila Kuehl Sheila Kuehl Sheila James Kuehl is an American politician, and a former child actress. She most recently served as a Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing the 23rd district in Los Angeles County and parts of southern Ventura County... Assembly, 41st district California's 41st State Assembly district California's 41st State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Julia Brownley of Santa Monica.-District profile:... |
1 (1, 0) | |||||||
| 1997–1998 | Carole Migden Carole Migden Carole Migden is an American politician from San Francisco, California who represented the third district of the California State Senate from 2004 to 2008 and the 13th district of the California State Assembly from 1996 to 2002.... Assembly, 13th district California's 13th State Assembly district California's 13th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Tom Ammiano of San Francisco, of which 54.51% is in the district.-2008:-2006:-2004:-2002:... |
2 (2, 0) | |||||||
| 1999–2000 | 2 (2, 0) | ||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Sheila Kuehl Sheila Kuehl Sheila James Kuehl is an American politician, and a former child actress. She most recently served as a Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing the 23rd district in Los Angeles County and parts of southern Ventura County... Senate, 23rd district California's 23rd State Senate district California's 23rd State Senate district is one of 40 senate districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Fran Pavley of Agoura Hills.-District profile:... |
Christine Kehoe Christine Kehoe Christine T. Kehoe is an American politician from San Diego, California. A Democrat, she has served since 2004 as a member of the California State Senate representing the 39th district... Assembly, 76th district California's 76th State Assembly district California's 76th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Toni Atkins of San Diego.-District profile:... |
Jackie Goldberg Jackie Goldberg Jackie Goldberg is an American politician and teacher, and a member of the Democratic Party. She is a former member of the California State Assembly.... Assembly, 45th district California's 45th State Assembly district California's 45th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Gil Cedillo of Los Angeles.-District profile:... |
4 (3, 1) | |||||
| 2003–2004 | Mark Leno Mark Leno Mark Leno is an American politician, representing California's 3rd Senate district, which includes parts of San Francisco and Sonoma County, as well as the entirety of Marin County. He was elected in 2008 and is the first openly gay man to serve in the Senate... Assembly, 13th district California's 13th State Assembly district California's 13th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Tom Ammiano of San Francisco, of which 54.51% is in the district.-2008:-2006:-2004:-2002:... |
John Laird Assembly, 27th district California's 27th State Assembly district California's 27th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Bill Monning of Carmel.-District profile:Monterey County - 44.18%*Carmel Valley Village*Carmel-by-the-Sea... |
5 (4, 1) | ||||||
| 2005–2006 | Carole Migden Carole Migden Carole Migden is an American politician from San Francisco, California who represented the third district of the California State Senate from 2004 to 2008 and the 13th district of the California State Assembly from 1996 to 2002.... Senate, 3rd district California's 3rd State Senate district California's 3rd State Senate District is one of 40 California State Senate districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Mark Leno of San Francisco.-District profile:... |
Christine Kehoe Christine Kehoe Christine T. Kehoe is an American politician from San Diego, California. A Democrat, she has served since 2004 as a member of the California State Senate representing the 39th district... Senate, 39th district California's 39th State Senate district California's 39th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate Districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Christine Kehoe of San Diego.-District profile:The 39th District, located entirely in San Diego County, is essentially an urban San Diego seat... |
6 (3, 3) | ||||||
| 2007–2008 | 5 (2, 3) | ||||||||
| 2009–2010 | John Pérez John Pérez John A. Pérez is a union organizer and politician from Los Angeles, California, who has been the Speaker of the California State Assembly since March 1, 2010. A Democrat, he represents the 46th district in the California State Assembly.-Early life and career:Pérez grew up in El Sereno and Highland... Assembly, 46th district California's 46th State Assembly district California's 46th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democratic Speaker John A... |
Tom Ammiano Tom Ammiano Tom Ammiano is an American politician and LGBT rights activist from San Francisco, California. Ammiano is a Democrat who has served as a member of the California State Assembly since 2008, representing the 13th district... Assembly, 13th district California's 13th State Assembly district California's 13th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Tom Ammiano of San Francisco, of which 54.51% is in the district.-2008:-2006:-2004:-2002:... |
Roy Ashburn Roy Ashburn Roy Arthur Ashburn is an American politician from Kern County, California. A Republican, he served as a California State Senator from 2002 to 2010 representing the 18th district. He previously served three terms in the California State Assembly, representing the 32nd district and 12 years on the... Senate, 18th district California's 18th State Senate district California's 18th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate districts. It is currently represented by Republican Jean Fuller of Bakersfield.-District profile:Kern County*Bakersfield*California City*Maricopa*Ridgecrest*Taft*Tehachapi... |
Mark Leno Mark Leno Mark Leno is an American politician, representing California's 3rd Senate district, which includes parts of San Francisco and Sonoma County, as well as the entirety of Marin County. He was elected in 2008 and is the first openly gay man to serve in the Senate... Senate, 3rd district California's 3rd State Senate district California's 3rd State Senate District is one of 40 California State Senate districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Mark Leno of San Francisco.-District profile:... |
5 (2, 3) | ||||
| 2011–2012 | Ricardo Lara Ricardo Lara Ricardo Lara is a politician from Los Angeles County, California who serves in the California State Assembly, where he represents the 50th district... Assembly, 50th district California's 50th State Assembly district California's 50th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens.-District profile:... |
Rich Gordon Rich Gordon Richard S. Gordon is an American politician from Menlo Park, California who currently serves in the California State Assembly representing the 21st district... Assembly, 21st district California's 21st State Assembly district California's 21st State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Rich Gordon of Menlo Park.-District profile:San Mateo County - 30.22%*Atherton*East Palo Alto... |
Toni Atkins Toni Atkins Toni G. Atkins is an American Democratic politician and a member of the California State Assembly from San Diego's 76th district. She formerly served on San Diego City Council, leaving office in December 2008 due to term limits... Assembly, 76th district California's 76th State Assembly district California's 76th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Toni Atkins of San Diego.-District profile:... |
Cathleen Galgiani Cathleen Galgiani Cathleen Galgiani is an American politician who currently serves in the California State Assembly, where she has represented the 17th district since December 2006... Assembly, 17th district California's 17th State Assembly district California's 17th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Cathleen Galgiani of Livingston.-District profile:All of Merced CountyPart of San Joaquin County... |
8 (6, 2) |
Note: Roy Ashburn came out in March 2010, having served since 1996 (Assembly, 1996–2002; Senate, 2002–2010). Cathleen Galgiani came out in November 2011, having served in the Assembly since 2006.
Chairs
| Term of office | Name | Chamber |
|---|---|---|
| 2002–2003 | Christine Kehoe | Assembly |
| 2003–2006 | Mark Leno | Assembly |
| 2006–2008 | John Laird | Assembly |
| 2008–2010 | Mark Leno | Senate |
| 2010–2011 | Tom Ammiano | Assembly |
| 2011–present | Christine Kehoe | Senate |