California Legislative LGBT Caucus

Number of openly LGBT California state legislators by session

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.^[1] The caucus currently has eight members, including Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins.

This group is contrasted to other LGBT Equality Caucuses in that the California caucus consists entirely of LGBT legislators while other LGBT Equality Caucuses consist of all orientations. Both, however, promote the promulgation of LGBT-affirming laws within the legislature.

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 bills (both vetoed by the governor), bills prohibiting discrimination in state government, tackling orientation-based bullying in schools and adequately funding HIV/AIDS treatment.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3][4] This boycott stalled the ceremony for several years until 2009 when it was resurrected. In each year since, many Republicans have boycotted the ceremony.

Political Animals

A 2016 documentary film, Political Animals, by Jonah Markowitz features the accomplishments of California legislators Carole Migden, Sheila Kuehl, Jackie Goldberg, and Christine Kehoe.^[5]

Members

Current members

14 openly LGBT people have served in the legislature and been members of the caucus – all gay or lesbian and Democrats. Seven of them hold office in the 2015–16 biennium.

Name	Residence	Party	Years in Assembly	Years in Senate
Mark Leno	San Francisco	Democratic	2002–2008	2008–present
Cathleen Galgiani	Livingston	Democratic	2006–2012[Note 1]	2012–present
Toni Atkins	San Diego	Democratic	2010–present	—
Rich Gordon	Menlo Park	Democratic	2010–present	—
Ricardo Lara	Bell Gardens	Democratic	2010–2012	2012–present
Susan Eggman	Stockton	Democratic	2012–present	—
Evan Low	Campbell	Democratic	2014–present	—

Notes:

1. Galgiani came out in November 2011

Former members

Name	Residence	Party	Years in Assembly	Years in Senate
Sheila Kuehl	Santa Monica	Democratic	1994–2000	2000–2008
Carole Migden	San Francisco	Democratic	1996–2002	2004–2008
Christine Kehoe	San Diego	Democratic	2000–2004	2004–2012
Jackie Goldberg	Los Angeles	Democratic	2000–2006	—
John Laird	Santa Cruz	Democratic	2002–2008	—
Tom Ammiano	San Francisco	Democratic	2008–2014	—
John Pérez	Los Angeles	Democratic	2008–2014	—

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 from Kern County came out in March 2010 after having been arrested while driving under the influence on his way home from a gay bar.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

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 Assembly, 41st district								1 (1, 0)
1997–1998		Carole Migden Assembly, 13th district							2 (2, 0)
1999–2000									2 (2, 0)
2001–2002	Sheila Kuehl Senate, 23rd district		Christine Kehoe Assembly, 76th district	Jackie Goldberg Assembly, 45th district					4 (3, 1)
2003–2004					Mark Leno Assembly, 13th district	John Laird Assembly, 27th district			5 (4, 1)
2005–2006		Carole Migden Senate, 3rd district	Christine Kehoe Senate, 39th district						6 (3, 3)
2007–2008									5 (2, 3)
2009–2010	John Pérez Assembly, 46th district	Tom Ammiano Assembly, 13th district		Roy Ashburn Senate, 18th district	Mark Leno Senate, 3rd district				5 (2, 3)
2011–2012				Ricardo Lara Assembly, 50th district		Rich Gordon Assembly, 21st district	Toni Atkins Assembly, 76th district	Cathleen Galgiani Assembly, 17th district	8 (6, 2)
2013–2014			Susan Eggman Assembly, 13th district	Ricardo Lara Senate, 33rd district				Cathleen Galgiani Senate, 5th district	8 (5, 3)
2015–2016	Evan Low Assembly, 28th district								7 (4, 3)

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[9]	Christine Kehoe	Assembly
2003–2006[9]	Mark Leno	Assembly
2006–2008[10]	John Laird	Assembly
2008–2010[11]	Mark Leno	Senate
2010–2011[12]	Tom Ammiano	Assembly
2011–2012[13]	Christine Kehoe	Senate
2012–2015[14]	Rich Gordon	Assembly
2015–present[15]	Susan Eggman	Assembly

References

1. "California Legislative LGBT Caucus Elects Laird Chair". California State Assembly. 2006-12-05. Archived from the original on 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
2. "California Legislature's gay caucus introduces anti-Prop. 8 resolution". Sacramento Bee. 2008-12-03. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
3. "GOP Lawmakers Walk Out Over Gay Recognition". News10. 2006-08-14. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
4. "Over GOP objections, Assembly proclaims Pride". Bay Area Reporter. 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
5. Stephen Farber (June 8, 2016). "'Political Animals': LAFF Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
6. Hindery, Robin (March 8, 2010). "Calif state senator says he's gay after DUI arrest". Associated Press. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on March 10, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
7. "Gay couples are emphasizing low-key weddings". Los Angeles Times. 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
8. "Former Dem chair Torres comes out". Bay Area Reporter. 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
9. "LGBT Caucus elects Assemblyman Mark Leno as Chair". California State Assembly. 2003-11-06. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
10. "Political Notebook: Laird aims to keep LGBT caucus alive". Bay Area Reporter. 2006-12-21. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
11. "Political Notebook: Leno gets chair". Bay Area Reporter. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
12. "Equality California Congratulates New LGBT Caucus Chair Assemblymember Tom Ammiano". 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
13. "Kehoe to chair California LGBT Legislative Caucus". Del Mar Times. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
14. "Gordon to seek second state Assembly term". San Mateo Daily Journal. 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
15. "CA LGBT caucus elects first inland lawmaker as chair". Bay Area Reporte. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2015-01-20.

External links

• California Legislative LGBT Caucus