California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

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.

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.

Feature in a documentary

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

Members

27 openly LGBT people have served in the legislature and been members of the caucus – all gay or lesbian and Democrats. 13 of them are current office holders.

In addition, there have been two gay members of the legislature who, despite being open about their sexual orientation, were not members 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. He served the remaining eight months of his term but did not join the caucus. Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, also openly gay, did not join the caucus after being elected in 2024.

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.{{cite news |url= http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-image17-2008jun17,0,4436786.story |title= Gay couples are emphasizing low-key weddings |accessdate=2008-06-17 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2008-06-16 }} 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.{{cite news |url= http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=3887 |title= Former Dem chair Torres comes out |accessdate=2009-04-30 |work=Bay Area Reporter |date=2009-04-30 }}

Current members

Former members

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.

1. Roy Ashburn came out in March 2010, having served since 1996 (Assembly, 1996–2002; Senate, 2002–2010). Ashburn did not join the caucus after coming out.
2. Cathleen Galgiani came out in November 2011, having served in the Assembly since 2006.
3. Carl DiMaio did not join the caucus}}

Chairs

References

References

1. (2006-12-05). "California Legislative LGBT Caucus Elects Laird Chair". California State Assembly.
2. (2008-12-03). "California Legislature's gay caucus introduces anti-Prop. 8 resolution". [[Sacramento Bee]].
3. (2006-08-14). "GOP Lawmakers Walk Out Over Gay Recognition". [[KXTV.
4. (2009-06-25). "Over GOP objections, Assembly proclaims Pride". [[Bay Area Reporter]].
5. Stephen Farber. (June 8, 2016). "'Political Animals': LAFF Review". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
6. Hindery, Robin. (March 8, 2010). "Calif state senator says he's gay after DUI arrest". [[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]].
7. (2003-11-06). "LGBT Caucus elects Assemblyman Mark Leno as Chair". California State Assembly.
8. (2006-12-21). "Political Notebook: Laird aims to keep LGBT caucus alive". [[Bay Area Reporter]].
9. (2008-01-29). "Political Notebook: Leno gets chair". [[Bay Area Reporter]].
10. (2010-03-19). "Equality California Congratulates New LGBT Caucus Chair Assemblymember Tom Ammiano".
11. "Kehoe to chair California LGBT Legislative Caucus". Del Mar Times.
12. (2012-01-20). "Gordon to seek second state Assembly term". San Mateo Daily Journal.
13. (2015-01-15). "CA LGBT caucus elects first inland lawmaker as chair". Bay Area Reporter.
14. "Assemblymember Evan Low elected to serve as chair; Senator Ricardo Lara elected to serve as vice chair of the CA Legislative LGBT Caucus".
15. (January 9, 2019). "Wiener elected chair of LGBT caucus". Bay Area Reporter.
16. (November 30, 2022). "Eggman to chair historic CA LGBTQ caucus". Bay Area Reporter.