California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

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Founding members of the Caucus (left to right): Mark Leno, Sheila Kuehl, Jackie Goldberg, John Laird, Christine Kehoe California Legislative LGBT Caucus.jpg
Founding members of the Caucus (left to right): Mark Leno, Sheila Kuehl, Jackie Goldberg, John Laird, Christine Kehoe

The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus (formerly 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 12 members, a record.

Contents

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 LGBTQ 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.

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. [5]

Members

23 openly LGBT people have served in the legislature and been members of the caucus – all gay or lesbian and Democrats. 12 of them are current office holders.

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]

Current members

NameResidencePartyYears in AssemblyYears in Senate
John Laird Santa Cruz Democratic2002–20082020–present
Toni Atkins San Diego Democratic2010–20162016–present
Susan Eggman Stockton Democratic2012–20202020–present
Evan Low Campbell Democratic2014–present—
Sabrina Cervantes Eastvale Democratic2016–present—
Scott Wiener San Francisco Democratic—2016–present
Chris Ward San Diego Democratic2020–present—
Alex Lee San Jose Democratic2020–present—
Corey Jackson Perris Democratic2022–present—
Rick Zbur West Hollywood Democratic2022–present—
Caroline Menjivar San Fernando Valley Democratic—2022–present
Steve Padilla Chula Vista Democratic—2022–present


Former members

NameResidencePartyYears in AssemblyYears in Senate
Sheila Kuehl Santa Monica Democratic1994–20002000–2008
Carole Migden San Francisco Democratic1996–20022004–2008
Christine Kehoe San Diego Democratic2000–20042004–2012
Jackie Goldberg Los Angeles Democratic2000–2006—
Tom Ammiano San Francisco Democratic2008–2014—
John Pérez Los Angeles Democratic2008–2014—
Mark Leno San Francisco Democratic2002–20082008–2016
Rich Gordon Menlo Park Democratic2010–2016—
Ricardo Lara Bell Gardens Democratic2010–20122012–2019
Cathleen Galgiani Livingston Democratic2006–2012 [Note 1] 2012–2020
Todd Gloria San Diego Democratic2016–2020—

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)
1999–20002 (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)
2007–20085 (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)
2017–2018 Sabrina Cervantes
Assembly, 60th district 		Scott Wiener
Senate, 11th district 		Todd Gloria
Assembly, 78th district 		Toni Atkins
Senate, 39th district 		8 (4, 4)
2019–20207 (4, 3)
2021–2022 Susan Eggman
Senate, 5th district 		Chris Ward
Assembly, 78th district 		John Laird
Senate, 17th district 		Alex Lee
Assembly, 25th district 		8 (4, 4)
2023–2024 Corey Jackson
Assembly, 60th district 		Rick Zbur
Assembly, 51st district 		Caroline Menjivar
Senate, 20th district 		Steve Padilla
Senate, 18th district 		12 (6, 6)
Notes:
  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.

Chairs

Term of officeNameChamber
2002–2003 [9] Christine KehoeAssembly
2003–2006 [9] Mark LenoAssembly
2006–2008 [10] John LairdAssembly
2008–2010 [11] Mark LenoSenate
2010–2011 [12] Tom AmmianoAssembly
2011–2012 [13] Christine KehoeSenate
2012–2015 [14] Rich GordonAssembly
2015–2017 [15] Susan EggmanAssembly
2017–2019 [16] Evan LowAssembly
2019–2022 [17] Scott WienerSenate
2022–present [18] Susan EggmanSenate

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References

  1. ↑ Galgiani came out in November 2011
  1. 1 2 "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. Archived from the original on 2007-06-16. 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". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Associated Press. 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. 1 2 "LGBT Caucus elects Assemblyman Mark Leno as Chair". California State Assembly. 2003-11-06. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. 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. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  13. ↑ "Kehoe to chair California LGBT Legislative Caucus". Del Mar Times. Archived from the original on 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  14. ↑ "Gordon to seek second state Assembly term". San Mateo Daily Journal. 2012-01-20. Archived from the original on 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  15. ↑ "CA LGBT caucus elects first inland lawmaker as chair". Bay Area Reporter. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2015-01-20.
  16. ↑ "Assemblymember Evan Low elected to serve as chair; Senator Ricardo Lara elected to serve as vice chair of the CA Legislative LGBT Caucus".
  17. ↑ "Wiener elected chair of LGBT caucus". Bay Area Reporter. January 9, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Eggman to chair historic CA LGBTQ caucus". Bay Area Reporter. November 30, 2022.
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