California Legislative LGBT Caucus

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, which is a record held over three non-consecutive sessions.

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.

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

19 openly LGBT people have served in the legislature and been members of the caucus – all gay or lesbian and Democrats. Eight 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
Name Residence Party Years in Assembly Years in Senate
John LairdSanta CruzDemocratic2002–20082020–present
Toni AtkinsSan DiegoDemocratic2010–20162016–present
Susan EggmanStocktonDemocratic2012–20202020–present
Evan LowCampbellDemocratic2014–present—
Sabrina CervantesEastvaleDemocratic2016–present—
Scott WienerSan FranciscoDemocratic—2016–present
Chris WardSan DiegoDemocratic2020–present—
Alex LeeSan JoseDemocratic2020–present—

Notes:

    Former members
    Name Residence Party Years in Assembly Years in Senate
    Sheila KuehlSanta MonicaDemocratic1994–20002000–2008
    Carole MigdenSan FranciscoDemocratic1996–20022004–2008
    Christine KehoeSan DiegoDemocratic2000–20042004–2012
    Jackie GoldbergLos AngelesDemocratic2000–2006—
    Tom AmmianoSan FranciscoDemocratic2008–2014—
    John PérezLos AngelesDemocratic2008–2014—
    Mark LenoSan FranciscoDemocratic2002–20082008–2016
    Rich GordonMenlo ParkDemocratic2010–2016—
    Ricardo LaraBell GardensDemocratic2010–20122012–2019
    Cathleen GalgianiLivingstonDemocratic2006–2012[Note 1]2012–2020
    Todd GloriaSan DiegoDemocratic2016–2020—

    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)
    1999–2000 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)
    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)
    2019–2020 7 (4, 3)
    2021–2022 Susan Eggman
    Senate, 5th district    		 John Laird
    Senate, 17th district    		 Chris Ward
    Assembly, 78th district    		 Alex Lee
    Assembly, 25th district    		 8 (4, 4)

    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 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–present Scott Wiener Senate

    References
    1. Galgiani came out in November 2011
    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. 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". 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. 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 Reporte. 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".
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