California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus explained
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.
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
| Name | Residence | Party | Years in Assembly | Years in Senate |
|---|
| | Democratic | 2002–2008 | 2020–present |
| | Democratic | 2010–2016 | 2016–present |
| | Democratic | 2012–2020 | 2020–present |
| | Democratic | 2014–present | — |
| | Democratic | 2016–present | — |
| | Democratic | — | 2016–present |
| | Democratic | 2020–present | — |
| | Democratic | 2020–present | — |
| | Democratic | 2022–present | — |
| | Democratic | 2022–present | — |
| | Democratic | — | 2022–present |
| | Democratic | — | 2022–present | |
Former members
| Name | Residence | Party | Years in Assembly | Years in Senate |
|---|
| | Democratic | 1994–2000 | 2000–2008 |
| | Democratic | 1996–2002 | 2004–2008 |
| | Democratic | 2000–2004 | 2004–2012 |
| | Democratic | 2000–2006 | — |
| | Democratic | 2008–2014 | — |
| | Democratic | 2008–2014 | — |
| | Democratic | 2002–2008 | 2008–2016 |
| | Democratic | 2010–2016 | — |
| | Democratic | 2010–2012 | 2012–2019 |
| | Democratic | 2006–2012[9] | 2012–2020 |
| | Democratic | 2016–2020 | — | |
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 | 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) | |
|---|
Chairs
| Term of office | Name | Chamber |
|---|
| 2002–2003[10] | Christine Kehoe | Assembly |
| 2003–2006 | Mark Leno | Assembly |
| 2006–2008[11] | John Laird | Assembly |
| 2008–2010[12] | Mark Leno | Senate |
| 2010–2011[13] | Tom Ammiano | Assembly |
| 2011–2012[14] | Christine Kehoe | Senate |
| 2012–2015[15] | Rich Gordon | Assembly |
| 2015–2017[16] | Susan Eggman | Assembly |
| 2017–2019[17] | Evan Low | Assembly |
| 2019–2022[18] | Scott Wiener | Senate |
| 2022–present[19] | Susan Eggman | Senate | |
References
- Web site: California Legislative LGBT Caucus Elects Laird Chair . 2008-06-04 . California State Assembly . 2006-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080613061500/http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/press/a272006051.htm . 2008-06-13 . dead .
- News: California Legislature's gay caucus introduces anti-Prop. 8 resolution . 2008-12-31 . . 2008-12-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023532/http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/1444069.html . December 16, 2008 .
- News: GOP Lawmakers Walk Out Over Gay Recognition . 2008-06-04 . . 2006-08-14 . dead . https://archive.today/20070616104223/http://www.news10.net/storyfull2.aspx?storyid=19346 . 2007-06-16 .
- News: Over GOP objections, Assembly proclaims Pride . 2009-06-28 . . 2009-06-25 .
- News: 'Political Animals': LAFF Review . June 8, 2016 . Stephen Farber . . June 21, 2016.
- News: Hindery . Robin . Calif state senator says he's gay after DUI arrest . . . March 8, 2010 . March 8, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100310115304/http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/calif-state-senator-says-355528.html . March 10, 2010 .
- News: Gay couples are emphasizing low-key weddings . 2008-06-17 . . 2008-06-16 .
- News: Former Dem chair Torres comes out . 2009-04-30 . . 2009-04-30 .
- Galgiani came out in November 2011
- Web site: LGBT Caucus elects Assemblyman Mark Leno as Chair . 2008-06-04 . California State Assembly . 2003-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080828072541/http://www.assembly.ca.gov/LGBT_Caucus/news/2003/20031106.htm# . 2008-08-28 . dead .
- News: Political Notebook: Laird aims to keep LGBT caucus alive . 2008-06-04 . . 2006-12-21 .
- News: Political Notebook: Leno gets chair . 2009-01-29 . . 2008-01-29 .
- News: Equality California Congratulates New LGBT Caucus Chair Assemblymember Tom Ammiano . 2010-07-17 . 2010-03-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717022028/http://www.eqca.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=kuLRJ9MRKrH&b=4990109&ct=8102765# . 2011-07-17 . dead .
- News: Kehoe to chair California LGBT Legislative Caucus . Del Mar Times . 2011-01-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110119170208/http://delmartimes.net/2011/01/14/kehoe-to-chair-lgbt-legislative-caucus/ . 2011-01-19 . dead .
- News: Gordon to seek second state Assembly term. San Mateo Daily Journal. 2012-01-25. 2012-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20120203191805/http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=226970&title=Gordon%20to%20seek%20second%20state%20Assembly%20term. 2012-02-03. dead.
- News: CA LGBT caucus elects first inland lawmaker as chair . Bay Area Reporter. 2015-01-20. 2015-01-15.
- Web site: Assemblymember Evan Low elected to serve as chair; Senator Ricardo Lara elected to serve as vice chair of the CA Legislative LGBT Caucus.
- Web site: Wiener elected chair of LGBT caucus. Bay Area Reporter. January 9, 2019.
- Web site: Eggman to chair historic CA LGBTQ caucus. Bay Area Reporter. November 30, 2022.
External links
