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. The caucus currently has 14 members, a record high.

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. 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.

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. 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.

Current members NameResidencePartyYears in AssemblyYears in SenateJohn Laird Santa Cruz Democratic 2002—2008 2020—presentSabrina Cervantes Eastvale Democratic 2016—2024 2024—presentScott Wiener San Francisco Democratic — 2016—presentChris Ward San Diego Democratic 2020—present — Alex Lee San Jose Democratic 2020–present —Corey Jackson Perris Democratic 2022–present —Rick Chavez Zbur West Hollywood Democratic 2022—present —Caroline Menjivar San Fernando Valley Democratic — 2022—presentSteve Padilla Chula Vista Democratic — 2022—presentSasha Renée Pérez Pasadena Democratic — 2024—presentJose Solache Lynwood, California Democratic 2024—present —Mark González Los Angeles Democratic 2024—present —Sade Elhawary South Los Angeles Democratic 2024—present —Christopher Cabaldon Davis Democratic — 2024—present

Former members NameResidencePartyYears in AssemblyYears in SenateSheila Kuehl Santa Monica Democratic 1994–2000 2000–2008Carole Migden San Francisco Democratic 1996–2002 2004–2008Christine Kehoe San Diego Democratic 2000–2004 2004–2012Jackie Goldberg Los Angeles Democratic 2000–2006 —Tom Ammiano San Francisco Democratic 2008–2014 —John Pérez Los Angeles Democratic 2008–2014 —Mark Leno San Francisco Democratic 2002–2008 2008–2016Rich Gordon Menlo Park Democratic 2010–2016 —Ricardo Lara Bell Gardens Democratic 2010–2012 2012–2019Cathleen Galgiani Livingston Democratic 2006–2012Galgiani came out in November 2011 2012–2020Todd Gloria San Diego Democratic 2016–2020 —Toni Atkins San Diego Democratic 2010–2016 2016–2024Susan Eggman Stockton Democratic 2012–2020 2020–2024Evan Low Campbell Democratic 2014–2024 —

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. LegislativesessionOpenly LGBT members(in Assembly, in Senate)1995–1996Sheila KuehlAssembly, 41st district1 (1, 0)1997–1998Carole MigdenAssembly, 13th district2 (2, 0)1999–20002 (2, 0)2001–2002Sheila KuehlSenate, 23rd districtChristine KehoeAssembly, 76th districtJackie GoldbergAssembly, 45th district4 (3, 1)2003–2004Mark LenoAssembly, 13th districtJohn LairdAssembly, 27th district5 (4, 1)2005–2006Carole MigdenSenate, 3rd districtChristine KehoeSenate, 39th district6 (3, 3)2007–20085 (2, 3)2009–2010John PérezAssembly, 46th districtTom AmmianoAssembly, 13th districtRoy AshburnSenate, 18th districtMark LenoSenate, 3rd district5 (2, 3)2011–2012Ricardo LaraAssembly, 50th districtRich GordonAssembly, 21st districtToni AtkinsAssembly, 76th districtCathleen GalgianiAssembly, 17th district8 (6, 2)2013–2014Susan EggmanAssembly, 13th districtRicardo LaraSenate, 33rd districtCathleen GalgianiSenate, 5th district8 (5, 3)2015–2016Evan LowAssembly, 28th district7 (4, 3)2017–2018Sabrina CervantesAssembly, 60th districtScott WienerSenate, 11th districtTodd GloriaAssembly, 78th districtToni AtkinsSenate, 39th district8 (4, 4)2019–20207 (4, 3)2021–2022Susan EggmanSenate, 5th districtChris WardAssembly, 78th districtJohn LairdSenate, 17th districtAlex LeeAssembly, 25th district8 (4, 4)2023–2024Corey JacksonAssembly, 60th districtRick ZburAssembly, 51st districtCaroline MenjivarSenate, 20th districtSteve PadillaSenate, 18th district12 (6, 6)2025–2026Christopher CabaldonSenate, 3rd districtSabrina CervantesSenate, 31st districtSasha Renée PérezSenate, 25th districtMark GonzalezAssembly, 54th districtSade ElhawaryAssembly, 57th districtJose SolacheAssembly, 62nd districtCarl DeMaioAssembly, 75th district15 (8, 7)

Chairs Term of officeNameChamber2002–2003 Christine Kehoe Assembly2003–2006 Mark Leno Assembly2006–2008 John Laird Assembly 2008–2010 Mark Leno Senate 2010–2011 Tom Ammiano Assembly 2011–2012 Christine Kehoe Senate 2012–2015 Rich Gordon Assembly 2015–2017 Susan Eggman Assembly2017–2019 Evan Low Assembly2019–2022Scott WienerSenate2022–2024Susan EggmanSenate2024–presentChris WardAssembly

References

External links California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus