Assemblymember John Perez makes history becoming California’s first gay Assembly Speaker

Openly gay Assemblymember John Perez (D-Los Angeles) is making history Monday as he is sworn in as the new Assembly Speaker. He is taking over from Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), who is running for Congressmember Diane Watson’s seat.

Longtime political columnist Rick Orlov notes that Assembly Speaker is considered “the second-most powerful job in California politics.” He writes:

“In a ceremony being compared to an inauguration, Perez will outline his priorities – jobs, jobs, jobs and perhaps a bit on education and, oh yeah, that multibillion-dollar budget problem. He is expected to be speaking to a full house, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Gov. Gray Davis and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – Perez’s cousin.”

Also attending will be many of Perez’s longtime LGBT friends, including Eric Bauman, the openly gay vice chair of the California Democratic Party.  Bauman emailed that “the Speaker-elect and members of the Legislature were blessed at a magnificent interfaith service that included Catholic priests, bishops, ministers and our community’s own Rabbi Denise Eger.”  He adds, “An incredible diversity of Californians are in Sacramento to attend and participate in the swearing-in, including the Gay Men’s Chorus who I am sure will turn the house out when they sing.”

UPDATE from Bauman at 12:50p: “The Gay Mens Chorus has the house in tears with a medley of America the Beautiful and America… To be followed by It’s a Brand New Day from the Wiz… Go boys, turn them out!”

UPDATE: LA Times reports Perez sworn in at 12:56.

UPDATE: West Hollywood City Councilmember John Duran in the Capitol Gallery says: “The Assembly Chambers were filled with the spirits of the thousands of LGBT activists who strolled the Capitol halls for more than 40 years demanding justice on sodomy laws, hate crimes, discrimination and AIDS. Much blood was shed to get us here.”

UPDATE:  This just in from EQCA’s Geoff Kors:

I just left the Assembly Chambers after witnessing history as Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno swore in Assemblymember John A. Pérez as Speaker.

From the rousing rendition of “Brand New Day” by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles to Speaker Pérez’s moving and powerful remarks, today is a day of great hope for the State of California and the LGBT community.

Another barrier for our community was shattered as Assemblymember Pérez became the state’s first openly gay Speaker.

With his indispensible leadership and stellar track record, it is Speaker Pérez who will lead California in solving the many challenges the state faces.

At EQCA, we look forward to working with Speaker Pérez as we push forward with an aggressive legislative agenda that will propel the state closer to full LGBT equality. We also look forward to working with him to ensure that the state has a budget that protects the critical health and human service needs of all people, especially those most in need.

Please join me in congratulating Speaker Pérez, by posting a note on his Facebook page.

Like Harvey Milk, Speaker Pérez proves that being LGBT does not preclude a person from achieving greatness or making the world a better place for others.

Congratulations, Mr. Speaker.

UPDATED Tuesday:  Hans Johnson, President of Progressive Victory, said:

Today’s ceremony, with the remarks by the new Speaker as its capstone, was one of the most masterful displays of fine oratory and statecraft an openly LGBT lawmaker has conducted. Led off by an upbeat serenade from the LA Gay Men’s Chorus, the gathering featured an especially poignant tribute to John’s discipline and dedication to diversity, along with her own “mazel tov,” by Assembly colleague Bonnie Lowenthal. It also included no fewer than three outbursts of rhythmic applause, or “rally claps,” that testified to Perez’ roots in the labor movement and seemed ready to lift the lid off the Assembly chamber (2 for John himself and one for Labor Secretary Hilda Solis).

Perez paid homage to his immigrant Latino heritage and his late parents in passages that elicited emotion from many viewers, especially when acknowledging the proxy moms who have supported him strongly in his fights for fair contracts and health care for workers; HIV-AIDS education, prevention, treatment, and funding struggles; and Democratic campaigns.

He committed to running an inclusive Speaker’s office that would be open to fair-minded and solution-oriented Republicans: “I know what it’s like to be a minority,” he stated. In an especially adept twist, Perez invoked the echoing protests of UC students outside the Capitol, opposing recent large increases in fees, as consistent with his own background as a young activist, UC alum, and now top lawmaker committed to making higher education accessible for state residents.

Even the Governator (now outgoing, in both senses) seemed charmed by the tone of unity, clarity, and purpose as he sat behind Perez and took in the well crafted speech.

California has a new Speaker. And the LGBT movement is blessed to have an authoritative voice on a very powerful stage.

The Los Angeles Times looks at Perez’s ties to the labor movement and deep-pocket donors, writing: “The legislator, who has cultivated an image as a crusader for the marginalized and powerless, has also advocated for the powerful.” The Times reports that:

“In 2009, his first full year as a lawmaker, Pérez carved a lucrative exception into state law for billionaire developer Philip Anschutz. He also introduced a bill at the request of Enterprise Car Rental that would have helped boost the company’s bottom line by stripping away a significant consumer protection.

“Before his election to the Assembly, while a member of the Los Angeles redevelopment commission, Pérez voted to give millions in government subsidies to a giant real estate firm that contributed heavily to his union’s political fund.”

Juxtaposed to The Times in-depth piece is Perez’s conversation with me about how he brought clean water to a neglected area in his district, indicating his “cultivated” image as a crusader for the powerless has some substance to it.

Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors issued the following statement:

“Equality California is thrilled to welcome Assemblymember John A. Pérez as Speaker of the Assembly. With his indispensible leadership and stellar track record, we have the utmost confidence in his ability to find solutions to the many challenges California faces.

“California is a true trail blazer with respect to reflecting the state’s diversity in our leadership, as we witnessed in the ground breaking election of the first female African-American Speaker two years ago and now the first LGBT Speaker.

“Speaker Pérez is a role model and an inspiration to the LGBT community, especially to LGBT youth struggling to find acceptance at home and in school. We wish him the very best of luck as he embarks on this momentous journey and look forward to continuing our partnership with him in our mission to achieve full equality for LGBT Californians.”

Tagged as: Equality California, Events, Geoff Kors, John Perez, Los Angeles