Political Pioneers

8/9/2019 Political Pioneers

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Message from the Board Chair

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)Pride Month is celebrated each year in June.President Barack Obama has declared June2010 to be LGBT Pride Month, stating:

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Robert H. Gleason

Board Chair,San Diego CountyRegional Airport

Authority

I call upon all Americans to observethis month by fighting prejudice anddiscrimination in their own lives andeverywhere it exists.

Over the years, LGBT people have risen toprominence in positions of leadership at thelocal, state, national and international levels.


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Several local elected and appointed officials have beengroundbreaking members of the LGBT community, including:

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first LGBT person elected in City of San Diego, as Council-

member in 2003; elected to State Assembly; now serving in State Senate.

City Councilmember from 2000-2008; served as Acting Mayor in2005, making San Diego then-largest city in the country with an LGBT Mayor.

former judge, now District Attorney; first lesbian D.A. elected

in the country; recently elected to third term with no opposition.

recently confirmed by U.S. Senate as U.S. Attorney for San Diego;only second LGBT person in such a role (both appointed by President Obama).

Superior Court Judges: (first gay man elected

county-wide), and


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Several current and former San Diego officials are proud tobe part of the LGBT community, including:

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former Superior Court Commissioner.

former Mayor of Chula Vista.

and current San Diego City Councilmembers.

Solana Beach City Councilmember.

former Coronado City Councilmember.

former San Diego Fire Chief.


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According to the Victory Fund(www.victoryfund.org), the number of openlyLGBT elected officials has increased from 50in 1991 to just over 500 today. This does notinclude appointed officials serving at alllevels of government.

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This presentation from the Airport AuthoritysDiversi-Team introduces a sampling ofnotable LGBT leaders who have served, orare serving, in elective office.


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San Francisco Board of Supervisors, 1978

Harvey Milk was one of the firstopenly LGBT elected officials inthe country (not the first, as is

often reported).

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Milk was posthumously awardedthe Presidential Medal ofFreedom in 2009.

This year, California became the first state in thenation to honor an LGBT citizen with an official dayof recognition. Harvey Milk Day will take place each

year on Milks birthday, May 22.


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Speaker of the California State Assembly

Represents the 46th Assembly Districtin Los Angeles.

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Sworn in as the 68th Speaker onMarch 1, 2010.

Longtime advocate of the LGBTcommunity.

First openly gay person of colorelected to state office in California.


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U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts

Chair of the House FinancialServices Committee, whichoversees the securities, insurance,

banking & housing industries.

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Re-elected by wide marginssince 1982.

One of the most prominent openly LGBTpoliticians in the United States.


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U.S. Congresswoman from Wisconsin

First elected in 1998; currently in 5th

term.

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First woman elected to Congressfrom Wisconsin.

First openly lesbian non-incumbentelected to the House ofRepresentatives.

Leading advocate for universal health care,

energy independence and renewable fuels

.


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U.S. Congressman from Colorado

First openly gay Congressman electedas a freshman, in 2008.

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Co-Chair of the House LGBT EqualityCaucus.

Founded several successful internet

companies, including Proflowers.comand bluemountain.com.

In 2004, Fortune magazine estimated his

personal wealth at $160 million.


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Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island

First openly LGBT mayor of a U.S.state capital.

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Elected in a landslide victory in2002, with 84% of the vote.

Oversaw drop in Providence crime

rate to lowest level in 30 years.

Candidate for U.S. House ofRepresentatives.


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Mayor of Houston, Texas

Elected in 2009.

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Made Houston largestAmerican city with an openlyLGBT mayor.

Her top priorities for Houston:

improving transportation &balancing the city's budget.


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Mayor of Berlin, Germany

Mayor of Berlin since 2001.

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Made Berlin largest city in theworld with an openly LGBT mayor.

Possible Social Democraticcandidate for Chancellor of

Germany.

Coined now-famous German phrase, "Ich binschwul, und das ist auch gut so "I am gay, and

that's alright, too.


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Mayor of Paris, France

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Mayor of Paris since 2001.

Re-elected in 2008 for new six-

year-term (20082014).

Has given Parisians access to low-cost bicycle rentals and car

sharing.

Possible Socialist Party candidate for Presidentof France.


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Prime Minister of Iceland

Took office February 1, 2009.

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First openly LGBT head of state inthe world.

World's first head of state to enterinto a same-sex marriage.

Former flight attendant for Loftleiir(predecessor of Icelandair).

Listed by Forbes magazine as one of the 100 most

powerful women in the world.

Iceland's first female prime minister.


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