California to get its first openly gay speaker

Dec 11, 2009, 5:46 GMT

San Francisco - California is to get its first openly gay speaker of the Assembly after John Perez, a Latino Democrat from Los Angeles, was chosen by fellow legislators for the position.

'I think it says more about California than about me. It means California is a place that everybody has a seat at the table,' said Perez, 41, a former union official. The appointment, which is to take place next year, will make the freshman assemblyman one of the most senior gay politicians in the US.

Advocates for the gay community described the move as a historic moment for the US.

'He's the first openly gay person of colour elected to the legislature,' said Geoff Kors of Equality California. 'To have an openly gay Latino heading the largest legislative body, that represents the most people in the country, in and of itself is going to have a significant impact on advancing gay rights.'