Gay Polls Reach Highest Level

[SACRAMENTO, CA] - The so-called "lavender ceiling" was shattered with the swearing in of California's first openly gay male state representatives, Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and John Laird (D-Santa Cruz). Their elections were preceeded by four lesbians.

"I'm thrilled to bring Harvey Milk's dream of gay men serving in the statehouse to fruition 24 years after his death," said Leno.

For the first time, the state legislator will have an official "GLBT Caucus" comprised of the five openly gay members of the Senate and the Assembly, said a press release from Leno.

Leno said that his first piece of legislation will be to remove the preemption preventing local jurisdictions from expanding the classes of citizens protected from discrimination.

"When a progressive city like San Francisco decides to protect its transgender citizens from discrimination and violence, state law should not intefere," said Leno.