Sep 28: John Perez, State Legislator and Speaker

b. September 28, 1969

"Yes I’m gay, and I’m a politician. It’s a descriptor. I don’t think it’s a definer."

John A. Pérez is the openly gay speaker of the California Assembly. He is the first GLBT person of color to hold such a position and only the third out leader of a legislative body in United States history. 

Pérez was born in working-class Los Angeles, the son of Felipe, a Mexican immigrant who was disabled from a workplace accident, and Vera, who directed a community clinic. At age 14, Pérez became politically active, motivated by government cuts in disability payments to his father and in government subsidies to his mother’s clinic.

After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, Pérez spent several years as a labor organizer in Southern California. He served as political director for the United Food and Commercial Workers in Orange County.

Before he held an elective office, Pérez was actively engaged in public service. He was integral in founding California’s statewide GLBT organization, now called Equality California. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush appointed him to the President’s Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS.  Pérez was a gubernatorial appointee to a panel charged with reforming California’s initiative system and a mayoral appointee to the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency.

Pérez was elected to the California Assembly in 2008, winning 85 percent of the vote in his Los Angeles district. Two years later, he was selected as speaker by members of the Democratic Party and formally elected by the Assembly. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma said, "He’s someone who sends a signal to the nation that being gay is no longer a barrier to greatness."

Pérez is a fan of classical music, art museums and the Los Angeles Dodgers.rs.

Bibliography

"3 Questions for Assemblyman John Pérez." SFGate. 3 January 2010.

Bailey, Eric, and Shane Goldmacher. "Politics is part of John Pérez 's DNA." The Los Angeles Times.17 December 2009.

Bajko, Matthew S. "Political Notes: Gay Latino labor activist set to make history." The Bay Area Reporter Online. 10 April 2008.

Dolan, Jack. "John Pérez Sworn in as Assembly Speaker.” The Los Angeles Independent. 1 March 2010.

"John Pérez sworn in as Assembly speaker.” PolitiCal. 1 March 2010.

Zahniser, David. "Villaraigosa's cousin enters Assembly race." The Los Angeles Times. 23 February 2008.

Article about John A. Pérez

Huffington Post Biography

Videos of John A. Pérez

New California Speaker John A. Pérez

Speaker Pérez Discusses His Commitment to Job Creation, Reforms

Assemblymember Pérez Discusses Democratic Caucus Speakership Vote

Websites

Speaker of the Assembly John A. Pérez

Pérez for Assembly