California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Announces New Leadership for the 2025 2026 Legislative Sessions

August 13, 2024

SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus elected Assemblymember Chris Ward (D San Diego as Chair and Senator Caroline Menjivar (D San Fernando Valley) as Vice Chair. The new leadership will l transition on December 2, 2024

"I end my term as Chair of the LGBTQ Caucus with immense pride and joy with what we have accomplished these past 2 years," said Senator Susan Eggman outgoing Chair of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. "As Chair of the largest LGBTQ Caucus in the nation, I came into my term with high expectations for myself and my colleagues and I finish my term with tremendous gratitude for all that we have achieved. These past 2 years have been incredibly trying times for the broad LGBTQ+ community. We have not only been able to hold the line for our community, but advanced nation leading protections and investments. I look forward to the future of this Caucus in capable hands of the distinguished Chair Chris Ward and indomitable Vice Chair Caroline Menjivar."

During Senator Eggman's time as Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, she secured over $171 million in state funds to go directly to LGBTQ+ organizations and projects across the state, including the largest investment ever in the TGI community with $15 million over 3 years to the TGI Wellness and Equity Funds. She was able to protect over $370 million in this year's budget, to preserve critical public health infrastructure and LGBTQ+ specific grant programs. In 2023, Senator Eggman worked with her colleagues to pass critical legislation for the LGBTQ+ community, including establishing the Safe and Supportive Schools Program AB 5, Zbur adding a marriage equality proposition on the 2024 ballot ACA 5, Low and putting a stop to book bans across the state AB 1078, Jackson Additionally, Senator Eggman championed a number of foundational changes to the Caucus. Senator Eggman launched the Rural Tour initiative getting the Caucus out of Sacramento and leading it out to six rural communities across California and several nearby tribal nations. Senator Eggman also established the first ever LGBTQ Caucus Statewide Scholarship, through its partnership with the California LGBTQ Foundation. The Foundation has awarded $70,000 in scholarships to 13 LGBTQ+ Californians as the inaugural class of recipients in 2023 and will announce its second class in the coming weeks awarding another $70,000.

Taking over as Chair is Assemblymember Chris Ward, who was first elected in 2020, serves the 78th Assembly District representing San Diego, which includes the LGBTQ+ Cultural District of Hillcrest Assemblymember Ward currently serves as the Chair of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee, and focuses his legislative efforts on housing, homelessness, environment and clean energy, and civil rights and community protections, while balancing other key priorities concerning constituents. Since he was first elected, Assemblymember Ward has secured efforts to establish the state's first community solar program, ensure transparency around government use of automated decision-making systems, make rental application fees cheaper, prohibit discrimination in mixed income housing developments, reduce access to ghost guns, and increase the substance use disorder counselor workforce. He also serves as the Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and is the Assembly designee for the California State Coastal Conservancy Assemblymember Ward was the lead author on the lifesaving, first in the nation AB 1955, SAFETY Act which addressed the issue of school districts forcibly outing LGBTQ+ students.

"I am honored to have the trust and support of my colleagues to serve as the next Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus," said Assemblymember Chris Ward, incoming Chair of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. "At a time when there is a national wave of anti LGBTQ+ rhetoric and attacks, I am committed to leading our nation as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ community members seeking equality, care, and refuge from harm. I look forward to growing our Caucus in both numbers and diversity, as well as advancing equity in various areas impacting our community, such as housing and homelessness, education, and civil rights and community protections. Additionally, I am grateful to be able to do this incredible work alongside our next Vice Chair, Senator Caroline Menjivar who has risen quickly to become a respected leader in the Legislature."

Serving alongside Assemblymember Ward as the Vice Chair is Senator Menjivar, who was elected in 2022 to serve the 20th Senate District representing the San Fernando Valley and Burbank Senator Menjivar currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services and focuses her legislative efforts on health equity, social safety nets, juvenile justice, and environmental justice She is also a Commissioner on the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. Senator Menjivar served in the Marine Corps from 2009 -2016, during a time when Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the military policy that required LGBTQ+ service members to remain in the closet or else they would be discriminatorily discharged due to their LGBTQ+ identity. After her service, Senator Menjivar attained a Master of Social Welfare. She is a first generation American, daughter of Salvadorian immigrants, who was born and raised in the very communities she now represents.

"It is a tremendous honor to be named Vice Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. I thank my colleagues, and incoming Chair, Assemblymember Chris Ward, for entrusting me with this leadership position at a time when protecting and elevating our LGBTQ+ communities in California is of critical importance," said Senator Caroline Menjivar, incoming Vice Chair of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. I send my deep respect and gratitude to the outgoing lesbian Senators, Atkins and Eggman, whose shoulders I stand on and to every lesbian who blazed the path I walk upon to attain this position today. I will work to increase visibility of all the letters of LGBTQ+, while building foundations to expand representation for trans, gender non-conforming, and other underrepresented queer folks. In the LGBTQ Caucus, we will ensure the safety of California's queer youth in school, protect the preventative measures that keep queer foster youth housed, push for more inclusive health care services, and build a thriving future for all our LGBTQ+ communities statewide!"

As the 2023 2024 legislative session nears its end, this LGBTQ Caucus is proud of the investments that have been made. Additionally, this Caucus looks forward to enacting a robust legislative package focused on LGBTQ+ equity across various issue areas, including health, housing, civil rights and community protections, environmental justice, and educational equity. Looking ahead to 2025 2026 legislative session, this LGBTQ Caucus is committed to securing and preserving investments that support equity, safety, and visibility for LGBTQ+ Californians across the state; enhancing rights and protections to ensure LGBTQ+ Californians are afforded equity and justice under the color of law; building the bench for the next generation of LGBTQ+ state leaders; and, uplifting diverse LGBTQ+ Californians across the State through various advocacy, scholarships, and additional programming. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

About the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

California's Legislative LGBTQ Caucus was formed in 2002 to create a forum for California Legislators to discuss issues that affect LGBTQ Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. California became the first state in the United States to officially form a caucus of openly-LBGTQ state legislators and continues to be a leader of progress for all Americans. In 2023, our membership hit a new milestone of 12 members, becoming the largest LGBTQ Caucus in the Nation, and continues to remain strong. Despite tremendous progress and an unprecedented swell of support for the LGBTQ community worldwide, there is still much work to do to protect and uplift the most vulnerable in our community. The LGBTQ Caucus strives to advocate for diversity and inclusion of all people, including differently abled bodies. Our Caucus is working diligently to support LGBTQ leaders that represent our community at the local, state, and federal levels.

For more information on the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus's 2023-24 legislative and budget priorities, please visit https://lgbtqcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/2024-legislative-budget-priorities.