As your state senator and as the first member of San Diego’s LBGT community to be elected to public office, I wish you Happy Pride Day 2005! I am proud to be your member of the California Legislature, which is once again sending a message that we will not back down from our struggle to achieve full equality for all Californians.

A perfect example of one of the most important equal rights measures is Mark Leno’s marriage equality bill. While our attempts to achieve marriage equality are met with both praise and opposition, they should not come as a surprise – for decades California has stood ahead of other states in our relative willingness to embrace marriage equality. When California legalized interracial marriages in 1948, it was nearly two decades before the same accommodation was recognized by the federal government.

And while the political climate in Sacramento has been more turbulent in recent years, California will continue to take its place among the leading states of our nation on issues of equality for gays and lesbians.

Here’s a brief recap on California’s commitment to equality for LGBT rights:

In the late 1990s, California saw its first openly gay or lesbian person to be elected to the state Legislature when Sheila Kuehl was elected to the Assembly. Over the next few years, she was joined by other gay and lesbian legislators, bringing the LGBT Caucus membership to six.

In 1993 San Diego elected me as the first member of the LGBT community to serve on the San Diego City Council. I served two terms and then was elected to the Assembly for two terms.

In 2002 the California State Legislative LGBT Caucus was formed – the first of its kind in the nation. The Caucus presents a forum for the California Legislature to discuss issues that affect LGBT Californians, and a much-needed voice to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. The Caucus has had great success with the passage of equality legislation, and I was proud to serve as its first chair.

In 2003 Assembly Bill 205 was passed, which grants registered domestic partners nearly all the state rights, benefits and responsibilities granted to spouses under state law. AB 205 furthered the state’s commitment to promoting dedicated family relationships.

In addition to this bill, numerous bills have passed in recent years that expand rights for LGBT individuals – including bills that I have authored to expand health care coverage and insurance eligibly for partners of gays and lesbians.

The historic ruling in 2003 by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the bold action taken last year by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom embracing marriage equality, and the ruling this year by Judge Richard Kramer that California can no longer limit marriage to a man and a woman further illustrates that our country and state are on the track to full equality.

Let the religious right say what they will about the demise of families as a result of same-sex marriages. As the saying goes, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.” What I mean is that I believe marriage equality will strengthen American families and our society if we allow them to take place. I see increased stability in families as gays and lesbians are able to choose if they want to take on the responsibilities that other couples have, creating greater respect for LGBT families and increased self-esteem for their children. As long as committed LGBT couples aren’t allowed full equality in every area, including civil unions, we are sanctioning discrimination – and that is not right.

While I know that the passage of the latest marriage equality bill is just one step in California’s long march toward equality, it is with a hopeful heart that I anticipate that in the not-so-distant-future California gays and lesbians will be granted the right to enter into marriage. As your state senator, I will continue to work toward the goal of equality for all Californians.

As I ride in my 21st consecutive San Diego Pride parade, I will remember all the progress we have made together and the great achievements that await us.