Pro-LGBT officials sworn into office in California

Posted on ebar.com:

"California's newest attorney general, Kamala Harris, [took] the oath of office Monday, January 3 from state Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye...  Harris, San Francisco's former district attorney, is the first woman, first African American, and first South Asian American to hold the office of state attorney general. During her remarks, Harris, a Democrat, vowed to ensure that state law is on the side of the people. Harris, an outspoken supporter of marriage equality, alluded to that in her speech as well when she said, 'And in the spirit of Earl Warren, we are going to fight for the civil rights of every Californian – to worship as you will ... to live and work where you choose ... and to marry the person you love.'

"Governor Jerry Brown [a Freedom to Marry Voice for Equality] was sworn in by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento Monday, January 3, as his wife, Anne Gust Brown, [held] the Bible. During his 16-minute speech, Brown, a Democrat, recalled his family's public service, including his prior two terms as governor 28 years ago, and said that the coming year 'will demand courage and sacrifice' as the state works to overcome a $28 billion budget deficit.

In Oakland, Mayor Jean Quan, accompanied by her husband Floyd Huen, led a parade of friends and supporters through Oakland's Chinatown Monday en route to the Fox Theatre, where she was sworn in as the city's first woman and first Asian American mayor. Quan called on all Oaklanders – whether they supported her or not – to work for the betterment of the city, saying, 'We are all family because we all love this city.'

On Tuesday, January 4, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Victoria Kolakowski took the oath of office at an induction ceremony at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. ... Kolakowski, who was sworn in by state appeals court Presiding Justice J. Anthony Kline, is the first openly transgender trial judge in the country. During her remarks she promised to "always do my best to serve the people of this great county with honor and persistent dedication to the law and to justice." She is the wife of Bay Area Reporter news editor Cynthia Laird.

Also on Tuesday, Betty Yee ... was sworn in to her second term on the California Board of Equalization. Yee, a strong ally of the LGBT community, was administered the oath of office by U.S. District Court Judge Lucy H. Koh. ... Yee told a crowd of supporters that she is honored to once again represent the First District on the BOE, the state's publicly elected tax board."

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