Gay and Lesbian Task Force Honors Judy Chu
October 12, 2007
LOS ANGELES — Judy Chu, vice chair of the California Board of Equalization, received the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s annual leadership award at a Sept. 30 luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Chu was the first Asian American political leader to speak out in support of marriage equality on the floor of the California Legislature, likening Mark Leno’s marriage equality bill for gay and lesbian couples to the California law that finally allowed people of Chinese ancestry to marry whites in 1948.
“I’m proud to advocate for LGBT people and anyone who is not treated equally by our state or society,” Chu said. “No one should be treated as a second-class citizen or be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation.”
Chu was elected in 2001 to the California Assembly representing west San Gabriel Valley. She chaired the Select Committee on Hate Crimes and the California Asian and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus and authored a number of bills that protect communities from bigotry and hate crimes.
From 2004 to 2006, she was the chair of the Appropriations Committee, which oversees every piece of legislation that has a financial impact on the state. She was elected to the California State Board of Equalization last November.
Chu has encouraged California public schools to include the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the study of history. Earlier this year, she hosted a seminar for domestic partners in association with the City of West Hollywood, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, and Equality California, to provide tax information. “I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that all people are treated equally and fairly in California,” Chu said.
Also honored was Christina Chavez, a labor activist and granddaughter of labor leader Cesar Chavez.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the largest advocacy organization of its kind in the United States, holds annual awards ceremonies in five cities.
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