California assembly to select its first openly gay speaker

By GottaLaff

Hector Amezcua / hamezcua@sacbee.com
Assemblyman John Perez, D-Los Angeles, talks with Assemblyman Jerry Hill in June 2009.

One more incremental step for equality:

Assemblyman John A. Perez's final opponent has bowed out, setting the stage for the first-term Democrat to be selected Assembly speaker today — the first openly gay man to hold the post.

Perez, who is chairman of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and was regarded much of the year as a potential candidate for speaker, entered the fray as a late-comer after being pushed by colleagues.

Too bad about New Jersey's step back.