San Diego LGBT Pride Official Souvenir Guide 2014 | Page 17

GRAND MARSHAL

ASSEMBLYMEMBER TONI ATKINS
78TH DISTRICT
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY
Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins was elected to the California
State Assembly in November 2010 and was re-elected in
November 2012 to represent a largely coastal district in San
Diego. Atkins previously served on the San Diego City Council
from 2000 to 2008 and as Acting Mayor in 2005, making her
the city’s first openly LGBT mayor.
As a councilmember, Toni established San Diego’s leadership
on medicinal marijuana and ensured a prominent role for
San Diego in California’s landmark court case establishing
marriage equality.
In her first year in the Assembly, Toni carried AB 887, which
strengthens California’s non-discrimination laws by clarifying
that gender discrimination also protects gender expression
and gender identity. Her bill AB 499 protects the right of
young people to seek preventive healthcare, in particular
vaccinations for STD’s and preventive treatment for HIV/AIDS.
Last year, the Speaker authored AB 1121, which provides a
streamlined, inexpensive and private process for transgender people seeking legal name changes.
She also carried AB 154, making California one of the few states in the nation to expand access to
abortion. In 2014, Toni has introduced AB 1577 to ensure that the death certificates of transgender
people reflect their gender identity.
Toni was selected by her colleagues to serve as Speaker in early 2014 and was sworn in on May 12,
2014. As Speaker, she is one of the highest ranking elected officials in the state and is the leader of the
State Assembly. She is the first San Diegan, first lesbian, and third woman to hold this position.
Atkins is originally from southwestern Virginia and graduated from Emory & Henry College. In July
2004, she completed the senior executive program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University. She currently lives in San Diego with her spouse Jennifer LeSar and their dogs,
Haley and Joey.

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