California State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has
been a dedicated public servant for over three decades, representing
the people of San Francisco as a teacher, civil rights leader, educator
and Supervisor. As a strong advocate for schools,
health care and civil rights, Ammiano has been at the forefront of reform
and progressive activism in California.
In 1975, Ammiano became the first public
school teacher in San Franscisco to make his sexual orientation a
matter of public knowledge. In 1977, he founded the No
on 6 movement against the Briggs Initiative that would ban all gay people from teaching in California, along with activists Harvey Milk and Hank Wilson. (Ammiano portrayed himself in the 2008 film Milk)
The anti-Briggs movement was successful in defeating the initiative in 1978. In 1980 and 1988, Ammiano ran for the San Francisco School Board and was elected in 1990. He
was elected School Board President in 1992.
In
1994, Ammiano won a citywide election to the San Francisco Board of
Supervisors. He served as its President from 1998 to 2002. Among his many accomplishments while on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors:
- Authored legislation establishing San Francisco as the first city in
America to provide universal health care access.
- Passed pioneering law to extend marriage privileges to domestic partners in the city.
- Won the battle to dramatically increase salaries for lowest-paid city employees and contract workers.
- Sponsored city “Great Schools” Charter Amendment adding $300 million to San Francisco public schools.
- Established a fund that provides millions annually to subsidize child
care, health and social services for San Francisco youth.
- Created a fund to assist first-time home buyers and develop housing available to all San Francisco residents.
Assemblymember Ammiano is currently the Vice Chair of the California Assembly Human
Resources Committee, a member of Assembly Appropriations Committee,
Education Committee, Health Committee and Rules Committee.
Additionally, he a member of the California State Legislature’s LGBT Caucus, Environmental Caucus and the Assembly Coastal Caucus.
Pictured at left - Ammiano on Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2009 when LGBT students and allies rallied at the State Capitol in Sacramento to support key legislation to honor Harvey Milk and increase access to mental health services for at-risk youth.
