California state Assemblyman John A. Perez made history today by becoming the first openly gay speaker sworn into the Assembly.
The 40-year-old Perez, a younger cousin of L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, represents parts of downtown Los Angeles and East Los Angeles.
"Today I am still filled with awe when I stand in this chamber, but now I have more certainty about what is really possible in California, for I am but one example of those golden possibilities," he said in his acceptance speech.
Perez also said his top priority is to get Californians back to work. The unemployment rate in the Golden State is 12.1 percent -- the fifth highest in the nation.
He identified several areas in need of reform.
For example, he said, California legislators should be able to approve a budget with a simple majority, instead of the current two-thirds. He also took legislators to task for text-messaging while on the floor.
"Starting today, text messages from lobbyists are banned while we're on this floor or in committee doing the people's business," he said.
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