The League of California Cities Establishes the First LGBT Caucus of a State Municipal League.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- The League of California Cities has established the first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) caucus of a state municipal league, due to the efforts of officials from the City of West Hollywood. The newly formed Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Local Officials (GLBTLO) caucus will focus on promoting diversity in the League of California Cities and the State Legislature through networking, information sharing, public education, and advocacy on issues that are of particular importance to the LGBT community. The League of California Cities advocates for the common interests of California's nearly 500 cities. West Hollywood City Councilmember Jeffrey Prang and Coronado City Councilmember Frank Tierney will serve as the provisional chairs of the caucus.

"There are at least thirty openly gay and lesbian municipal officials in California," said Councilmember Prang. "This new caucus will provide LGBT officials an important means of working together on local and state issues. The caucus provides an important opportunity for the LGBT community to enhance our voice in local government."

This year marks an unprecedented period in local government for LGBT elected officials. West Hollywood City Councilmember Jeffrey Prang, an openly-gay elected official, was recently installed as the President of California Contract Cities Association, another statewide municipal agency representing more than 80 cities that contract for many municipal services such as police, fire, and public works. Huntington Park Mayor Juan Noguez, also an openly-gay elected official, was recently elected as President of the League of California Cities' Los Angeles Division.

The newly-formed GLBTLO caucus will hold its first officially-recognized meeting on Thursday, September 7, 2006 at 7 a.m. at its 2006 League of California Cities Annual Conference in San Diego.

For more information, please contact the office of Councilmember Prang at [phone] or Coronado Councilmember Frank Tierney at [phone] or [e-mail].