Mark Leno

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Mark Leno

Mark Leno (born Sept 24, 1951, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a United States politician, representing California's 13th Assembly district, which consists of the eastern portion of San Francisco.

1 Personal Life
2 Political Career
3 External links

[edit] Personal Life

Leno is an native of Wisconsin and attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, then went on to become valedictorian of his graduating class at the American College in Jerusalem, where he earned his bachelor of arts degree. Leno also spent two years in rabbinical studies at Hebrew Union College in New York . He is the owner of Budget Signs, Inc., a small business he founded in 1978 and operated with his life partner, Douglas Jackson. Together the two entrepreneurs steadily grew their sign business until Jackson passed away from complications relating to HIV/AIDS in 1990. This deep loss would not deter Leno. Instead, he redoubled his efforts in community service.

[edit] Political Career

Leno was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1998. He was then elected to the California State Assembly in 2002, before being re-elected in 2004 and 2006. Leno is the chair of the Assembly's powerful Appropriations Committee, as well as the Select Committees on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LBGT) Families and on Childhood Obesity & Related Diabetes.

[edit] Marriage Equality

In 2005, Assemblyman Leno authored AB 849, a bill legalizing same sex marriages that became the first bill of its kind to pass a legislative body in the United States. The bill passed both the Assembly and the State Senate, but was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

In 2007, Leno is continuing his pioneering battle for equal rights for LGBT couples and their families by introducing AB 43, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act.

California currently allows domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.

[edit] Hemp

In 2006, Assemblyman Leno and Republican Assemblyman Charles S. DeVore co-authored a bill that would legalize the cultivation of non-hallucinogenic hemp. The bill does not conflict with the federal Controlled Substances Act, and would mandate that hemp be tested to ensure it is non-hallucinogenic.

[edit] Awards and Honors

Leno has been honored for his public service by many organizations. In 2006 he was honored by the Stonewall Democratic Club in Los Angeles with their Sheila Kuehl Trail Blazer Award, The Lazarus Project’s Lazarus Award for Marriage Equality, The California Young Democrats’ Mentor of the Year, Partners Ending Domestic Abuse’s Kamala Harris Leadership Award and Temple Beth Chayim Chadashim’s 2006 Herman Humanitarian Award.

In 2005, he was honored by the California Attorneys For Criminal Justice with their “Scales of Justice Award” in recognition to his fair and balanced approach in chairing the Assembly Public Safety Committee. He also received the “Lifetime Friend and Champion” award from the Harvey Milk Democratic Club and was chosen by OUT Magazine as one of 2005’s “Most Intriguing Gay Men.”

In 2004, Leno received the Award of Courage from American Foundation for AIDS Research and he was honored by the Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association of Los Angeles at their 25th Anniversary Gala for his commitment to marriage equality. He also served as Chair of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender) Legislative Caucus.

In July of 2003, he was awarded the Housing Hero of the Year awarded by the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition. Additionally, Leno was proud to receive honors from the American Heart Association, the California Association of Food Banks and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.