SACRAMENTO - November 25 - When lawmakers start the new legislative session on Dec. 1, they will be joined by three new leaders who support the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. While two legislative races still remain too close to call, at least three new lawmakers who were endorsed by Equality California's PAC for supporting equal rights for all Californians will be sworn into office when lawmakers begin the 2009-10 session.

"Once again, Californians have elected a Legislature that continues to support marriage rights for same-sex couples, and with this new session, we have an even more supportive Legislature in place," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. "Each of the new legislators endorsed by Equality California defeated opponents who staunchly oppose equal rights for same-sex couples, making it clear that the freedom to marry is not a wedge issue in California."

EQCA's PAC endorsed a total of 57 candidates during the Nov. 4 election, 54 of whom won their races. The three new lawmakers who support LGBT equality, and defeated opponents who do not, include Joan Buchanan in Assembly District 15, Marty Block in Assembly District 78, and Manuel Perez in Assembly District 80. In addition, EQCA-endorsed candidate Lois Wolk succeeds Sen. Mike Machado in Senate District 5. Machado, a Democrat, has supported some, but not all, LGBT rights bills, including marriage.

"We're particularly pleased that Manuel Perez won in Assembly District 80, despite being the target of anti-gay rhetoric from his opponent," said Alice Kessler, EQCA Government Affairs Director. "Voters saw right through the anti-equality candidate's effort to make Perez' support of marriage a campaign issue, proving that supporting equality is a winning strategy."

The Nov. 4 election also secured four members for California's LGBT Legislative Caucus. The Caucus includes two returning members, Sen. Christine Kehoe from San Diego and former Assemblymember and Senator-elect Mark Leno from San Francisco. Assemblymembers-elect John A. Perez, of Los Angeles, and Tom Ammiano of San Francisco, both longtime community leaders, will join the Caucus. Perez is the first Latino member of the LGBT Caucus.

Two legislative races are still too close to call, including the race in Assembly District 10, where Allyson Huber ran against anti-equality candidate Jack Sieglock. In Assembly District 19, Hannah-Beth Jackson ran against anti-equality candidate Tony Strickland. Both Huber and Jackson were endorsed by Equality California's PAC. If both of those candidates win their seats, all but one of EQCA's endorsed candidates will have won their races during the Nov. 4 election.

"California continues to lead the nation in securing equal rights for LGBT people through the Legislature, and one of the ways we've done that is by electing fair-minded candidates who stand with us in our mission to achieve true equality for all Californians," Kors said. "Equality California has sponsored and passed more LGBT civil rights bills than any other organization of its kind in the country, and that fact alone speaks volumes for the quality of leadership we have in Sacramento."

In order to receive an Equality California PAC endorsement, candidates must support complete equality for the entire lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community 100 percent of the time.