Downey mayor elected to board of new LGBTQ association

DOWNEY – Mayor Mario Trujillo has been elected to the board of directors of the inaugural Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Elected Officials (LACLEO) association.

The board has been meeting unofficially over the past several months as it worked to officially register the organization as a 504 c4 nonprofit mutual benefit corporation focused on education, advocacy and mutual support.

This was accomplished April 13 when the organization met in downtown Los Angeles at its inaugural meeting and elected Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang as president, Claremont City Council member Ed Reece and Burbank council member Nikki Perez as vice presidents, Pasadena City College trustee Alton Wang as treasurer and El Monte City Council member Martin Herrera as secretary.

In attendance and addressing the group were U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia and State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.

“With our vast number of LGBTQ+ elected officials in Los Angeles County, we have a stronger voice when we speak with a unified voice,” said Prang. “With the increase in public homophobia and anti-LGBTQ legislation opposition to our community here and nationally, it’s vital we have a united front to protect our rights and liberties. As elected officials our voices will resonate strongly as we advocate for policies, programs and legislation that will ensure equality and safety for everyone.”

Los Angeles County is home to over 50 out LGBTQ+ elected officials, including officials elected to serve on water boards, school and college boards, city councils, mayors, as well as city clerks, legislators, county officials and Congress.