During the summer recess of the California legislature, Assemblymember Chris Ward, who represents California’s 78th District, is back in San Diego to celebrate Pride with his family and longtime friends.
As the chair of the LGBTQ Caucus in the state capitol, he aims to host a roundtable with local LGBTQ+ leaders to update them on the work of the caucus and discuss legislation affecting the community.
The caucus has been active in sponsoring bills that promote gender-affirming health equity and data privacy, initiatives that parallel protections established for reproductive healthcare workers and patients seeking abortions in California after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
In addition, they are advocating for funding for HIV prevention and care resources that are currently at risk. Their efforts extend into their local districts, with a focus on supporting LGBTQ+ individuals at home. This multifaceted approach demonstrates their ambitious and strategic work.
The LGBTQ Caucus has gained significant momentum, now consisting of fourteen members—seven in the Assembly and seven in the Senate. California has become the first state where LGBTQ+ members surpass 10% in the legislature, marking a significant representation that aligns with the general population.
This growth amplifies the caucus’s voice and mission, especially since its inception in 2002 by five lesbian and gay legislators, including San Diego’s own Christine Kehoe. However, the caucus is now facing new challenges.
Following a shift in political sentiment during the recent elections, Sacramento has seen an increase in legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community. So far, Ward indicated that the caucus has successfully halted these detrimental bills, but the struggle is not without personal cost.
At a lengthy hearing concerning a bill that sought to repeal protections for transgender youth in school sports, Ward found himself reliving painful memories from his own past. Although he does not identify as transgender, he expressed deep empathy for those who do, recalling the fears and struggles he faced during his own adolescence.
Ward articulated that he could relate to the feeling of being marginalized, having grappled with his sexual identity in high school amidst a culture that deemed him ‘wrong’ for being gay.
He shared, “The emotion really takes you back to a very personal and painful memory where you live through that hurt… and you never want that to happen to kids today.”
Feeling an added responsibility to defeat legislation that threatens LGBTQ+ youth, Ward sees the future of young people in the community as directly tied to their success in this fight. His own achievements as an adult stand in sharp contrast to the fears he held as a teenager.
Having started his career as an environmental planner, he has actively worked on issues such as climate change, housing development, and homelessness since he began his political journey. Ward achieved electoral success from his initial campaign in 2016 to represent the third City Council district, a hub for LGBTQ+ political influence in San Diego, before advancing to the Assembly in 2020.
Outside of his legislative duties, he enjoys a fulfilling family life with his husband, Thom Harpole, and their two children, Betty and Billy, in University Heights.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Ward credits the San Diego Pride event of 1998 as a pivotal moment in his life.
At the time, he was exploring cities to settle in after college, coming from a military family that often relocated.
Attending the Pride parade and festival opened his eyes to the vibrancy and organization of the local LGBTQ+ community, leading him to decide to make San Diego his home.
He stated, “That was sort of the event that crystallized that I had found my forever home. And it was a community I wanted to be a part of, be engaged with, volunteer with, and find myself and establish roots.”
Now, Ward sees Pride month as an opportunity to reconnect with long-time friends and spend quality moments with family, who have been active participants in Pride events over the years.
For his children, who have always grown up with two dads, interacting with other diverse families is essential in reinforcing their normal upbringing.
Amidst a national atmosphere that has become increasingly hostile toward LGBTQ+ individuals, Ward encourages maintaining a strong sense of community.
He warns that isolation can lead to feelings of hopelessness and that conforming to external pressures to appease negative sentiments can worsen the situation.
Ward emphasizes the vitality of fighting not just against discrimination, but also for the vibrant lives and identities of LGBTQ+ individuals.
“Continue to be yourself and show them that… you are awesome,” he declared. “We’re going to be able to get through this together.”
image source from：timesofsandiego
