Assembly Candidate Torie Osborn Has the Support of LGBT Trailblazers

A small group of gay and lesbian activists gathered Saturday night in support of , who is running to represent the , which includes Beverly Hills. 

“This is particularly exciting because I’ve known and respected so many of you for such a long time,” Osborn said. “I am honored and humbled by this group.”

Attendees included Sheila Kuehl, who in 1994 became the first out lesbian elected to statewide office in California, and Rev. Malcolm Boyd, one of the first and most prominent clergy members to come out of the closet when he did so in 1977. Feminist-artist-activist Ivy Bottini and nun-turned-author-activist Jeanne Cordova were also there, along with doctors, attorneys, venture capitalists and civic leaders. The event was held at the home of Studio City resident Terry DeCrescenzo, founder of GLASS (Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services).

“What matters is your ethics and integrity,” said Cordova, who worked with Osborn at the Lesbian Tide in the mid-1970s. “You certainly have both.”

Although Osborn has already launched her campaign for office—having raised a substantial $407,000—this was the first time that she specifically focused on her allies in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community whom she’s known since her early activism years.

“I have seen her grow up as an activist and told her that her next step is to run for office,” Bottini said. “This is someone you can trust.”

Osborn responded that she “never wanted to run for office,” but that she has become “angry about what is going on in our state and in our country.” 

She talked about revitalizing California’s economic base, developing a stronger public education system, creating better environmental programs and starting a system of universal health insurance.

“We need more growing up,” Rev. Boyd said. “Torie Osborn will represent something different and new.”

In the primary, Osborn’s main opponents are 53rd District Assemblywoman  and Santa Monica Mayor .

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