Acting Governor Of California Today Is Lesbian Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins

Toni Atkins is the openly lesbian Speaker of the California Assembly. But, today, she will serve as Acting Governor of California for roughly 8 hours, because Governor Jerry Brown and Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and Senate Leader Darrel Steinberg all have business outside the state. So, even though she is fourth in line, Atkins will become the first openly gay Governor of California today (for about 8 hours, until Governor Brown returns).

Business Insider reports:

For eight hours today, California will have its first openly gay governor. State Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D) will serve as acting governor until tonight, when Gov. Jerry Brown (D) returns from a trade mission in Mexico. 

Atkins is one of four officials who served as governor this week in California, following Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who left for a Special Olympics event, and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D), who departed the state Wednesday morning for Chicago.  

Atkins also served as the first openly lesbian mayor of San Diego in 2005, and as the first openly lesbian Assembly speaker, which is the position she currently holds. She is also the third woman to hold the high post.

Interestingly, the previous Speaker of the Assembly was openly gay John Perez, but he was never lucky enough to become Acting Governor.

Pretty cool, huh?