2008 Ralph B. Atkinson Award Winner

The Atkinson Award, named for the distinguished civil rights advocate Ralph B. Atkinson, is presented each year to a local advocate for civil liberties. Assemblymember John Laird has been chosed as the 2008 recipient for his passionate work to protect the civil rights of all Californians and especially for his work to further civil rights for the LGBT community.

Mr. Laird authored legislation that allows schools to use state funds for intolerance- and hatred-prevention education. He has also authored a four-part series of non-discrimination bills that overhaul a total of 108 of California's legal provisions--including housing, business, government, employment, and insurance--to make them consistent with the strongest protections available to cover categories such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, disability, medical conditions, marital status, sex (including gender identity), and sexual orientation.

This year, he is carrying a fifth bill, the Civil Rights Act of 2008, which covers an additional thirteen provisions. His eloquent words urging the Assembly "to put California on the right side of history" helped to pass AB205, the domestic partner law.

Mr. Laird lives in Santa Cruz with his partner John Flores. He is fluent in Spanish, has traveled widely, and is a life-long Chicago Cubs fan.