Gavin Christopher Newsom (born October 10, 1967) is an American politician and businessman who is the 40th governor of California, serving since January 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 49th lieutenant governor of California from 2011 to 2019 and as the 42nd mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011.
50 years in 50 weeks: 2000, Anti-gay Prop 22 wins
In the March 7, 2000 California primary, the anti-gay Proposition 22, known as the Knight initiative, cruised to victory with about 61% of the vote.
The initiative limited marriage in the state to between one man and one woman. The No on 22 campaign conceded hours after the polls closed, but LGBTQ advocates said the fight for marriage equality was just beginning.
They were right. Four years later, then-mayor Gavin Newsom ordered San Francisco officials to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, transforming the issue from being about litigation and laws to the personal plight of LGBTQ people wanting to marry the person they love.
