Christine Kehoe - Early Life and Activism

Early Life and Activism

Kehoe was born in 1950 in Troy, New York. She earned a bachelor's degree from University at Albany, The State University of New York in 1977. She became active in politics in 1978 as a volunteer with the Center for Women's Studies and Services. In 1980, Senator Kehoe was San Diego County's chair for the campaign to defeat California Proposition 64 to restore AIDS to the state list of communicable diseases. She was editor of San Diego Gayzette during 1984–1986, coordinator of the San Diego AIDS Assistance Fund 1987–1988, executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association 1988–1989, and a city council aide during 1989–1992.

Kehoe, who is a lesbian, is a strong supporter of equal rights for gays and lesbians. A former chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, she is one of four openly LGBT members of the California State Legislature, alongside Senator Mark Leno (D–San Francisco) and Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano (D–San Francisco), Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and John Pérez (D–Los Angeles).