Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, the first openly gay Speaker of the California State Assembly, urged lawmakers to approve a measure requiring public schools to teach the historical contributions of gay Americans, was approved by the Assembly in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, July 5, 2011.  The bill,  by state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco,  was approved 49-25 on a party line vote and sent to the Governor. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP