As out California Assemblyman John Laird nears the end of his final term, The Californian interviewed him on his experience in the legislature. Laird, who has reached his term limit, served as chair of the Assembly’s Budget Committee.

It hardly stood out that he was one of the first two openly gay men elected to the Legislature. But Laird, a Democrat from Santa Cruz, did launch a successful campaign to enact a series of bills aimed at more broadly protecting gays and others from discrimination.

Without a doubt, however, his biggest challenge was state spending and revenues, which he wrestled with for four years as chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee while state finances and the economy deteriorated.

“I’ve learned that the budget process is broken and dysfunctional,” said Laird. “I had always believed it, but it turned out to be bad.”

A blogger on Pam’s House Blend named Fritz praised Laird on being an effective LGBT leader — albeit one who may not have experienced a lot of time in the public eye.

Fritz writes:

Laird isn’t the type of leader that people are likely to worship and admire like a Martin Luther King or a Harvey Milk. He’s simply a man who works hard to get things done and can inspire others to do the same.

I suggest that instead of waiting for a leader with a magnetic personality and the power to motivate millions, we all look for those among us who are capable of creating change — however, slow and unglamorous that may appear.