First LGBT elected official in Sacramento and Placer Counties
Served on local school boards for 30 years
Active in Democratic Party politics since 1964
Active in LGBT rights since 1968
Gary was born on March 8th, 1949, in the hospital in the Hillcrest section of San Diego, CA.
MARCH 8, 1949Don age 12 Gary age one month
Gary’s BrotherGary’s mom, a single mother of two boys, moved her family to her hometown of Kansas City, Mo.
Kansas City, MoGary spoke to the student body on behalf of Lyndon Johnson over Barry Goldwater in 1964, during a mock election they were having at his school. He was not even registered to vote yet. The major issue for him was civil rights. Goldwater had voted against the Civil Rights of 1964. Lyndon Johnson signed the legislation. Barry Goldwater was the most conservative candidate ever imagined in 1964. Today he would be considered too liberal for the Republican Party.
Lyndon JohnsonGary attended Westport High, and served as the editor of high school newspaper. He wrote about school bonds and funding for education, his first experience with public school issues.
Westport HighHe cast his very first ballot in favor of local school bonds.
First BallotGary attended Central Methodist College (now University) in Fayette, Missouri. While at Central, he joined several of the clubs on campus, including a religious club where members would discuss the social issues of the day. He met Rev. Vann Anderson, a Methodist minister and the chaplain of a gay rights organization (the Phoenix Society in Kansas City) when Vann came to Gary’s religious group to talk about gay people. He said they were our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, ditch diggers, doctors, and, yes, even ministers.
First involvement in LGBT issues 1968As soon as he had an opportunity Gary visited the Phoenix House. There, he met Ron Bentley. It wasn’t love at first sight, but that would come later, the more he got to know him. Since Gary was away at college, they wrote letters to keep each other informed about what was happening in each other lives. Ron was the editor of Phoenix magazine (a publication of the Phoenix Society), and lived in an apartment above the Phoenix House, all while serving in the Air Force. Ron would publish under the name Chris Gordon to prevent the military from finding out he was gay. Fake names were common place among gay activists in those days.
Kansas City Mo Gay Community Center 1968Gay Rights Activist while in service
SGT Ron BentleyMr. Bentley would die of AIDS in 1994
Ron and Gary 25th year celebrationRON AND GARY MOVE TO SAN FRANCISCO 1970
SAN FRANCISCO 1970GARY INTERVIEWED WITH SF PHONE COMPANY 1970 They refused to hire him because he was gay
SF PHONE COMPANYSIR WAS THE LARGEST GAY ORGANIZATION IN COUNTRY AT THE TIME. GARY SERVED ON THEIR BOARD.
Society for Individual RightsIn spite of numerous endorsements, he did not win.
1ST GAY MAN TO RUN FOR SF COUNTY COMMITTEEBefore same sex marriage was legal, Ron and Gary saw an attorney, who recommended one adopt the other. Sounded crazy at the time.
ADOPTIONRON AND GARY MOVE TO SACRAMENTO 1976
SACRAMENTOWould have prohibited LGBT individuals and their supporters from being employed by public school districts. Gary was Sacramento Campaign Manager to defeat this measure. It was defeated statewide.
BRIGGS INITIATIVE 1978He was appointed to the committee in 1979. He served as chair for about ten years in 1980s
GARY SERVED ON SACRAMENTO’S COUNTY COMMITTEE FOR DEMOCRATSSept 8, 1981 Gary became chair of Sacramento Democratic Party where he served for about 10 years.
SACRAMENTO DEMO PARTY 1981Gary served on the Human Rights / Fair Housing Commission in Sacramento.
FIRST GAY MAN TO SERVE ON A SACRAMENTO COMMISSIONHe ran for Sacramento City Council. He came in 3rd and did not make it to the run off.
SACRAMENTO CITY COUNCILWhen Lloyd Connelly resigned from Sacramento City Council, Gary sought to be appointed. He needed 5 votes, but only received 3.
GARY ATTEMPTED TO BE SEATED ON SACRAMENTO CITY COUNCIL1987 defeating two incumbents with homophobic campaign against him.
GARY BECAME 1ST LGBT TO BE ELECTED IN SACRAMENTO COUNTYDELEGATE TO NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVENTION
1992 BILL CLINTONGary supported Bill Clinton for president
People FirstSworn in by Sacramento Mayor Anne Rudin and City Councilperson Lyla Ferris
GARY WON RE-ELECTION TO ROBLA SCHOOL BOARD 1992Gary formed the River City Democratic Club
River City Democratic ClubWHEN RON STARTED TO GET SICK, SETA WOULD NOT ALLOW GARY TO TAKE SICK LEAVE. Then they remembered the adoption. Gary got sick leave for his “father”
SICK LEAVEWhen Rush Limbaugh was just a local talk show host, Gary found out, in spite of all of his conservative views, he was not even registered to vote.
RUSH: NOT REGISTERED TO VOTEOnly agenda: What is in the best interest for our children
For the childrenGAY STUDENTS AT MCGEORGE LAW SCHOOL FILED CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT Against phone company for not hiring and firing LGBT individuals. Gary won back wages.
CLASS ACTIONSome endorsements include: Congressman Vic Fazio, Supervisor Roger Dickinson, & Teachers
EndorsementsHe came in last and Gary was top vote getter
DENNIS SAMSEL RAN AGAINST GARY 1996Gary defeated one incumbent to win a seat on the Roseville City School Board in 2008. He was re-elected in 2012 and 2016.
ELECTED TO ROSEVILLE CITY SCHOOL BOARD 2008Gary Miller has an agenda: What is in the best interest of the children of Roseville?
2012 RE-ELECTIONWith the help of teachers, friends, organized labor and Democratic Party
GARY WON RE-ELECTION IN 2016Gary has been involved with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) for decades
MEMBER, SOCIETY OF FRIENDS QUAKERSAfter organizing the employees at SETA, Gary served as President of Local 146 AFSCME. The Agency refused to negotiate domestic partner benefits until they were forced to legally.
https://www.afscme.org/blog/25-year-school-board-member-honored
ORGANIZED THE EMPLOYEES AT THE SACRAMENTO EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING AGENCYMike taught special education for over 30 years before retirement.
GARY MET MIKE IN 2002