·         Sodomy Law Repealed (1975)

Governor Pete Wilson (R) 

• First Anti-discrimination Bill for Gays and Lesbians (1992)

Governor Gray Davis (D)

• First Anti-Harassment Law of Gay and Lesbian Students and Teachers in Public Schools (1999)
• First State Domestic Partnership Registry with Hospital Visitation and Health Care Coverage (1999)
• Prohibition on Job and Housing Discrimination for Gays and Lesbians (1999)
• Domestic Partner Coverage Expanded to Medical Decisions, Inheritance, Step-Parent Adoption, Sick Leave to Care for Domestic Partner and Right to Administer Estates of Deceased Domestic Partners (2001)
• Domestic Partnerships Expanded to Cover All State Level Rights and Responsibilities (2003)
• First Anti-Discrimination Bill Based on Gender Identity (2003)

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R)

• Hate Crimes Bill Signed Into Law  (2004)
• Death Benefits to Surviving Partners of State Military Reservists (2004)
• All Anti-discrimination Codes Related to Gays and Lesbians Unified to Match the Fair Housing and Employment Act (2004)
• Parole Conditions Set for Those Convicted of Hate Crimes Against LGBT Community (2004)
• Health Care and Health Insurance Providers Required to Provide Equal Coverage (2004)
• Retirement Benefits for Domestic Partners of Teachers (2004)
• Exempted From Property Tax Reassessment on the Death of a Partner (2005)
• Statute of Limitations Extended to Three Years for Hate Crimes (2005)
• Health Benefits May Not Be Denied Based on Gender Identity (2005)
• Prohibition on Discrimination by Businesses (2005)
• Public Employee Retirement Benefits for Domestic Partners Secured (2005)
• First Law Addressing Domestic Violence Among Domestic Partners (2006)
• Domestic Partners Included in Family Leave Act (2006)
• Voluntary Clause Added to the Political Candidates Fair Campaign Practices Pledge to Not Campaign on Anti-gay or Sexual Identity Prejudice (2006)
• Standardization of  Various Housing Anti-Discrimination Policies (2006)
• First Law to Address Needs of LGBT Seniors (2006)
• Prohibition on Discrimination in State Programs and Activities (2006)
• Limits the Use of “Gay Panic Defense” in Hate Crimes and Other Crimes (2006)
• Domestic Partners Allowed to File Joint State Tax Returns (2006)
• Civil Rights Act of 2007 extends non-discrimination to handball courts and horse racing paddocks among other things (2007)
• Names Equality Act allows domestic partners to take each others name at time of registration (2007)
• Safe Place to Learn Act codifies enforcement of anti-discrimination and harassment in the classroom (2007)
• HIV/AIDS Testing changed the requirements for testing consent by patients (2007)
• Joint Income Tax Filing Implementation (2007)
• Juvenile Justice Safety and Prevention Act gives rights to LGBT teens in the penal system (2007)
• Fairness and Equal Taxation for Surviving Partners Act makes tax reassessment exemption retro-active (2007)
• Tissue Donation: Sperm Donation Act allows artificial insemination for HIV positive sperm donors when sperm has been "washed." (2007)
• Student Civil Rights Act made explicit that all non discrimination sections of the law apply to schools (2007)
• and more to come?