Tom Ammiano

About

Retired Democratic politician known for his advocacy for the LGBT community, for being a member of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, for serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from District 9, and for serving in the California State Assembly from 2008 to November 30, 2014.

Before Fame

He attended Immaculate Conception High School and graduated in 1959. He then attended Seton Hall University where he earned a bachelor's degree in communication in 1963. He then moved to San Francisco in 1963 where he earned a master's degree in special education from San Francisco State University in 1965. He began working as a teacher before starting his political career.

Trivia

He portrayed himself in a paid cameo appearance in the 2008 film Milk. He is the author of the book Kiss My Gay Ass (2020). He began performing stand-up comedy in the year 1980. 

Family Life

He was born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey. His family was a working-class family with Italian heritage. His lifelong partner was a school teacher who died from AIDS complications in 1994. He has one child.

Associated With

He worked alongside activist Harvey Milk by co-founding "No on 6" against the Briggs Initiative in 1977. This initiative would have banned any gay person from teaching in California. Their movement achieved success the following year in 1978.