This week on They Are Waiting For Us, Lisa Andrew welcomes California State Senator John Laird to the show. Senator Laird has spent over two decades dedicated to public service in the state of California. Raised in Vallejo by parents who were teachers, Laird's commitment to his community took root from an early age. After serving nine years on the Santa Cruz City Council, including two terms as one of the first openly gay mayors in the United States during the 1980s, Laird went on to the State Assembly. During his three terms there, he authored an impressive 82 bills that were ultimately signed into law. Now representing California's 17th District in the State Senate, Laird continues his lifelong work of fighting for the people of California. In this candid interview, he discusses his upbringing, the obstacles he faced, and the hard-won victories that have marked his trailblazing career in public service. Laird provides a fascinating perspective from the frontlines of California politics, spanning multiple decades of progress and change.