Assemblyman John Pérez of Los Angeles, a former union leader and a cousin of LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, was unanimously chosen yesterday by his Democratic colleagues to succeed Karen Bass as the 68th speaker of the California State Assembly. Pérez rose to power quickly in the Assembly, and was endorsed by Bass as her successor because of his leadership qualities and negotiating expertise. Equality California head Geoff Kors is more than pleased with Pérez's ascension: "To have an openly gay Latino heading the largest legislative body, that represents the most people in the country, in and of itself is going to have a significant impact on advancing LGBT rights."