The Capitol LGBTQ Association is proud to bring back our beloved Staff Appreciation Night. We are thrilled to honor these icons.
This event would not have been possible without our incredible sponsors!
Alina Hernandez (she/they) – President’s Award
Alina Hernandez is a trusted and influential leader in California’s LGBTQ+ Capitol community, known for their integrity, clarity, and deep commitment to mentorship. Alina served as Principal Consultant to the California Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, helping advance equality and strengthen relationships globally. They also served as President of the Capitol LGBTQ+ Association, where mentorship, inclusion, and care were central to their leadership.
As the founder and principal of Givher, Alina blends strategy, creativity, and political hospitality to build meaningful connections and lasting impact. Drawing on a background in web development and information technology, they bring a modern, systems-minded approach to fundraising and organizational design. Alina’s work increasingly centers on political wellness, grounded in the belief that sustainable change depends not only on strong strategy but on supporting the people doing the work.
Evan Minton (they/he) – Legacy Award
Evan Minton is recognized as the first openly transgender person to work at the California State Capitol, transitioning on the job during his tenure. After a hospital denied him urgent gender-affirming care, he sued with the ACLU in a case that ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court and helped strengthen legal protections for transgender people. His advocacy drew the attention of the Trump Administration, which singled him out during its federal campaign against LGBTQ rights. Evan later served as an Expert Witness before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Trump’s attacks on LGBTQ Americans, generating a widely viewed exchange with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other national figures in support of transgender rights. A frequent guest at the White House under the Biden Administration, Evan’s work has been featured in outlets including the New York Times and Newsweek. Evan is a founding member of the Capitol Queer Association and credits its current members with the work of carrying it forward.
Lan Le (she/they) – Rising Icon Award
Lan Le is a policy advocate at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) where she advocates for immigrant protections, data privacy, language access, and funding for survivor services. Born in Vietnam, Lan arrived in the United States as a refugee with her family. She has worked across diverse fields, including education, technology, and survivor advocacy over the past decade. Prior to AJSOCAL, Lan worked at My Sister’s House, a nonprofit in Sacramento that serves survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault.
Craig Pulsipher (he/him) – Champion of Change Award
Craig Pulsipher is the Legislative Director at Equality California, where he leads the organization’s state policy, budget, and administrative advocacy in Sacramento. In this role, Craig has helped secure major legislative and budget victories advancing LGBTQ+ equality, including strengthening protections for gender-affirming care, expanding health coverage for IVF and other fertility services, improving access to accurate identity documents, and advancing safety and support for LGBTQ+ youth. Prior to joining Equality California, Craig served as the Associate Director of Government Affairs at APLA Health in Los Angeles, where he oversaw statewide HIV and healthcare legislation, budget, and political strategy. At APLA Health, Craig led a multi-year campaign to modernize California’s HIV criminal laws, helped pass landmark legislation expanding access to HIV treatment and PrEP, and spearheaded the formation of a statewide coalition to end the HIV, STD, viral hepatitis, and overdose epidemics.
Senator Caroline Menjivar (she/her/ella) – Legislator of the Year Award
Senator Caroline Menjivar took the oath of office in December 2022 and represents Burbank and the San Fernando Valley in California’s 20th Senate District. A first-generation American and daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, she was born and raised in the communities she now serves. Senator Menjivar attended local public schools, community colleges, CSUN, and UCLA, experiences that shaped her deep commitment to equitable access to quality public education for working families.
Senator Menjivar enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving from 2009 to 2016 as a radio operator and Communications Platoon Sergeant. Following her military service, she earned a Master of Social Welfare from UCLA and worked as an EMT and domestic violence therapist, gaining firsthand insight into gaps in healthcare, mental health crisis response, victim advocacy, and addiction treatment. Her career also includes roles with the City of Los Angeles, the Mayor’s Gender Equity Team, and nonprofit leadership at MEND. These lived experiences continue to guide her legislative work, grounded in service, equity, and uplifting her communities. Senator Menjivar lives in Panorama City with her wife and their two dogs.
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