El Cerrito Welcomes First Gay Mayor

EL CERRITO, CA -- The city of El Cerrito this month welcomed its first gay mayor. Gabriel Quinto, who has served on the City Council since 2014, is also the first Filipino to lead the city, according to the East Bay Times.

During his swearing-in ceremony earlier this month, Quinto spoke about his background, the East Bay Times reported.

"Quinto noted that his father came to California with 'the first wave' of Filipino immigrants in the 1920s, doing farm work and later serving in the Pacific during World War II," the news site wrote.

Quinto also said: “As the first LGBT mayor in the city’s 100-year history, I am honored to represent you.”

Quinto has served the city in various roles. He graduated from El Cerrito High before earning his bachelor's at Long Beach State.

--Photo courtesy of the city of El Cerrito