RELEASE: Congresswoman Friedman Honor’s West Hollywood’s John Heilman in Speech on House Floor

November 12, 2026 Press Release Heilman is one of the longest-serving openly gay elected officials in the United States WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Today, November 12, 2026, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in recognition of John Heilman, one of the founders and current Mayor of West Hollywood, California. Mayor Heilman is retiring this year after more than 40 years of public service. Watch or download Congresswoman Friedman’s full remarks here . A full transcript of her floor speech is below: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Heilman, one of the founders and the Mayor of West Hollywood, California who is retiring after nearly forty years on the City Council. In 1984, John was elected to West Hollywood’s very first City Council. He helped build that city from day one, and he’s one of the longest-serving openly gay elected officials in the United States of America. In 1985, in the early years of the AIDS crisis, John helped write one of the nation’s first laws banning discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS. He helped create one of the country’s first domestic partnership registries — extending recognition and benefits to same-sex couples and senior residents. And he co-founded the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation to build affordable housing. His colleagues have chosen him to lead as mayor again and again, most recently this past year. Along the way, he’s spent decades teaching law at Whittier, Southwestern, USC, and UCLA, mentoring generations of lawyers. And in his final term, he’s donating his entire council salary to community organizations. As a former mayor myself, I know how much of this work happens far from the cameras without public accolades. John has done it for four decades, and I want to thank him for all of his work and service.” ###