The Soul of A Nurse Award, September 2007

CA Partnership to End Domestic Violence
Presley Honor Award, September 2007

UCLA LGBT Center
Distinguished Service Award, June 2007

UCLA Labor Center

Universal Health Care For All Award, June 2007

Los Angeles County Probation Officers

Legislative Leadership Award, June 2007

Coalition to Protect All Californians From Tobacco

Carrying the Torch for Tobacco Prevention Award, June 2007

Junior Leagues of California

Legislator of the Year Award, April 2007

California Dietetic Association
The Legislative & Public Policy Award, March 2007

Environment California
Environmental Champion Award, March 2007

California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
2007 Champion Award, February 2007

Consumer Federation of California
Consumer Leadership Award, January 2007


2006

Retired Public Employees Association
Non-Member of the Year Award, November 2006

Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition
2006 Civic Leadership Award, October 2006

California Women's Law Center
Abby J. Leibman Pursuit of Justice Award, October 2006

Equality California
Building a State of Equality Award, April 2006

Congress of California Seniors
Legislator of the Year Award, March 2006

Lazarus Project of the Presbyterian Church
Lazarus Award, February 2006

Save Open Space
Award for Distinguished Work in Protecting the Santa Monica Mountains, January 2006

Who’s Who in America, 2003-2006

Who’s Who in American Women, 1998-2006

2005

Victory Fund
Leadership Award, December 2005

National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Legislator of the Year Award, Oct 2005

Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center
2005 Mathew O. Tobriner Public Service Award, July 2005

Women Against Gun Violence
Courageous Leader Award, May 2005

LULAC – League of United Latin American Citizens
Community Unity Award for Political Activism, April 2005

Nature Conservancy
Conservancy Award, February 2005

2004

California Council of the Blind
Legislator of the Year, October 2004

Los Angeles Psychological Association
Recognition Award, October 2004

Harvard Law School
Cox/Richardson/Coleman Public Service Award, October 2004

Perinatal Advisory Council/Leadership, Advocacy, and Consultation (PAC/LAC)
Commitment and Support of Maternal and Child Health Community Award, September 2004

Heal the Bay
Ahmanson Ranch Heroes Recognition Award, June 2004

Sacramento Mutual Housing
Housing and Community Development Recognition Award, May 2004

Protection and Advocacy, Incorporated
Award of Excellence, March 2004

National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
Award of Excellence, March 2004

Break the Cycle
Work To End Domestic Violence Award, January 2004

2003

California Alliance for Consumer Protection
Award for Excellence in Consumer Education, November 2003

The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring
Rabbi Melvin S. and Erna B. Sands Memorial Award for Human Rights, October 2003

California Regional Water Quality Control Board-Los Angeles
H. David Nahai 2003 Water Quality Excellence Award, October 2003

Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club
Legislator of the Year, October 2003

The National Conference of Women's Bar Associations
Arabella Babb Mansfield Award, August 2003

Californians Against Waste
Legislator of the Year, August 2003

California School Resource Officers Association
Legislator of the Year, July 2003

Family Violence Law Center
End Family Violence Achievement Award, June 2003

Center for The American Woman in Politics
Good HouseKeeping Award for Women in Government, June 2003

Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley
Truman Award for Outstanding Elected Official of 2003, May 2003

Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade
Morris Kight Political Grand Marshal, May 2003

Harvard Law School
C50 Award, Celebrating 50 years of Women at the Harvard Law School, May 2003

Southern California Public Health Association
Outstanding Legislator, May 2003

ACLU of South Bay
Upton Sinclair Freedom of Expression Award for Political Courage, May 2003

California NOW
Legislator of the Year, April 2003

Vote the Coast
Outstanding Legislator, April 2003

Planning and Conservation League
Legislator of the Year, April 2003

California State Parks Foundation
Legacy Award, April 2003

Pat Brown Institute
2003 Outstanding Public Servant Award, April 2003

California State Labor Federation
Recognition Award for Paid Family Leave, March 2003

Coalition of Labor Union Women
Outstanding Legislator, March 2003

National Women's Political Caucus- Alameda
Susan B. Anthony Award for Courageous Advocacy, March 2003

California Association for the Education of Young Children
Commitment to Children Award, February 2003

Los Angeles County Democratic Party
John F. Kennedy "Profiles In Courage" Award, January 2003

2002

Hollywood Beautification Team
Outstanding Legislator, November 2002

Whittier Law School Center for Children's Rights
Outstanding Advocate for Women and Families, November 2002

UCLA Women’s Studies Program
The Women’s Community Action Award, November 2002

Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara
Sticking Your Neck Out Award in recognition of SB 1301, October 2002

California Abortion Rights Action League - CARAL
Champion of Choice Award, October 2002

California State Bar
Award for Outstanding Legislative Service, September, 2002

San Diego Democratic Club
A. Brad Truax Human Rights Award, September 2002

Lambda Legal Education and Defense Fund
Liberty Award, June 2002

Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club
Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights and Community Involvement, June 2002

Ventura County Labor Alliance
Award for Advocacy on behalf of the LGBT Community, May 2002

2001

California Educational Theater Association
Outstanding Contribution to Educational Theater Award, 2001

Desert Stonewall Democrats
Sandy Award, 2001

California Society for Clinical Social Work
Outstanding Human Rights Advocate Award, 2001

Western Law Center for Disability Rights
President's Award, 2001

California League of Conservation Voters
Grizzly Award, February 2001

2000

Girl Scouts of California
Legislator of the Year Award, October 2000

Long Beach Democratic Club
Human Rights Award, September 2000

West Hollywood Democratic Club
Democrat of the Year, July 2000

UCLA Alumni Association
Award for Public Service, June 2000

San Fernando Valley Child Abuse Council
Award for Child Advocacy, May 2000

USC Alumni Association
Lambda Alumni Association Recognition Award, April 2000

California National Organization for Women
Legislator of the Year, April 2000

California Educational Theatre Association
Outstanding Legislator, March 2000

1999

Consumer Federation of California
The Congressman Jerry Vorhees Distinguished Consumer Protection Award, 1999

Consumer Attorneys of California
1999 Assembly Stalwart of the Year Award

Southern California Employment Roundtable
“Vision Award”, 40th Anniversary of the Fair Employment and Housing Act Luncheon, 1999

California Coastal Coalition/City of Huntington Beach Conference
Friend of the Coast Award, 1999

Pasadena Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Commitment to Improving Quality of Life of Domestic Violence Victims, 1999

California Nurses Association
Legislator of the Year, 1999

Association for Children for Enforcement of Support (ACES)
Golden Heart Award, 1999

California Federation of Business & Professional Women
Legislator of the Year Award, 1999

Junior League State Public Affairs Committee
Legislator of the Year Award, 1999

California Parks and Recreation Society
Legislator of the Year Award, 1999

1998

Public Citizen
Citizen of the Year Award, 1998

Barry Goldwater Human Rights Award, 1998

California Law Business
One of 100 Most Influential Attorneys in California, 1998

1997

National Association of Women Lawyers
President’s Award, 1997

Congregation Kol Ami
Guardian of Justice Award, 1997

National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
Legislator of the Year, 1997

California Speech-Language-Hearing Association
In Recognition of Significant Service in Healthcare and Education, 1997

UCLA Association of Academic Women
1997 Woman of Achievement Award

Faculty Association, California Community College
First Term Legislator of the Year, 1997

Los Angeles Southeast National Women Political Caucus
Alice Paul Award for Efforts on Behalf of Women Candidates, 1997

UCLA
The Women Who Were First, 1997

National Women’s Political Caucus – Los Angeles Metro
First Annual “Women In Numbers” Award, 1997

Valley Business Alliance
Community Service Award, 1997

Lawyers For Human Rights
Distinguished Achievement Award, 1997

People’s College of Law
Clarence Darrow Award, 1997

1996

American Civil Liberties Union
Award of Appreciation, 1996

Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC)
Award for Advocacy for Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals, 1996

Consumer Attorneys of California
George Moscone Award for Outstanding Public Service, 1996

Consumer Attorneys
Assemblymember of the Year, 1996

California Journal
Rookie of the Year, 1996

University of California
Recognition Award for Advocacy and Legislation on Domestic Violence and Child Welfare, 1996

Family Violence Project of Jewish Family Service
Appreciation Award, 1996

Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women
Humanitarian Award, 1996

State Bar of California’s Conference of Delegates
Legislator of the Year, 1996

George Magazine
One of the Twenty Most Fascinating Women in Politics, 1996

UCLA University Religious Council
Adaline Guenther Service Award, 1996

1995

Women Lawyers’ Association of Los Angeles
Pathfinder Award, 1995

Human Rights Campaign
National Coming out Award, 1995

Alliance’s Lesbian & Gay Political Action Committee
Special Achievement Award, 1995

Alliance for Community Media
Hometown Video Festival Winner for GUTI (Get Used to It), 1995

Gay and Lesbian Medical Association
Achievement Award, 1995

California NOW
Legislator of the Year, 1995

San Fernando Valley Bar Association
Stanley M. Litz Memorial Award, 1995

UCLA Lambda Alumni Association
Professional Achievement Award, 1995

Before 1995

Feminist Majority Foundation
Feminist of the Year Award, 1994

UCLA Alumni Association
Alumni Recognition Award, 1993

Southern California Women for Understanding
Community Service Award, 1993

Women Making History Award, 1992

Family Violence Project
Papenheim Award, 1992

Women Lawyers' Association of L.A.
Ernestine Stahlhut Award, 1991

Women for:
Woman of Distinction Award, 1991

Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women
Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Legal Advocacy, 1991

44th Assembly District
Woman of the Year, 1991

Lawyers for Human Rights
Co-President's Award, 1990

Santa Monica YMCA
Woman of the Year, 1989

UCLA
Distinguished Service Award, 1981
Susan B. Anthony Award, 1981