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Don Korotsky Norte
Don Korotsky Norte
Don Korotsky Norte
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Don Korotsky Norte (born 1961/1962[1]) is an American gay rights political activist. Norte's career covers over thirty years of public service with federal, state, and local government, including the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.[2]

Key Information

Early life and education

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Norte received a Bachelor of Arts in geography from Montclair State University and master's degree of urban planning from New York University.[3]

Norte began dating his husband Kevin Norte, a high school classmate, in 1978. They married on June 28, 2008, in California, 30 years after their first date.[1]

Career

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Norte is a city planner.[1] He worked for West Hollywood's Department of Transportation and Public Works between 1990 and 2017. Norte joined the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's management team in 2017. He and his husband marched in the City of Los Angeles LGBTQ Pride Parade in Hollywood in 2022.[4][5]

In 2004, Norte was involved in the Bobby Shriver for Santa Monica City Council Campaign.[citation needed]

Norte has served on the board of directors and later as president of the California Public Parking Association.[5]

Log Cabin Republicans

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(l-r) BoiFromTroy Conservative Blogger Scott Schmidt, California Secretary of Business Regulations Heather Peters, Log Cabin Republicans - Los Angeles President Charles Moran, & LCR-CA-PAC Board Member Kevin Norte at the California State Republican Convention.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

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Main article: Arnold Schwarzenegger and LGBT rights
Don Norte, Maria Shriver, Kevin Norte, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Hotel Bel-Air in 2006.

In 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Norte to the Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.[6]

On April 11, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger officially announced his opposition to the Initiative at LCR's National Convention.[7] At Log Cabin's 2009 convention, Kevin Norte received the group's "Grassroots Leader Award". In May 2010, the couple represented LCR at the Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Pride Festival.[8]

Resignation

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During the last days of the 2012 Presidential election, when Log Cabin Republicans announced their last minute endorsement of Mitt Romney, the Nortes resigned from Log Cabin Republicans and changed their political affiliation.[9]

Context of same sex couples taking one name in California

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Remaining Schwarzenegger appointee Don Norte and California Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma.

Norte tested California's "Domestic Partnership" law that promised equality except for the word "marriage" in 2005 by attempting to change his last name to test the applicability of AB 205. That law was intended to match the rights of domestic partnerships to married couples. The language provided in California Family Code § 297.5 (a), reads as follows:[citation needed]

Registered domestic partners shall have the same rights, duties, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, whether derived from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sources of law, as are granted to and imposed upon spouses.

During the Legislative Session 2006–07, California AB 102 was drafted by San Francisco Assemblymember Fiona Ma after the Norte's legal name status was called into question after the CA DMV adopted a policy to intentionally block other domestic partners after the Nortes from applying the California Family Code in a similar manner.[citation needed] The Nortes' involvement was mentioned in the description of a George Takei interview on Larry King.[10]

AB 102 expanded on the concept of allowing domestic partners to take the name of a spouse, to include married couples so the husband would have the right to assume the last name of the wife. AB 102 was inclusive and consistent with Fam. Code § 297.5 by addressing marriages of different or the same genders. Name changes processed for domestic partners after AB 205 and prior to AB 102 originally permitted individuals to proceed with subsequent name change actions, including social security and passport documents. AB 102 passed the Assembly with three Republican votes: Sam Blakeslee, Roger Niello, and Anthony Adams.[11] It passed the Senate on a straight party vote.[12]

The reaction from opponents was swift after the Governor signed the bill. "AB 102 allows homosexual couples to hold themselves out as married by permitting them to choose the same surname upon registration of their 'domestic partnership,'" said Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families. The bill granted unmarried couples married last names. "Schwarzenegger and the Democrat politicians have created the public image of homosexual "marriages" in California," said Thomasson in response to the signing of AB 102. "It's hypocritical for Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto homosexual "'marriage'" licenses and at the very same time aggressively promote the public image of gay and lesbian "'marriages'" in every community for every child to see."[13] Nortes' position on their name was resolved in the 2006-07 legislative session when AB 102 was signed into law by the Governor because the law was made retroactive.

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Don Korotsky Norte

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is an American civil servant and political activist recognized for advancing through with the Republican Party in . In a long-term relationship with Kevin Norte since meeting in the early , the couple publicly endorsed Republican Governor and participated in his inauguration events as an openly same-sex pair. Norte served as a Schwarzenegger appointee to the Governor's on Employment of People with Disabilities in 2007, marking him as one of the earliest openly individuals appointed to state roles under a Republican administration. His professional career in public service spans and transportation, including positions as Parking Services and Projects Officer for West Hollywood, where he earned $99,277 in regular pay in 2013, and as Manager of Countywide Planning and Development at the County .

Personal Background

Early Life

Don Korotsky Norte was born in 1962 and raised in , a community in Ocean County located along . Little public information is available regarding his immediate family or childhood experiences prior to attending college.

Education

Norte earned a degree in geography from in , graduating in 1984. He subsequently obtained a Master of from New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, with studies focused on and .

Professional Career

Federal and State Government Service

Norte's federal government service encompassed positions at the U.S. Department of Defense and the General Services Administration. In state government, he served with the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. On October 2, 2007, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Norte, a Hollywood resident, to the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. This appointment was part of Schwarzenegger's selections of Log Cabin Republicans to state positions. The committee advises on policies to enhance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Local Government Roles in California

Don Korotsky Norte served as Parking Services & Projects Officer for the City of West Hollywood's Department of from the early 1990s until 2017. In this capacity, he managed parking enforcement operations, developed parking planning initiatives, and oversaw revenue control systems for the municipality. His work contributed to local policy discussions, including temporary parking restrictions in preferential parking zones, as documented in West Hollywood City Council proceedings. Norte's role involved direct engagement with public infrastructure challenges in West Hollywood, a city known for its dense urban environment and high demand for resources. He advocated against market-based pricing models for on-street , arguing in professional debates that such systems could impose undue burdens on residents without sufficient evidence of equitable outcomes. confirm his compensation in this position, with total pay reaching $129,598 in 2012, reflecting the scope of responsibilities in a mid-sized municipality. As a city planner, Norte focused on transportation and integration, supporting initiatives like division outreach for permit programs and enforcement updates. His tenure aligned with broader local efforts to balance vehicle access with pedestrian-friendly policies in West Hollywood's commercial districts.

Involvement with Log Cabin Republicans

![Kevin Norte at the Log Cabin Republicans 2007 Luau][float-right] Don Korotsky Norte, known as Don Norte, served on the board of the ' Los Angeles chapter during the mid-2000s. In October 2007, Governor appointed him to the California Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, highlighting his prominence within gay Republican circles at the time. Norte and his long-term partner Kevin Norte were active Log Cabin Republicans who campaigned vigorously for Schwarzenegger's elections, leveraging their involvement to promote Republican values aligned with gay rights advocacy. They attended key organization events, including the Log Cabin Republicans' annual convention in and the 2007 Luau in . In a 2008 interview, Norte emphasized the compatibility of identity with Republican principles, stating, "A lot of our core values are the same as Republicans', and we're working to change the platform from within to allow acceptance." He described as representing "the basic, original, core values of the Republican Party, of individual freedom." This reflected his strategy of internal reform to foster greater inclusion of conservatives within the party.

Support for Republican Figures

Don Korotsky Norte, alongside his partner Kevin Norte, publicly endorsed during his 2006 re-election campaign for , marking them as the only same-sex couple to do so openly. This endorsement aligned with their involvement in the "Californians for Schwarzenegger" efforts, reflecting Norte's commitment to Republican candidates supportive of limited gay rights advancements within the party. Following Schwarzenegger's victory, the couple participated in his events as representatives of gay Republican supporters. Schwarzenegger reciprocated this alignment by appointing Norte to the Governor's on Employment of People with Disabilities in October 2007. Norte's subsequent appointment to additional state oversight roles under Schwarzenegger's administration further evidenced their mutual political synergy. Through his leadership in the , Norte contributed to the organization's endorsements of other Republican figures, including in the 2012 presidential race, though specific personal endorsements beyond Schwarzenegger are less documented. His activism emphasized backing conservatives who opposed expansive judicial interventions in marriage while advocating incremental policy gains for LGBT individuals.

Resignation and Aftermath

In October 2012, Don Korotsky Norte and his partner Kevin Norte resigned their membership in the (LCR) following the organization's endorsement of for president. The endorsement, announced around October 23, 2012, conflicted with the Nortes' support for marriage equality, as Romney opposed and backed the Defense of Marriage Act, while President had recently voiced support for it. Kevin Norte stated, "I can’t support somebody who wants to destroy my family," referring to Romney's stance, and described the departure as "kind of like a divorce" after approximately ten years of involvement, during which he had received LCR's Grassroots Leadership Award in 2009. Don Norte echoed the sentiment, saying, "I’m at a point where I just can’t put myself with [the LCR] anymore because of what their positions are on ." The couple, active in LCR's chapter, viewed the endorsement as a betrayal of core principles amid shifting on . LCR leadership responded by minimizing the Nortes' roles, noting they were not board members but longstanding participants. Following the resignation, the Nortes indicated they were undecided on their presidential vote but expressed disillusionment with the Republican-aligned group's direction on equality issues. Subsequent reports noted a shift in their political affiliation away from Republican organizations, though specific details on new alignments remain limited. The episode highlighted internal tensions within conservative LGBTQ+ advocacy amid the election's focus on marriage rights.

Personal Life and Advocacy

Long-Term Relationship with Kevin Norte

Don Korotsky Norte has maintained a long-term partnership with Kevin Norte, a attorney, originating from their shared hometown of . The couple relocated together to , where they established their lives in Hollywood; as of 2008, both were 46 years old, with Norte working as a city planner. Their relationship became publicly notable in the context of California's evolving same-sex rights landscape. In July 2008, following a ruling against , Kevin Norte and his longtime partner Don Norte visited Tiffany's to purchase wedding rings, symbolizing their commitment amid legal setbacks. By 2014, media referred to them as spouses, as evidenced by their joint appearance reflecting at Lauren Bacall's star after placing flowers there on August 12. The Nortes have resided together in Los Angeles, with public records listing their address at 715 North Genesee Avenue as of recent years, and they continue to be recognized as a married couple in activist circles. Their partnership, spanning over four decades, has intertwined personal life with joint advocacy efforts, though specific private details remain limited in public sources.

Same-Sex Name Changes in California

Don Korotsky Norte changed his surname from Korotsky to Norte to match that of his domestic partner, Kevin Norte, prior to legislative reforms facilitating such changes for same-sex couples. This action occurred in the context of California's domestic partnership framework, established under AB 205 in 2003, which expanded registration to all eligible couples starting January 1, 2005, but initially required court proceedings for surname changes by registered domestic partners, unlike some options available to married couples. Norte's attempt to effect the name change through the domestic partnership registration process was blocked by the (DMV), highlighting discrepancies in administrative equality between domestic partnerships and marriages under Family Code section 297.5(a). This experience tested the law's promise of equivalent rights and prompted advocacy for reform, leading to the introduction of AB 102, the Name Equality Act of 2007, by Assemblymember during the 2006-2007 legislative session. AB 102 amended Family Code sections 297.6 and to permit one or both parties to a —or —to elect a directly on the registration or license application, without intervention, provided there was no intent to defraud. The bill passed on May 31, 2007, with three Republican votes (Assemblymembers Sam Blakeslee, Roger Niello, and ) alongside Democratic support, and the Senate on a straight party-line vote, before being chaptered as Chapter 567, Statutes of 2007, and signed by Governor . Effective January 1, 2009, the law applied retroactively in certain respects, resolving prior administrative barriers like those encountered by Norte and enabling streamlined updates to documents such as Social Security records and passports. The legislation addressed long-standing inequities, ensuring that same-sex couples could adopt shared surnames comparable to heterosexual married couples, thereby enhancing the symbolic and practical parity of domestic partnerships. Norte's case exemplified early efforts to enforce substantive equality under the existing framework, influencing policy to eliminate costly and protracted court processes for name changes.

Views and Controversies

Advocacy for Conservative Gay Rights

Don Korotsky Norte advocated for gay rights by integrating them with core conservative principles, including individual , low taxes, balanced budgets, and spending. As an active member of the , he worked to promote acceptance of gay individuals within the Republican Party, countering perceptions that and are incompatible. In a interview, Norte explained, "A lot of people think (it) is an . How can you be gay and a Republican? And I say that a lot of our core values are the same as Republicans', and we're working to change the platform from within to allow acceptance." Norte prioritized legal recognition for his 30-year same-sex partnership but insisted that gay rights should not eclipse other issues, such as national defense. He served on the board of the ' chapter, contributing to efforts to influence the party's stance on gay inclusion while upholding and personal responsibility. Through these activities, Norte exemplified a conservative approach to gay advocacy, focusing on equality under existing laws rather than expansive identity-based entitlements, and emphasizing assimilation into broader American values.

Criticisms and Debates

In October 2012, Don Korotsky Norte and his partner Kevin Norte publicly resigned their decade-long membership in the following the organization's endorsement of for president. The endorsement, announced on October 23, 2012, drew their criticism because Romney had pledged to the to defend traditional marriage and supported the Defense of Marriage Act, positions they viewed as merely tolerating LGBT individuals rather than advancing equality, particularly on marriage rights. They contrasted this with the group's decision in 2004 not to endorse over similar concerns. Log Cabin Republicans president R. Clarke Cooper defended the Romney endorsement as reflecting member priorities on economic and issues, while noting that the Nortes had limited recent involvement in the organization. This episode underscored debates within gay conservative circles about strategic endorsements: whether to prioritize broader Republican alignment despite incomplete support for social issues like marriage equality, or to withhold backing from candidates perceived as insufficiently progressive on LGBT matters. Norte's advocacy for multi-issue conservatism as a gay Republican has sparked broader contention, with him emphasizing that sexual orientation should not dictate sole allegiance to one party, even as he supports figures like despite the latter's vetoes of bills in 2005 and 2007. Critics within the mainstream LGBT movement have questioned the efficacy of aligning with a party historically resistant to full equality, arguing it dilutes pressure for change. Norte has countered that gay rights constitute just one political priority, akin to fiscal responsibility and , framing such as essential for diverse representation rather than ideological purity.

References

  1. https://lbpost.com/news/ca-gay-republicans-appointed/
  2. https://www.advocate.com/news/2008/10/08/love-stories-kevin-and-don-norte
  3. https://govsalaries.com/norte-don-korotsky-68279248
  4. https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-norte-72a995a
  5. https://www.montclair.edu/magazine-archive/media/uploads/sites/12/2018/07/Magazine-7-23.pdf
  6. https://edurank.org/uni/montclair-state-university/alumni/
  7. https://lbpost.com/news/governor-appoints-more-log-cabin-republicans/
  8. https://www.parking.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IPI_2017-BOD-Ballot_FINAL-1.pdf
  9. https://weho.granicus.com/MinutesViewer.php?view_id=22&clip_id=40
  10. http://shoup.bol.ucla.edu/Debate.pdf
  11. https://opengovpay.com/ca/don-norte-korotsky/54947900
  12. https://www.weho.org/Home/Components/News/News/342/23?arch=1&npage=42
  13. https://www.kpbs.org/news/2008/04/11/for-gay-republicans-politics-is-not-just-one-issue
  14. https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/4573537
  15. https://dlab.epfl.ch/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/a/Arnold_Schwarzenegger.htm
  16. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/log-cabin-republicans-mitt-romney_n_2039834
  17. https://www.latimes.com/la-me-timelinegaymarriage-2008jul17-story.html
  18. https://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/don-norte-and-his-spouse-kevin-norte-take-a-moment-to-news-photo/453544210
  19. https://clustrmaps.com/person/Norte-jp612
  20. https://www.sos.ca.gov/registries/domestic-partners-registry/legislation
  21. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=200720080AB102
  22. https://www.aclu-sdic.org/en/legislation/bill-gives-domestic-partners-married-spouses-equal-opportunity-take-surname-choice
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