California Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani has publicly announced she is gay.

The 47-year-old Galgiani discussed her sexual orientation for the first time on Tuesday with the Stockton Record.

In the wide-ranging interview, the Democrat from Livingston told the paper that she wanted to come out to be a role model for young gay people being bullied.

“It sickens me that young people would think about taking their lives because of who they are,” Galgiani said.

Galgiani's spokesman confirmed the report to the Sacramento Bee.

She added that she wasn't aware that she was gay until after she was elected to represent her district in 2006.

Galgiani joins the seven-member Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus, which includes Democrats Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, Senator Christine Kehoe, Senator Mark Leno, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, Assemblyman Richard S. Gordon and Assemblyman Ricardo Lara.

The addition of Galgiani makes the caucus the largest in the nation, according to Equality California, the state's largest gay rights advocate. The LGBT Caucus was formed in 2002.

The termed-out Galgiani is expected to run for a Senate seat next year.