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SAN FRANCISCO — Democrats from Santa Cruz and San Francisco are set to become the first openly gay men in the California Legislature, joining three uncloseted lesbians in pushing an agenda that includes giving same-sex couples the same protections as married straight people. 

But state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, a lesbian from Santa Monica, predicts hostility from some lawmakers “because there’s more prejudice toward gay men from straight, homophobic men than there is toward lesbians.” 

Former Santa Cruz Mayor John Laird ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the seat of Assemblyman Fred Keeley, D-Boulder Creek, who is being forced out by term limits. Laird will face Republican Chuck Carter, a Monterey real estate agent, this fall in what is considered a safe Democratic seat. 

In San Francisco, another openly gay man was expected to take an Assembly seat. 

The Democratic primary race was too close to call between city Supervisor Mark Leno and former board of supervisors president Harry Britt, both of whom are gay. They were seeking an Assembly seat being vacated by Carole Migden, a lesbian, in a safe Democratic district. 

There currently are four women in the Legislature who are public about being lesbians, though Migden will be pushed out by term limits. Leno or Britt will try to keep that seat gay. 

“When a gay person is at the table on the Assembly floor, the dynamic of debate changes immediately,” Leno said, “just by the fact of our presence.” 

Britt was appointed to Harvey Milk’s seat in 1979 after the city’s first gay supervisor was assassinated at City Hall. 

The incumbent lesbians have been pushing the gay agenda in Sacramento, but it hasn’t been easy. In 2001, Gov. Gray Davis signed a measure allowing domestic partners who register with the state to make medical decisions for their incapacitated partners, sue for wrongful death, adopt a partner’s child and will property to a partner. 

But the legislation falls short of recognizing same-sex unions that would allow couples to enjoy the same protections as married straight people. 

“It took me six years to get through a bill just to protect students against harassment at school, and it only barely passed,” said Kuehl, a Democrat and the first open lesbian elected to the Legislature. “It is so hostile and insulting, and it’s all from the Republicans, really.” 

The other two open lesbians currently in the Legislature are Assemblywomen Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, and Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego. 

Rev. Lou Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, said the election of an openly gay man to the state Legislature could be negated if Republican Bill Simon wins the gubernatorial race, but still would be a concern to his group. 

“The rub is that the homosexual agenda thinks it’s the only agenda in town,” Sheldon said. He pointed out that Californians voted against a same-sex marriage initiative in the past and that gay politicians from San Francisco may be out of step with the rest of the state. 

“It’s San Francisco that needs to awaken that they are pushing against the will of the people,” Sheldon said. 

Although only two gay candidates have a shot at winning legislative seats in the general election in November, gay rights advocates were pleased that other such candidates were on the ballot Tuesday. 

Holli Thier was on the San Francisco ticket, and Gregory Pettis lost in the district covering Imperial County as well as the Riverside County cities of Blythe, Indio, Palm Desert, Palm Springs and Cathedral City. 

“I’m not used to having to be at so many places at once for gay candidates on Election Night,” said Jean Harris, executive director of the California Alliance for Pride and Equality. “If civil unions is passed in California, it’s going to sweep across the country. They’re interested in taking this role, and they really want to be a part of making history.”