Career
She was selected by the council to be the mayor, making her the first openly lesbian mayor of an incorporated municipality in the United States. Her best-known action as mayor was, after the city council passed an anti-discrimination ordinance, taking down a controversial anti-gay sign, "Fagots Stay Out," that was posted in a local landmark restaurant, Barney"s Beanery. During her term, the council passed a strong rent-control law, and also began offering domestic partnership benefits, becoming the second American city to legally recognize same-sex relationships (Berkeley had passed a similar law a year earlier).
On the witness stand Terrigno acknowledged making "errors in judgment" but denied any criminal wrongdoing.
Federal District Judge Laughlin Waters sentenced Terrigno to 60 days, which she served in a halfway house. Terrigno claimed that she was targeted for being a lesbian, but jurors denied that her sexual orientation was a factor in their deliberations.
She resigned her city council seat in 1986. Terrigno"s planned appearance at the 1986 West Hollywood gay pride parade, representing a local restaurant, sparked controversy.
Parade organizers were prepared to bar her from participating but Terrigno voluntarily withdrew.
Longtime gay activist Harry Hay, angered at what he believed was unfair treatment, walked the parade route with a sign reading "Valerie Terrigno walks with me". The backside of the sign read: "NAMBLA walks with me".
