Three transgender women were honored Monday during a “Woman of the Year” celebration in the state Assembly for their work toward breaking down barriers and fighting for equality.

Each year, the state Legislature honors one woman from each lawmaker’s district. In 2003, then-Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, named Theresa Sparks as an Assembly Woman of the Year, marking the first time a transgender woman was honored with the award. Sparks is the executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

On Monday, Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, honored Cecilia Chung of San Francisco; Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, selected Desiree Jade Sol of West Hollywood; and Mark Stone, D-MontereyBay, chose Dayna Sinopoli of MontereyBay.

Chung is a senior advisor for the Transgender Law Center, a health commissioner at the San Francisco Department of Public Health and a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

“Cecilia has an inspiring record of breaking down barriers,” Ting said in a statement. “Her bravery and brains have made our community a more compassionate and welcoming place. As we strive for even greater equality, we can simply look to her for a roadmap forward.”

Sol is a LGBT activist who serves on West Hollywood’s Public Safety Commission. Sinopoli is a Navy veteran and motivational speaker about transgender issues.