The following comes from an March 31 St. Mary’s College news release:

Two remarkable individuals—one, a Saint Mary’s alumnus and critically acclaimed actor; and the other, an advocate for educational excellence in the Golden State’s public school system—will address undergraduate and graduate students at the 2016 Commencement Ceremonies of Saint Mary’s College of California.

Tom Torlakson, superintendent of California’s public school system and leader of the California Department of Education, will offer the commencement address to Saint Mary’s graduate and professional studies students on May 21.

From April 26 Cardinal Newman Society article:

Saint Mary’s College of California will host superintendent of California’s public school system Tom Torlakson as a commencement speaker.

In his role as superintendent, Torlakson has been a public proponent of same-sex marriage, opposing the Proposition 8 effort to protect marriage between one man and one woman in California and applauding the Supreme Court’s marriage ruling over social media. “Same sex marriage is now a universal right, rules #SCOTUS. Congratulations to all on this historic victory! #LoveWins,” he stated on Twitter.

He has received 100 percent ratings from NARAL Pro-Choice California, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and the California Abortion and Reproductive Rights League, as well as public endorsements from Equality California and Planned Parenthood.

Torlakson also supported legislation in California which required students to study the contributions of LGBT Americans as “role models” and mandated that “children as young as kindergarten must be taught to admire persons who engage in homosexuality.”