List of LGBTQ politicians in the United States
This is an alphabetical list of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender politicians who have held office in the United States. Historical figures are included only if there is documented evidence of an open queer identity.
Most openly LGBT politicians in the U.S. are part of the Democratic Party, which has taken a more favorable stance than Republicans towards LGBT rights.[1][2]
Federal
[edit]Executive
[edit]Image | Name | Party | Entered office | Left office | Office(s) Held (tenure)[a] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roberta Achtenberg (born 1950) | Democratic | 1993 | 1995 | Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (1993-1995) Commissioner, United States Commission on Civil Rights (2011-2016) | First openly lesbian or gay public official requiring United States Senate confirmation[3] | |
2011 | 2016 | |||||
Christine Abizaid (born 1979) | 2021 | Incumbent | Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (2021–present) | First female and first openly gay director of the National Counterterrorism Center.[4][5] | ||
John Berry (born 1959) | Democratic | 2000 | 2016 | Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (2000-2005) Director of the National Zoological Park (2005-2009) Director of the Office of Personnel Management (2009-2013) United States Ambassador to Australia (2013-2016) | First out head of a federal agency[6] | |
Randy W. Berry (born 1965) | 2015 | Incumbent | United States Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons (2015–2017) United States Ambassador to Nepal (2018–2022) United States Ambassador to Namibia (2023–present) | First United States Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons.[7][8] | ||
Pete Buttigieg (born 1982) | Democratic | 2021 | Incumbent | Secretary of Transportation (2021–present) | First openly gay Cabinet Secretary[9] | |
Eric Fanning (born 1968) | Democratic | 2013 | 2017 | United States Under Secretary of the Air Force (2013-2015) Chief of Staff to Secretary of Defense (2015; 2015–2016) United States Secretary of the Army (2016-2017) | First openly LGBT Secretary of the Army[10] | |
Richard Grenell (born 1966) | Republican | 2018 | 2020 | Ambassador to Germany (2018–2020) Director of National Intelligence (2020) (Acting) | First openly gay member of the United States Cabinet, albeit in an acting capacity[11] | |
James Hormel (1933-2021) | Democratic | 1999 | 2001 | Ambassador to Luxembourg (1999-2001) | First openly LGBT ambassador for the United States[12] |
Legislative
[edit]State
[edit]Executive
[edit]Image | Name (lifespan) | Party | State | Entered office | Left office[a] | Office(s) Held (tenure) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lisa Belcastro (born 1988) | Democratic | Maryland | 2023 | Incumbent | Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities (2023–present) | [13] | |
Kate Brown (born 1960) | Democratic | Oregon | 2015 | 2023 | Oregon Secretary of State (2009–2015) Governor of Oregon (2015–2023) | First openly bisexual person to be elected secretary of state in American history and Oregon's first out LGBT constitutional officer. Succeeded to the governor's office upon the resignation of John Kitzhaber (D); subsequently elected in her own right in 2016. Brown is thus the first openly LGBT person to be elected governor in the U.S.[14] | |
Benjamin Cruz (born 1951) | Nonpartisan[15] | Guam | 2018 | Incumbent | Public Auditor of Guam (2018–present) | Previously served as an Associate Justice and later Chief Justice of the Guam Supreme Court[16] | |
Ed Flanagan (1950-2017) | Democratic | Vermont | 1993 | 2001 | Vermont Auditor of Accounts (1993-2001) | First openly gay state auditor to be elected in American history[17][18] | |
Maura Healey (born 1971) | Democratic | Massachusetts | 2015 | Incumbent | Massachusetts Attorney General (2015–2023) Governor of Massachusetts (2023–present) | First out Attorney General elected at state level[19] First out Governor of Massachusetts[20] | |
Elaine Howle (born 1960) | Nonpartisan | California | 2001 | 2021 | California State Auditor (2001–2021) | First woman and first out lesbian appointed California state auditor; longest-serving state auditor in California's history[21][22][23][24][25] | |
Kim Coco Iwamoto (born 1968) | Democratic | Hawaii | 2006 | 2011 | Member of Hawaii Board of Education (2006-2011) | First openly transgender person to win a statewide office[26] | |
Tina Kotek (born 1966) | Democratic | Oregon | 2023 | Incumbent | Governor of Oregon (2023–) | First LGBT person to succeed another LGBT person (Kate Brown) as Governor. | |
Ricardo Lara (born 1974) | Democratic | California | 2019 | Incumbent | California Insurance Commissioner (2019–present) | First out state Insurance Commissioner[27] | |
Kris Mayes (born 1971) | Democratic | Arizona | 2023 | Incumbent | Arizona Attorney General (2023–present) | First out Attorney General of Arizona[28] | |
Dale McCormick (born 1947) | Democratic | Maine | 1997 | 2005 | Maine State Treasurer (1997-2005) | First openly LGBT state treasurer (elected by state legislature) and Maine's first openly LGBT Constitutional officer[29] Possibly first out legislator for Maine | |
Jim McGreevey (born 1957) | Democratic | New Jersey | 2002 | 2004 | Governor of New Jersey (2002–2004) | Came out in the same speech as his resignation First openly gay governor[30] | |
Tony Miller (born 1948) | Democratic | California | 1994 | 1995 | Secretary of State of California (1994-1995) | First openly LGBT Secretary of State[31] | |
Dana Nessel (born 1969) | Democratic | Michigan | 2019 | Incumbent | Michigan Attorney General (2019–present) | First out Attorney General of Michigan First openly LGBT person elected to statewide office in Michigan[32] | |
Jared Polis (born 1975) | Democratic | Colorado | 2019 | Incumbent | Governor of Colorado (2019–present) | First openly gay man to be elected governor in the U.S.[33] | |
Josh Tenorio | Democratic | Guam | 2019 | Incumbent | Lieutenant Governor of Guam (2019–present) | First openly LGBT lieutenant governor[34] | |
Anthony Woods (born 1980) | Democratic | Maryland | 2023 | Incumbent | Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (2023–present) | [35] |
Legislative
[edit]This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Local
[edit]Executive
[edit]Image | Name | Party | State (or territory) | Office held (tenure)[a] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sam Adams (born 1963) | Democratic | Oregon | Mayor of Portland, Oregon (2009-2012) | First gay mayor of Portland and first mayor of the 30 most populous U.S. cities[150] | |
Pete Buttigieg (born 1982) | Democratic | Indiana | Mayor of South Bend (2012–2020) | Came out as gay in 2015,[151] and married Chasten Glezman in 2018[152] | |
Christopher Cabaldon (born 1965) | Democratic[c] | California | Mayor of West Sacramento (1998-2020) | Openly gay[153] | |
Bill Crews (born 1952) | Republican | Iowa | Mayor of Melbourne, Iowa (1984-1998) | Possibly first out LGBT elected official in Iowa | |
Edgardo Cruz Vélez | Puerto Rico | Mayor of Guánica, Puerto Rico (2021–present) | First Puerto Rican mayor elected as a write-in candidate[154] | ||
Betsy Driver (born 1964) | Democratic | New Jersey | Mayor of Flemington (2019–present) | First openly intersex elected mayor in the United States[155][156] | |
Jenny Durkan (born 1958) | Democratic[c] | Washington | Mayor of Seattle (2017–2021) | Seattle's first lesbian mayor[157] | |
Tim Eustace (born 1957) | Democratic | New Jersey | Mayor of Maywood (2008–2011) | Openly gay[70] | |
Robert Garcia (born 1977) | Democratic | California | Mayor of Long Beach (2014–2022) | First LGBT and Latino person to hold the office | |
Neil Giuliano (born 1956) | Republican | Arizona | Mayor of Tempe (1994-2004) | One of directly elected openly gay mayors in the United States and one of first out LGBT republican officials | |
Todd Gloria (born 1978) | Democratic | California | Mayor of San Diego (2020–present) | First openly gay and first Person of Color to serve as mayor of San Diego[158] | |
Jim Gray (born 1953) | Democratic | Kentucky | Mayor of Lexington (2011-2019) | First openly gay mayor of Lexington[159] | |
Reed Gusciora (born 1960) | Democratic | New Jersey | Mayor of Trenton (2018–present) | ||
Richard A. Heyman (1935-1994) | Florida | Mayor of Key West (1983-1985; 1987–1989) | First out directly elected mayor in the United States[160] | ||
Claire Higgins | Democratic | Massachusetts | Mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts (1999-2011) | Possibly first openly LGBT Mayor in Massachusetts[161] | |
Ed Koch (1924-2013) | Democratic | New York | Mayor of New York City (1978-1989) | Posthumously identified as gay by The New York Times[162] | |
Sheila Kuehl (born 1941) | Democratic | California | Los Angeles Board of Supervisors (2014–Present) Chair of Los Angeles County (2017-2018) | ||
Susan Leal (born 1949) | Democratic | California | Treasurer of San Francisco (1997-2004) | One of the first out LGBT treasurers of a major city[163] | |
Lori Lightfoot (born 1962) | Democratic[c] | Illinois | Mayor of Chicago (2019–2023) | Openly lesbian | |
Miguel Méndez Pérez | Popular Democratic | Puerto Rico | Mayor of Isabela, Puerto Rico (2021–present) | [122] | |
Lisa Middleton (born 1952) | Democratic | California | Mayor of Palm Springs, California (2021–present) | First openly transgender mayor in California[164] | |
Ed Murray (born 1955) | Democratic | Washington (state) | Mayor of Seattle (2013–2017) | First openly gay minority leader in Washington and openly gay Mayor of Seattle | |
Michael R. Nelson | Democratic | North Carolina | Mayor of Carrboro, North Carolina (1995-2005) | ||
Ron Oden (born 1950) | Democratic | California | Mayor of Palm Springs, California (2003-2007) | First openly gay Black mayor in the United States[165] | |
Liz Ordiales (born 1959) | Nonpartisan | Georgia | Mayor of Hiawassee (2017–present) | Openly lesbian mayor[166] | |
Annise Parker (born 1956) | Democratic[c] | Texas | Mayor of Houston (2010–2016) | First openly LGBT mayor of a top 10 American city (by population)[167] | |
Ty Penserga | Democratic | Florida | Mayor of Boynton Beach, Florida (2022–present) | [168] | |
Kenneth Reeves (born 1951) | Democratic | Massachusetts | Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts (1992-1995; 2006–2007) | First openly gay Black person to serve as Mayor in the United States[169] | |
Satya Rhodes-Conway (born 1971) | Democratic | Wisconsin | Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin (2019-present) | First openly LGBT and lesbian Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin[170] | |
E. Denise Simmons (born 1951) | Massachusetts | Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts (2008-2010; 2016–2018) | First openly Black lesbian mayor in the United States[165] |
Legislative
[edit]Image | Name | Party | State | Office Held (tenure)[a] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Aguirre | Delaware | Rehoboth Beach City Commission (2003-?) | First out city council member elected in Delaware and one of first out Delaware officials[171] | ||
Liliana Bakhtiari | Democratic[c] | Georgia | Atlanta City Council (2022–present) | First openly queer Muslim elected in Georgia[172] | |
Harry Britt (1938-2020) | Democratic | California | San Francisco Board of Supervisors (1979-1993) President (1989-1990) | First openly gay city council president[173] | |
Joel Burns (born 1969) | Texas | Fort Worth City Council (2008-2014) | First openly gay person elected to office in Fort Worth and Tarrant County | ||
Patti Bushee (born 1959) | New Mexico | Santa Fe City Council (1992-2011) | Possibly first out LGBT person to serve New Mexico[174] | ||
David Carr (born 1987) | Republican | New York | New York City Councilman (2021–present)[175] | First openly LGBT Republican elected to office in New York City[176] | |
David Catania (born 1968) | Republican | Washington, D.C. | Council of the District of Columbia (1997-2015) | First openly gay Councilmember for Washington, D.C.[177] | |
Christopher Constant | Democratic | Alaska | Anchorage Assembly (2017–present) | With Felix Rivera, one of first openly LGBT officials elected in Alaska[178] | |
Joanne Conte (1933-2013) | Independent | Colorado | Arvada City Council (1991-1995) | Considered to be first openly transgender person elected to a City Council in the United States | |
Phillipe Cunningham (born 1982) | Democratic | Minnesota | Minneapolis City Councilman from the 4th Ward (2018–2022) | Along with Andrea Jenkins, became the first openly transgender black elected officials in the U.S.[179] and the first trans man[180] | |
Brian Coyle (1944-1991) | Minnesota | Minneapolis City Council (1984-1991) | Possibly first out LGBT Councilmember of Minneapolis[181] | ||
Carl DeMaio (born 1974) | Republican | California | San Diego City Council (2008-2012) | First openly gay man to San Diego Council | |
Betsy Driver (born 1964) | Democratic | New Jersey | Flemington, New Jersey Councillor (2017-2019) | First openly intersex elected official in the United States[155] | |
Thomas Duane (born 1955) | Democratic | New York | New York City Council (1992–1998) | With Antonio Pagán, one of the two first openly gay members of the New York City Council[65] | |
Louis Escobar (1950-2020) | Democratic | Ohio | Toledo City Council (1998-2006) Council President (Unknown dates) | First LGBT person and Latino elected to serve on Toledo City Council[182] One of first council members for a major city in Ohio (with Mary Wiseman) | |
Tim Eustace (born 1957) | Democratic | New Jersey | Maywood Borough Councilman (1995-1997; 2001–2008) Maywood Borough Council President (2005-2008) | Openly gay[70] | |
Jay Fisette (born 1956) | Democratic | Virginia | Arlington County Board (1998-2017) | First openly gay elected official in Virginia[183] | |
Stormie Forte | Democratic | North Carolina | Raleigh City Council (2020–present) | First Black woman and openly LGBT woman elected to Raleigh, NC Council[184] | |
Theresa Gadus | Democratic | Ohio | Toledo City Council (2021–present) | First openly LGBT woman elected to Toledo City Council[185] | |
Althea Garrison (born 1940) | Independent | Massachusetts | Boston City Council councilor at-large (2019–2020)[d] | Forcibly outed as transgender during her service in the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
Alberto J. Giménez | Puerto Rico | San Juan City Council (2021–present) | [122] | ||
Ricardo Gonzalez (born 1946) | Democratic | Wisconsin | Madison Common Council (1989-2000) | First openly gay Latino person elected to public office in the United States and possibly first out city council member for Madison, Wisconsin[186] | |
Maria Hadden (born 1981) | Democratic | Illinois | Chicago City Council (2019–present) | First openly queer woman of color elected to Chicago City Council[187] | |
Steve Hansen | Democratic | California | Sacramento City Council (2012-2020) | First openly gay member of Sacramento city council[188] | |
Shannon Hardin (born 1987) | Democratic | Ohio | Columbus City Council (2014-present) Columbus City Council President (2018-present) | First Black LGBT member of Columbus City Council and first openly LGBT Council President[189] | |
Sherry Harris | Washington | Seattle City Council (1992-1995) | First openly gay Black woman elected to public office in the U.S. | ||
Mary Jo Hudson | Democratic | Ohio | Columbus City Council (2004-2007) | First openly LGBT member and LGBT woman to serve on Columbus City Council[190][191] | |
Andrea Jenkins (born 1961) | Democratic | Minnesota | Minneapolis City Councilwoman from the 8th Ward (2018–present) Vice President of the City Council (2018–2022) President of the City Council (2022–2024) | Along with Phillipe Cunningham, became the first openly transgender black elected official in the U.S.[100] and the first trans woman[192] | |
Corey Johnson (born 1982) | Democratic | New York | New York City Councilman (2014–present) Speaker of the New York City Council (2019–present) | Openly gay, openly HIV-positive First gay man to hold the speakership of the New York City Council[193] | |
Jolie Justus (born 1971) | Democratic | Missouri | City Council of Kansas City, Missouri (2015–2020) | ||
Christine Kehoe (born 1952) | Democratic | California | San Diego City Council (1993-2000) California State Assembly (2000-2004) California Senate (2004-2012) | First openly LGBT official in San Diego[194] | |
Bruce Kraus (born 1954) | Democratic | Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh City Council Member (2008–present) President (2014-2020) | First openly gay elected official in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[195] | |
Robert Lilligren (born 1960) | Democratic | Minnesota | Minneapolis City Council (2002-2014) | First Native American elected to Minneapolis City Council and one of first openly gay members | |
Raymond Lopez (born 1978) | Democratic | Illinois | Chicago City Council (2015–present) | First LGBT Latino elected to Chicago City Council along with Carlos Ramirez-Rosa[196] | |
John Loza (1963-2018) | Democratic | Texas | Dallas City Council (1998-2016) | First openly LGBT city council member for a major city in Texas, alongside Annise Parker (Houston)[197] | |
Rebecca Maurer (born 1989) | Democratic[c] | Ohio | Cleveland City Council (2022–present) | First openly LGBT woman elected to Cleveland City Council[198] | |
Jim McGill (born 1951) | Pennsylvania | Wilkinsburg City Council (1994-2002) | First openly LGBT city council member in Pennsylvania[199] | ||
Kerry McCormack | Democratic | Ohio | Cleveland City Council (at least 2016–present) | First out LGBT party leader of the Cleveland City Council[200] | |
Jonathan Melton | Democratic | North Carolina | Raleigh City Council (2019–present) | One of first two openly LGBT members of Raleigh City Council[201] | |
Carlos Menchaca (born 1980) | Democratic | New York | New York City Council (2014–2021) | First LGBT New York Councilmember from Brooklyn and first Mexican-American Councilmember for New York City[202] | |
Steven Morabito | Dem | Massachusetts | Revere City Councillor (2013–present) | First Gay man elected to Revere, MA City Council | |
Chi Ossé (born 1998) | Democratic | New York | New York City Councilman (2022–present) | Identifies as queer[203] | |
Antonio Pagán (1958-2009) | Democratic | New York | New York City Council (1992–1997) | With Thomas Duane, one of the two first openly gay members of the New York City Council[204] | |
Annise Parker (born 1956) | Democratic | Texas | Houston City Council, at-large member (1998-2004) | First openly LGBT council member for a major city in Texas, alongside John Loza (Dallas)[205] | |
Pedro Peters Maldonado | Popular Democratic | Puerto Rico | San Juan City Council (2012–?) | First openly gay politician elected to public office in the island's history[206] | |
Christine Quinn (born 1954) | Democratic | New York | New York City Councilwoman (1999–2013) Speaker of the New York City Council (2006–2013) | Openly lesbian First LGBT person to hold the speakership of the New York City Council[207] | |
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (born 1989) | Democratic | Illinois | Chicago City Council (2015–present) | First LGBT Latino elected to Chicago City Council along with Raymond Lopez[196] | |
Phil Reed (1949-2008) | Democratic | New York | New York City Council (1998-2005) | First openly gay African-American person elected to New York City Council[208] | |
Darden Rice (born 1970) | Democratic | Florida | St. Petersburg City Councilwoman, District 4 (2014–present) Vice Chair of St. Petersburg City Council (2016) Chair of St. Petersburg City Council (2017)[209] | First openly LGBT candidate to run for office in Pinellas County, Florida[210][211] | |
Felix Rivera | Democratic | Alaska | Anchorage Assembly (2017–present) | One of first two LGBT elected officials in Alaska[178] | |
Bill Rosendahl (1945-2016) | Democratic | California | Los Angeles City Council (2005-2013) | First openly gay person elected to Los Angeles City Council[212] | |
Jim Roth (born 1968) | Democratic | Oklahoma | Oklahoma County Commission (2003-2007) | First out official elected in Oklahoma[213] | |
Dan Ryan (born 1962) | Democratic | Oregon | Portland City Council (2020–present) | First HIV-positive person elected to Portland City Council[214] | |
Chris Seelbach (born 1979) | Democratic | Ohio | Cincinnati City Council (2011–present) | First openly gay politician elected to Cincinnati City Council[215] | |
Patty Sheehan | Democratic | Florida | Orlando City Commission (2000–Present) | First out official in Orlando[216] | |
Evelyn Rios Stafford | Democratic | Arkansas | Justice of the Peace, Washington County (2021–present) | First trans woman elected in Arkansas and one of first elected Latina women in the state[217] | |
Keith St. John (born 1957) | Democratic | New York (state) | Albany Common Council (1990-1998) | First out LGBT Black person elected to public office in the United States[218] | |
Ritchie Torres (born 1988) | Democratic | New York | New York City Councilman (2014–2020) | Openly gay | |
Tom Tunney (born 1955 | Democratic | Illinois | Chicago City Council (2003-2023) Vice Mayor of Chicago (2019-2023) | First openly gay Chicago City Council Alderman and Vice Mayor of Chicago[219] | |
Lawrence Webb | Virginia | Falls Church, Virginia City Council (unknown dates) | First out Black gay official in Virginia[90] | ||
Bruce Williams (born 1949) | Democratic[c] | Maryland | City Council of Takoma Park (1994-2008) Mayor of Takoma Park (2008-2015) | First openly gay elected official in Maryland[220] | |
Mary Wiseman (born 1961) | Democratic | Ohio | Dayton City Commission (1998-2002) | One of first out council members for a major Ohio city (with Louis Escobar)[221] | |
Barbara Wood | Democratic | Maine | Portland, Maine City Council (1988-?) | First out LGBT officeholder in Maine[222] | |
Cathy Woolard (born 1957) | Democratic | Georgia | Atlanta City Council (1998-2004) Council President (2002-2004) | First openly LGBT elected official in Georgia and first woman as Atlanta City Council President[223] | |
Ken Yeager (born 1952) | Democratic | California | San Jose City Council (2000-2006) Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (2006–Present) | First out city council member in San Jose | |
Steve Zemo | Republican | Connecticut | Board of Selectmen of Ridgefield, Connecticut (1996-1998; 2000–2006) | One of first elected out LGBT officials for Connecticut | |
Democratic |
See also
[edit]- LGBT conservatism in the United States
- List of transgender public officeholders in the United States
- List of first openly LGBT politicians in the United States
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Former officeholders shown in grey, current officeholders shown in white
- ^ Also nominated by the Vermont Democratic Party
- ^ a b c d e f g Office is elected on a nonpartisan basis but the person in question publicly identifies with a political party.
- ^ Boston ordinance provides that when an at-large city council becomes vacant, the next largest vote getter is appointed for the remainder of the term. When Ayanna Pressley resigned to take her seat in Congress, Garrison, as the 5th largest vote-getter in 2017, received the appointment. She was defeated in her bid for a full term in 2019.
References
[edit]- ^ Phillips, Amber (June 15, 2020). "Analysis | How out of step is the Republican Party on gay rights?". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Lerer, Lisa; Russonello, Giovanni; Paz, Isabella Grullón (June 17, 2020). "On L.G.B.T.Q. Rights, a Gulf Between Trump and Many Republican Voters". The New York Times. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Gerstner, David A. (2006). Forde, John (ed.). Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture. Routledge. pp. 2–3. ISBN 9780415306515.
- ^ Barnes, Julian E. (June 9, 2021). "A Senate committee questioned Christine Abizaid, Biden's nominee for a top counterterrorism post". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ Gazis, Olivia (June 5, 2024). "U.S counterterrorism chief Christy Abizaid to step down after 3 years on the job - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com.
- ^ Rein, Lisa (September 18, 2012). "John Berry, head of OPM and openly gay, helps Obama reach out to gay community". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ "America's new LGBT envoy". POLITICO. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
- ^ Dorell, Oren (April 26, 2015). "Exclusive: First diplomat for LGBT rights speaks out". USA Today. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ Cathey, Libby (February 2, 2021). "Pete Buttigieg makes history as 1st openly gay Cabinet member confirmed by Senate". ABC News. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ Tan, Michelle (September 18, 2015). "President nominates first openly gay Army secretary". Army Times. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ Barnes, Julian E.; Haberman, Maggie (February 19, 2020). "Trump Names Richard Grenell as Acting Head of Intelligence". The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Raymond A.; Haider-Markel, Donald P. (2002). Gay and Lesbian Americans and Political Participation: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 1-57607-256-8.
- ^ Belcastro, Lisa (June 24, 2020). "Supreme Court ruling 'monumental' for LGBTQ teachers". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
When asked about my partner, I always answer honestly or correct the record by sharing that I have a wife.
- ^ a b Domonoske, Camila (November 9, 2016). "For First Time, Openly LGBT Governor Elected: Oregon's Kate Brown". NPR. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ By law, the post of public auditor is strictly nonpartisan. No candidate for the office may declare a partisan affiliation, and if previously affiliated with a political party a candidate must renounce their membership. Moreover, no candidate for the office of public auditor may seek the endorsement of or receive financial or material support from a political party. Any violation of these requirements invalidates the candidacy of the affected individual for public auditor. See "§ 1903., Guam Code Annotated" (PDF). Guam Compiler of Laws. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ "Newly Appointed Guam Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cruz May Be the Nation's Highest-ranking Gay Judge", The Advocate, November 25, 1997, archived from the original on October 26, 2004, retrieved February 16, 2008
- ^ Swan, Wallace, ed. (2004). Handbook of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Administration and Policy. Marcel Dekker. p. 100.
- ^ a b "1996 - Explore a Year in LGBT History". Pride & Progress. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ Johnson, Akilah (November 12, 2014). "Maura Healey setting her course as attorney general". Boston Globe. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ "Maura Healey is first woman and first out gay person elected Massachusetts governor". The Guardian. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ Jenifer Warren (December 10, 2001). "Capitol Gains for Gay Pols". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ Melody Gutierrez (January 4, 2022). "California's longest serving auditor pulled no punches. Who will replace her?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "Elaine Howle". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ Ryan Holeywell (December 2012). "Person of the Year: Elaine M. Howle". Governing Magazine. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ Dan Walters (October 27, 2021). "Will California's auditor remain independent?". CalMatters. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "Hawaiian Becomes Highest-Elected Transgender Official". Associated Press. March 25, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ Ocamb, Karen (November 17, 2018). "Ricardo Lara wins Insurance Commissioner race!". Los Angeles Blade. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ Kavaler, Tara (December 29, 2022). "'Thankful': New Arizona Attorney General Mayes responds after recount affirms win". The Arizona Republic.
- ^ "University of Maine at Augusta » Dale McCormick". University of Maine. December 1, 2010. Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ "New Jersey governor quits, comes out as gay". CNN. August 13, 2004. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ "California Journal: Veteran Lawmaker, acting secretary voe to replace March Fong Eu". October 11, 1999. Archived from the original on October 11, 1999. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ Biolchini, Amy (November 7, 2018). "Democrat Dana Nessel wins Michigan attorney general seat". Michigan Live. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ Smith, David (April 5, 2019). "What it's like being America's first openly gay governor". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ "Leon Guerrero, Tenorio join Pride March". The Guam Daily Post. June 5, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ Gaskill, Hannah (January 12, 2023). "Maryland Gov.-elect Wes Moore's cabinet nominations include Bronze Star veteran once kicked out of Army for being openly gay". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
- ^ Dennison, Mike (November 19, 2021). "GOP lawmaker's comment on gays questioned; she says it's out of context". KTVH.
- ^ Wellemeyer, James (February 25, 2019). "Gabriel Acevero makes history in Md. General Assembly". Washington Blade. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ {{cite news |https://sanjosespotlight.com/patrick-ahrens-leads-in-assembly-26-race/
- ^ "More LGBTQ candidates in the running". Connecticut Post, October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Cal Anderson, Washington, 1988 · Out and Elected in the USA: 1974-2004 Ron Schlittler · OutHistory: It's About Time". outhistory.org. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ "OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: NOVEMBER 2, 2010". Ohio Secretary of State. November 2, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ^ "Lesbian On Tuesday's Ballot For Ohio State Representative". On Top Magazine. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ^ "Admite su homosexualidad Roberto Arango". El Nuevo Día. March 7, 2014.
- ^ Christine Bedell (March 8, 2010). "Roy Ashburn: "I am gay"". Bakersfield Californian. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ "Assemblywoman Toni Atkins voted in as speaker-elect". Los Angeles Times. March 17, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ "Juramentado el primer legislador abiertamente gay en Puerto Rico". Metro Puerto Rico. September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ Walters, John. "Walters: Senate Democrats Elect Becca Balint as Majority Leader". Seven Days. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ Norton, Kit (November 22, 2020). "Senate Democrats nominate Balint as first woman and openly gay pro tem". VTDigger. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ "LGBTQ Victory Fund Endorses 37 More LGBTQ Candidates, Including Jamie McLeod-Skinner in Oregon". LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. April 26, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
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