List of the first LGBT holders of political offices in the United States
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This is a list of the first openly
LGBTQ+ ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term is ...
people to have held political office in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. No openly LGBTQ+ person has served as
president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
or
vice president A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...
of the United States or as a justice on the
Supreme Court of the United States The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...
. However, all 50 states have elected openly LGBTQ+ people to political office in some capacity, and 48 states have elected openly LGBT people to one or both houses of the state legislature. Eight states and one territory have elected openly LGBT people to statewide/territory-wide elected offices, all of whom are currently in office:
Jared Polis Jared Schutz Polis (; born May 12, 1975) is an American politician, entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist, serving as the 43rd governor of Colorado since January 2019. He served one term on the Colorado State Board of Education from 200 ...
(
Governor of Colorado The governor of Colorado is the head of government of the U.S. state of Colorado. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either app ...
),
Kate Brown Katherine Brown (born June 21, 1960) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 38th governor of Oregon since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms as the state representative from the 13th district of the ...
(
Governor of Oregon The governor of Oregon is the head of government of Oregon and serves as the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. ter ...
),
Tammy Baldwin Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin (born February 11, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Wisconsin since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms in the Wisconsin Stat ...
( United States Senator from Wisconsin),
Kyrsten Sinema Kyrsten Lea Sinema (; born July 12, 1976) is an American politician and former social worker serving as the senior United States senator from Arizona since January 2019. A former member of the Democratic Party, Sinema became an independent in ...
( United States Senator from Arizona),
Maura Healey Maura Tracy Healey (born February 8, 1971) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the Massachusetts Attorney General since January 2015. She is the governor-elect of Massachusetts, having won the 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial elect ...
(
Attorney General of Massachusetts The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected constitutionally defined executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The officeholder is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The officeholder a ...
),
Dana Nessel Dana Michelle Nessel (born April 19, 1969) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 54th Attorney General of Michigan since January 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Nessel is the second openly lesbian woman elected at ...
(
Attorney General of Michigan The Attorney General of the State of Michigan is the fourth-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan. The officeholder is elected statewide in the November general election alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, m ...
),
Ricardo Lara Ricardo Lara (born November 5, 1974) is an American politician who is currently serving as the 8th Insurance Commissioner of California. Lara was elected during the 2018 election, defeating former California insurance commissioner Steve Poizne ...
( Insurance Commissioner of California),
Kevin Lembo Kevin P. Lembo (born September 6, 1963) is a Democratic elected official who served as the Connecticut State Comptroller, the statewide elected official responsible for reporting on state finances, administering health care plans for public empl ...
(
Comptroller of Connecticut The State Comptroller is the chief fiscal guardian of the State of Connecticut. The duties and responsibilities of the state comptroller include, among other things, overseeing state accounting, preparing state financial reports, paying and administ ...
),
Josh Tenorio Joshua "Josh" Franquez Tenorio is an American politician and businessman currently serving as the 10th Lieutenant Governor of Guam since January 7, 2019. He is the first openly gay lieutenant governor elected in the United States and is a member ...
(
Lieutenant Governor of Guam The Guamanian self-governing government consists of a locally elected governor, lieutenant governor and a fifteen-member Legislature. The first popular election for governor and lieutenant governor took place in 1970. The current lieutenant gov ...
), and
Benjamin Cruz Benjamin Joseph "BJ" Franquez Cruz (born March 3, 1951) is an Chamorro lawyer, jurist, and politician who served as the Speaker of the 34th Guam Legislature from 2017 to 2018 and as Vice Speaker from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Par ...
(Public Auditor of Guam). Three of the eight most populous cities in the United States have elected openly LGBT people as mayor:
Lori Lightfoot Lori Elaine Lightfoot (born August 4, 1962) is an American attorney and politician serving since 2019 as the 56th mayor of Chicago. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming mayor, Lightfoot worked in private legal practice as ...
(
Mayor of Chicago The mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of city government in Chicago, Illinois, the third-largest city in the United States. The mayor is responsible for the administration and management of various city departments, submits proposals and r ...
),
Todd Gloria Todd Rex Gloria (born May 10, 1978) is an American politician serving as the 37th and current mayor of San Diego since 2020. As a strong mayor, he is the chief executive officer in the city of San Diego. A member of the Democratic Party, he is t ...
(
Mayor of San Diego The mayor of the City of San Diego is the official head and chief executive officer of the U.S. city of San Diego, California. The mayor has the duty to enforce and execute the laws enacted by the San Diego City Council, the legislative branch. ...
), and
Annise Parker Annise Danette Parker (born May 17, 1956) is an American politician who served as the 61st Mayor of Houston, Texas, from 2010 until 2016. She also served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council from 1998 to 2003 and city controller fro ...
(former
Mayor of Houston The following is a list of people who have served as mayor of the city of Houston in the U.S. state of Texas. Until 2015, the term of the mayor was two years. Beginning with the tenure of Bob Lanier, the city charter imposed term limits on offi ...
).


Federal


Congress

*
U.S. representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
(first out congressperson and Democrat):
Gerry Studds Gerry Eastman Studds (; May 12, 1937 – October 14, 2006) was an American Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts who served from 1973 until 1997. He was the first openly gay member of Congress. In 1983 he was censured by the House of Rep ...
( MA-12, MA-10) – served 1973–1997, outed 1983 *U.S. representative (first to voluntarily come out):
Barney Frank Barnett Frank (born March 31, 1940) is a former American politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts from 1981 to 2013. A Democrat, Frank served as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee ...
( MA-4) – served 1980–2013, came out in 1987 *U.S. representative (first out Republican): Steve Gunderson ( WI-3) – served 1981–1997, outed 1994 *U.S. representative (first Republican to voluntarily come out):
Jim Kolbe James Thomas Kolbe (June 28, 1942 – December 3, 2022) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Arizona's 5th congressional district from 1985 to 2003 and its 8t ...
( AZ-5) – served 1985–2007, came out 1996 *U.S. representative (out when first elected, female):
Tammy Baldwin Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin (born February 11, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Wisconsin since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms in the Wisconsin Stat ...
( WI-2) – served 1999–2013 *U.S. representative (out when first elected, male):
Jared Polis Jared Schutz Polis (; born May 12, 1975) is an American politician, entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist, serving as the 43rd governor of Colorado since January 2019. He served one term on the Colorado State Board of Education from 200 ...
( CO-2) – served 2009–2019 *U.S. representative (out when first elected), first openly bisexual member of Congress:
Kyrsten Sinema Kyrsten Lea Sinema (; born July 12, 1976) is an American politician and former social worker serving as the senior United States senator from Arizona since January 2019. A former member of the Democratic Party, Sinema became an independent in ...
( AZ-9) – elected 2012 *U.S. representative (out when first elected), first to succeed another openly gay officeholder in office:
Mark Pocan Mark William Pocan ( ; born August 14, 1964) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative from Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district since 2013. The district is based in the state capital, Madison. A member of th ...
( WI-2) – elected 2012, succeeded
Tammy Baldwin Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin (born February 11, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Wisconsin since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms in the Wisconsin Stat ...
*U.S. representative (out when first elected), first non-white and first Asian openly gay member of Congress:
Mark Takano Mark Allan Takano ( ; born December 10, 1960) is an American politician and academic who has been the United States representative for California's 41st congressional district since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Takano became the first ...
(CA-41) – elected 2012 *U.S. representative (out when first elected), first Native American openly gay member of Congress:
Sharice Davids Sharice Lynnette Davids (; born May 22, 1980) is an American attorney, former mixed martial artist, and politician serving as the U.S. representative from since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she represents a district that includes mos ...
(KS-3) – elected 2018 *U.S. representative (out when first elected), first Black openly gay members of Congress:
Mondaire Jones Mondaire L. Jones (born May 18, 1987) is an American lawyer and politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2021 to 2023. The district includes most of central and northwestern Westchester County and all of Rockland County. A member of t ...
(NY-17) and
Ritchie Torres Ritchie John Torres (born March 12, 1988) is an American politician from New York. A member of the Democratic Party, Torres is the U.S. representative for New York's 15th congressional district. The district covers most of the South Bronx. It is ...
(NY-15) – elected 2020 *U.S. representative (out when first elected), first Latino openly gay member of Congress:
Ritchie Torres Ritchie John Torres (born March 12, 1988) is an American politician from New York. A member of the Democratic Party, Torres is the U.S. representative for New York's 15th congressional district. The district covers most of the South Bronx. It is ...
(NY-15) – elected 2020 *
U.S. Congressional committee A congressional committee is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty (rather than the general duties of Congress). Committee membership enables members to develop specialized knowledge of the ...
chair:
Gerry Studds Gerry Eastman Studds (; May 12, 1937 – October 14, 2006) was an American Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts who served from 1973 until 1997. He was the first openly gay member of Congress. In 1983 he was censured by the House of Rep ...
– chair of House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries 1992–1995 *U.S. senator (out when first elected, first openly LGBT U.S. senator):
Tammy Baldwin Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin (born February 11, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Wisconsin since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms in the Wisconsin Stat ...
– elected 2012, lesbian, representing Wisconsin *U.S. senator (out when first elected), first openly bisexual member of the U.S. Senate –
Kyrsten Sinema Kyrsten Lea Sinema (; born July 12, 1976) is an American politician and former social worker serving as the senior United States senator from Arizona since January 2019. A former member of the Democratic Party, Sinema became an independent in ...
– elected 2018, representing Arizona


By state delegation

*
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
: ** Rep.
Jim Kolbe James Thomas Kolbe (June 28, 1942 – December 3, 2022) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Arizona's 5th congressional district from 1985 to 2003 and its 8t ...
(R) – served 1985–2007; outed in 1996 ** Rep.
Kyrsten Sinema Kyrsten Lea Sinema (; born July 12, 1976) is an American politician and former social worker serving as the senior United States senator from Arizona since January 2019. A former member of the Democratic Party, Sinema became an independent in ...
(D) – served 2013–2019; out when elected ** Sen.
Kyrsten Sinema Kyrsten Lea Sinema (; born July 12, 1976) is an American politician and former social worker serving as the senior United States senator from Arizona since January 2019. A former member of the Democratic Party, Sinema became an independent in ...
(D) – elected 2018; out when elected *
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
: ** Rep.
Mark Takano Mark Allan Takano ( ; born December 10, 1960) is an American politician and academic who has been the United States representative for California's 41st congressional district since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Takano became the first ...
(D) – elected 2012; out when elected *
Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...
: ** Rep.
Jared Polis Jared Schutz Polis (; born May 12, 1975) is an American politician, entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist, serving as the 43rd governor of Colorado since January 2019. He served one term on the Colorado State Board of Education from 200 ...
(D) – served 2009–2019; out when elected *
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
: ** Rep.
Mark Foley Mark Adam Foley (born September 8, 1954) is an American former politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives. He served from 1995 until 2006, representing the 16th District of Florida as a member of the Republic ...
(R) – served 1995–2006; outed in 2006 *
Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
: ** Rep.
Sharice Davids Sharice Lynnette Davids (; born May 22, 1980) is an American attorney, former mixed martial artist, and politician serving as the U.S. representative from since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she represents a district that includes mos ...
(D) – elected 2018; out when elected *
Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...
: ** Rep.
Mike Michaud Michael Herman Michaud (born January 18, 1955) is an American businessman and politician from Maine. Michaud served as the U.S. representative for from 2003 to 2015. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The primarily rural district comprises ...
(D) – served 2003–2015; came out in 2014 *
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
: ** Rep.
Robert Bauman Robert E. Bauman (born April 4, 1937) is an American lawyer and politician. He is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 1st congressional district (1973–1981). Bauman was a prominent conservative advocate in the ...
(R) – served 1973–1981; outed in 1980 *
Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...
: ** Rep.
Gerry Studds Gerry Eastman Studds (; May 12, 1937 – October 14, 2006) was an American Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts who served from 1973 until 1997. He was the first openly gay member of Congress. In 1983 he was censured by the House of Rep ...
(D) – served 1973–1997; outed in 1983 ** Rep.
Barney Frank Barnett Frank (born March 31, 1940) is a former American politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts from 1981 to 2013. A Democrat, Frank served as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee ...
(D) – served 1980–2013; came out in 1987 *
Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
: ** Rep.
Angie Craig Angela Dawn Craig (born February 14, 1972) is an American politician, retired journalist, and former businesswoman. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she has served as the U.S. representative from since 2019. The distric ...
(D) – elected 2018; out when elected and first lesbian mother in Congress *
Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
: ** Rep.
Jon Hinson Jon Clifton Hinson (March 16, 1942 – July 21, 1995) was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. representative for Mississippi's 4th congressional district from 1979 to 1981. Following his 1981 resignation following arrest for en ...
(R) – served 1979–1981; outed in 1981 *
New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
: **Rep. Chris Pappas (D) – elected 2018; out when elected *
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
: ** Rep.
Mondaire Jones Mondaire L. Jones (born May 18, 1987) is an American lawyer and politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2021 to 2023. The district includes most of central and northwestern Westchester County and all of Rockland County. A member of t ...
(D) – elected 2020; out when elected **Rep.
Sean Patrick Maloney Sean Patrick Maloney (born July 30, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative from from 2013 to 2023. The district includes Newburgh (city), New York, Newburgh, Beacon, New York, Beacon, and Poughkeepsie, ...
(D) – elected 2012; out when elected **Rep.
Ritchie Torres Ritchie John Torres (born March 12, 1988) is an American politician from New York. A member of the Democratic Party, Torres is the U.S. representative for New York's 15th congressional district. The district covers most of the South Bronx. It is ...
(D) – elected 2020; out when elected *
Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...
: ** Rep.
David Cicilline David Nicola Cicilline (; born July 15, 1961) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 36th mayor of Providence from 2003 to 2011, the first openly ...
(D) – elected 2010; out when elected *
Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
: **Sen.
Tammy Baldwin Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin (born February 11, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Wisconsin since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms in the Wisconsin Stat ...
(D) – elected 2012; out when elected **Rep.
Tammy Baldwin Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin (born February 11, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Wisconsin since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms in the Wisconsin Stat ...
(D) – served 1999–2013; out when elected **Rep. Steve Gunderson (R) – served 1981–1997; came out in 1994 **Rep.
Mark Pocan Mark William Pocan ( ; born August 14, 1964) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative from Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district since 2013. The district is based in the state capital, Madison. A member of th ...
(D) – elected 2012; out when elected


Executive

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
was the first President to appoint an open member of the LGBT community to a position in the Presidential Cabinet, by making
Richard Grenell Richard Allen Grenell (born September 18, 1966) is an American political operative, diplomat, TV personality, and public relations consultant who served as Acting Director of National Intelligence in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet in 2020. ...
the acting director of National Intelligence. Grenell's position was never put forward for Senate confirmation, and he served in that role for only three months.
Pete Buttigieg Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg ( ; ; Sometimes pronounced or , but not by Buttigieg himself. born January 19, 1982) is an American politician and former military officer who is currently serving as the United States secretary of transp ...
was nominated by Joe Biden for the position of
Secretary of Transportation A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a wh ...
and became the first openly LGBT Senate-confirmed Cabinet member following his confirmation on February 2, 2021. *First openly LGBT person appointed to a federal position requiring confirmation by the United States Senate:
Roberta Achtenberg Roberta Achtenberg (born July 20, 1950) is an American attorney who served as a commissioner on the United States Commission on Civil Rights. She was previously assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, becoming ...
, as assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity at the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It administers federal housing and urban development laws. It is headed by the Secretary of Housing and Urb ...
(1993) She later became a commissioner for the
United States Commission on Civil Rights The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (CCR) is a bipartisan, independent commission of the United States federal government, created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957 during the Eisenhower administration, that is charged with the responsibility for ...
in 2011. * First openly LGBT Cabinet Secretary:
Pete Buttigieg Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg ( ; ; Sometimes pronounced or , but not by Buttigieg himself. born January 19, 1982) is an American politician and former military officer who is currently serving as the United States secretary of transp ...
(2021–present) *
Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
:
James Hormel James Catherwood Hormel (January 1, 1933 – August 13, 2021) was an American philanthropist, LGBT activist, diplomat, and heir to the Hormel meatpacking fortune. He served as the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg from 1999 to 2001, and was t ...
(served 1999–2001 in
Luxembourg Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...
) *Cabinet level official:
Richard Grenell Richard Allen Grenell (born September 18, 1966) is an American political operative, diplomat, TV personality, and public relations consultant who served as Acting Director of National Intelligence in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet in 2020. ...
(2020) –
Director of National Intelligence The director of national intelligence (DNI) is a senior, cabinet-level United States government official, required by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to serve as executive head of the United States Intelligence Commu ...
(acting, was never confirmed or put up for confirmation) *Head of a federal agency: John Berry (2009–2013) – Director of the Office of Personnel Management *
United States marshal The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The USMS is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating under the direction of the Attorney General, but serves as the enforcem ...
:
Sharon Lubinski Sharon Lubinski is the United States Marshal for the District of Minnesota. Lubinski is the first openly lesbian United States Marshal. Early life and education Lubinski earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a ...
(2009–2016) – U.S. marshal for the District of Minnesota *
United States attorney United States attorneys are officials of the U.S. Department of Justice who serve as the chief federal law enforcement officers in each of the 94 U.S. federal judicial districts. Each U.S. attorney serves as the United States' chief federal c ...
:
Jenny Durkan Jenny Anne Durkan (born May 19, 1958) is an American attorney, former federal prosecutor, and politician who served as the 56th mayor of Seattle, Washington. She is the daughter of Martin Durkan. Durkan is a member of the Democratic Party. Afte ...
(2009–2014) – U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington * Commissioner of the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency that was established via the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to administer and enforce civil rights laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination ...
:
Chai Feldblum Chai Rachel Feldblum (born April 1959)Secretary of the Army The secretary of the Army (SA or SECARMY) is a senior civilian official within the United States Department of Defense, with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, insta ...
:
Eric Fanning Eric Kenneth Fanning (born July 2, 1968) is an American politician who is the current President and CEO of Aerospace Industries Association and served as the 22nd Secretary of the Army, holding office from May 18, 2016 to January 20, 2017. Prior ...
– appointed 2016


State


Overall firsts

*First openly lesbian or gay candidate elected to a state legislature –
Elaine Noble Elaine Noble (born January 22, 1944) is an American politician and LGBT activist who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for two terms starting in January 1975. She was the first openly lesbian or gay candidate elected to a state ...
(D),
Massachusetts House of Representatives The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from 14 counties each divided into single-member ...
; Elected in 1974, served two terms starting in January 1975, open when elected. *First openly transgender state legislator –
Althea Garrison Althea Garrison (born October 7, 1940) is an independent American politician from Boston, Massachusetts, who has served on the Boston City Council as an at-large councilor. Garrison was elected as a Republican to the Massachusetts House of Rep ...
(R) was elected to the
Massachusetts House of Representatives The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from 14 counties each divided into single-member ...
in 1992 but was involuntarily outed after her election, served from 1993 to 1995 *First openly gay president of a city council –
Harry Britt Harry Britt (June 8, 1938 – June 24, 2020) was an American political activist and politician in San Francisco. Britt was involved during the late-1960s in the civil rights movement when he was a Methodist minister in Chicago. He was first appoin ...
, President of the San Francisco City-County Board of Supervisors from 1989 to 1990. *First openly gay state comptrollerEd Flanagan (D),
Vermont Auditor of Accounts The Vermont State Auditor of Accounts is one of six constitutional officers in Vermont, elected statewide every two years. The Office provides an independent and objective assessment of Vermont's governmental operations. The current Auditor is ...
; served four terms: first elected 1992, came out in 1995; was subsequently reelected. *First openly gay governor –
Jim McGreevey James Edward McGreevey (born August 6, 1957) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 52nd governor of New Jersey from 2002 until his resignation in 2004 following the revelation of his extramarital affair w ...
(D),
governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official res ...
– came out 2004 (during the same speech in which he announced his resignation as governor). *First openly gay governor elected –
Jared Polis Jared Schutz Polis (; born May 12, 1975) is an American politician, entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist, serving as the 43rd governor of Colorado since January 2019. He served one term on the Colorado State Board of Education from 200 ...
(D), was elected
Governor of Colorado The governor of Colorado is the head of government of the U.S. state of Colorado. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either app ...
November 6, 2018 and married on September 15, 2021, while in office. (McGreevey was not out at the time of election) *First openly bisexual governor and first person to be openly LGBT at time of taking office as governor –
Kate Brown Katherine Brown (born June 21, 1960) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 38th governor of Oregon since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms as the state representative from the 13th district of the ...
(D),
governor of Oregon The governor of Oregon is the head of government of Oregon and serves as the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. ter ...
(ascended to office in 2015 after previous governor resigned, then elected in 2016 in her own right). *Lieutenant governor –
Josh Tenorio Joshua "Josh" Franquez Tenorio is an American politician and businessman currently serving as the 10th Lieutenant Governor of Guam since January 7, 2019. He is the first openly gay lieutenant governor elected in the United States and is a member ...
(D),
Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...
– elected 2018 *Secretary of State – Tony Miller (D),
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
– appointed in 1994; lost election in 1994 *State treasurer – Dale McCormick (D),
Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...
– elected (by the legislature) 1996 *State Corporation Commission – Jim Roth (D),
Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
– appointed in 2007, lost election for remainder of term in 2009 *First openly gay attorney general –
Maura Healey Maura Tracy Healey (born February 8, 1971) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the Massachusetts Attorney General since January 2015. She is the governor-elect of Massachusetts, having won the 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial elect ...
(D), Massachusetts, elected in 2014 *First openly lesbian governor elected- Maura Healey (D), Massachusetts, elected in 2022 *State legislative leaders: **Presiding officer: Minnesota sen. Allan H. Spear (D) – elected senate president 1993 **Speaker: Rhode Island rep. Gordon D. Fox (D) – elected speaker 2010


State officers by state


Constitutional officers

* California: ** State insurance commissioner
Ricardo Lara Ricardo Lara (born November 5, 1974) is an American politician who is currently serving as the 8th Insurance Commissioner of California. Lara was elected during the 2018 election, defeating former California insurance commissioner Steve Poizne ...
(D) – elected 2018 * Connecticut: ** State comptroller:
Kevin Lembo Kevin P. Lembo (born September 6, 1963) is a Democratic elected official who served as the Connecticut State Comptroller, the statewide elected official responsible for reporting on state finances, administering health care plans for public empl ...
(D) – elected 2010 * Michigan: **
Attorney general In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
:
Dana Nessel Dana Michelle Nessel (born April 19, 1969) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 54th Attorney General of Michigan since January 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Nessel is the second openly lesbian woman elected at ...
(D) – elected 2018 * Oregon: ** Secretary of State:
Kate Brown Katherine Brown (born June 21, 1960) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 38th governor of Oregon since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms as the state representative from the 13th district of the ...
(D) – elected 2008


Legislative officials

* California: ** Senate President pro Tempore: Sen.
Toni Atkins Toni Gayle Atkins (born August 1, 1962) is an American politician serving as the 51st and current President pro tempore of the California State Senate since 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the 69th Speaker of the ...
(D) - elected 2018 ** House speaker: Rep.
John Pérez John A. Pérez (born September 28, 1969) is an American union organizer and politician. He has been a Regent of the University of California since November 17, 2014, previously serving as the 68th Speaker of the California State Assembly from M ...
(D) – elected 2010 * Colorado: ** House speaker:
Mark Ferrandino Mark Steven Ferrandino (born August 9, 1977) is a former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives. Appointed to the legislature in 2007, Ferrandino represented House District 2, encompas ...
(D) (2012) ** House minority leader:
Mark Ferrandino Mark Steven Ferrandino (born August 9, 1977) is a former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives. Appointed to the legislature in 2007, Ferrandino represented House District 2, encompas ...
(D) (2011) *Hawaii: ** House majority leader: Rep.
Blake Oshiro Blake Oshiro (born January 16, 1970) is an American politician and lawyer. From 2011 to 2014, he served as deputy chief of staff to the Governor of Hawaii Neil Abercrombie. Oshiro previously served as Majority Leader of the Hawaii House of Repre ...
(D) – elected 2008, came out 2010 * Maine ** House Speaker: Rep. Ryan Fecteau (D) – elected 2020 * Massachusetts ** Senate minority leader: Sen.
Richard Tisei Richard R. Tisei (; born August 13, 1962) is an American politician and realtor from Massachusetts. A Republican, he served in both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court for a combined 26 years, eventually becoming Minority Leader in the M ...
(R) – elected 2007, came out 2010 ** Senate majority leader: Sen. Stan Rosenberg (D) – elected 2013, came out 2009 * Minnesota: ** Senate president: Sen.
Allan Spear Allan Henry Spear (June 24, 1937 – October 11, 2008) was an American politician and educator from Minnesota who served almost thirty years in the Minnesota Senate, including nearly a decade as President of the Senate. Biography Spear was born ...
(D) (1993) * Missouri: ** Senate minority floor leader: Sen.
Jolie Justus Jolie L. Justus (born February 24, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician from Missouri. A Democrat, she was a member of the Missouri State Senate representing the 10th Senatorial District in Kansas City, serving as the Missouri Senate Minor ...
(D) (2012) * Oregon: ** Senate minority leader: Sen.
Kate Brown Katherine Brown (born June 21, 1960) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 38th governor of Oregon since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms as the state representative from the 13th district of the ...
(D) (1998) ** Senate majority leader: Sen.
Kate Brown Katherine Brown (born June 21, 1960) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 38th governor of Oregon since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms as the state representative from the 13th district of the ...
(D) (2003) ** House speaker: Rep.
Tina Kotek Tina Kotek (born September 30, 1966) is an American politician and the governor-elect of Oregon. Kotek served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2013 to 2022. She was the first openly lesbian person to serve as a speaker of ...
(D) – America's first openly lesbian House speaker (elected as Oregon's House speaker in 2012) * Rhode Island: ** House speaker: Rep. Gordon D. Fox (D) (2010) * Vermont: ** President pro tempore: Sen.
Becca Balint Rebecca A. "Becca" Balint (born May 4, 1968) is an American politician who is a member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont's at-large congressional district as a member of the Democratic Party. She served as a member of th ...
(D) (2021) * Washington: ** Senate minority leader: Sen. Ed Murray (D) (2012) * Wyoming: ** House minority leader: Rep. Cathy Connolly (D) (2016)


State legislators

As of the 2020 elections, the legislatures of 48 states have had at least one openly LGBT member; the first out person to serve in each of those states is listed here. The sole remaining states that have never had an openly LGBT state legislator are Mississippi and Louisiana; Mississippi has, however, had legislators who came out as gay after the end of their term in the legislature, or were outed after their deaths. *
Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
: ** Rep.
Patricia Todd Patricia Todd (born July 25, 1955) is an American politician from Alabama. A Democrat, she was elected in November 2006 as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives representing District 54 in downtown Birmingham. She is the current First ...
(D) – elected 2006 (female) ** Rep. Neil Rafferty (D) – elected 2018 (male) *
Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
: ** Rep.
Johnny Ellis Johnny Ellis (March 13, 1960 – February 9, 2022) was an American politician who served as a member of the Alaska Senate from 1992 to 2017. He was previously a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1986 through 1992. Early life a ...
(D) – elected 1986, came out 2016 *
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
: ** Ken Cheuvront (D) – served in both the
Arizona House of Representatives The Arizona State House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. The upper house is the Senate. The House convenes in the legislative chambers at the Arizona State C ...
and the
Arizona Senate The Arizona State Senate is part of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Arizona. The Senate consists of 30 members each representing an average of 219,859 constituents (2009 figures). Members serve two-year terms w ...
between 1994 and 2010 (male) ** Paula Aboud (D) – elected to the
Arizona Senate The Arizona State Senate is part of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Arizona. The Senate consists of 30 members each representing an average of 219,859 constituents (2009 figures). Members serve two-year terms w ...
in 2006 (female) *
Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...
: ** Rep. Kathy Webb (D) – elected 2006 *
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
: ** Assemblywoman (later Sen.)
Sheila Kuehl Sheila James Kuehl (born February 9, 1941) is an American politician and retired actress, and served as the member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for the 3rd District and as board chair and chair pro tem. Kuehl was California's ...
(D) – elected 1994 to House; elected to Senate in 2000 – California's first openly gay state legislator ** The 2004 elections in California sent six openly LGBT people to the California State Legislature: four lesbians (Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, Senator Sheila Kuehl, and Senator Carole Migden, Senator Christine Kehoe), and two gay men (Assemblyman Mark Leno and Assemblyman John Laird (American politician), John Laird). ** Rep.
John Pérez John A. Pérez (born September 28, 1969) is an American union organizer and politician. He has been a Regent of the University of California since November 17, 2014, previously serving as the 68th Speaker of the California State Assembly from M ...
(D) – first openly LGBT person to serve as speaker of the California State Assembly (appointed 2010)Jim Newton
As Assembly speaker, he helped tame the budget. What's next for John Pérez?
''Los Angeles Times'' (May 25, 2014).
Pérez was succeeded as speaker by Assemblywoman Toni G. Atkins (D) (elected 2014), the second openly LGBT person (and the first lesbian) to hold the post. * Colorado General Assembly: ** Rep. (later Sen.) Jennifer Veiga ((D) – Elected to the state House in 1996; became Colorado's first openly LGBT state legislature when she came out in 2002; subsequently reelected and served as House minority leader in 2003 (first LGBT person to hold this post); later elected to the state Senate.Thomas J. Noel, ''Colorado: A Historical Atlas'' (University of Oklahoma Press, 2015), p. 222. ** Rep.
Mark Ferrandino Mark Steven Ferrandino (born August 9, 1977) is a former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives. Appointed to the legislature in 2007, Ferrandino represented House District 2, encompas ...
(D) – appointed October 2007, became first openly gay man to serve in the General Assembly. In 2012, Ferrandino became Colorado's first openly LGBT speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives. ** Sen. Lucía Guzmán (D) –elected 2010; first LGBT person to serve as president pro tem of the Colorado Senate ** In 2012, the first major state race in which both major-party candidates were LGBT occurred when Pat Steadman (D) and Michael Carr (R) ran against each other in Colorado's 31st state Senate district. ** Rep. Leslie Herod (D) – elected 2016;"Why I Ran: Colorado State Rep. Leslie Herod"
''Elle (magazine), Elle'', January 20, 2017.
first LGBT African-American to be elected to Colorado's state legislature."Gay America’s Harrowing, Heartening Year"
''The New Yorker'', December 31, 2016.
**Rep. Brianna Titone (D) – elected 2018; first openly transgender woman to be elected to Colorado's state legislature. * Connecticut General Assembly: ** Rep. Joseph Grabarz (D) – Connecticut's first openly LGBT state legislator; first elected in 1988; came out in December 1990. ** Rep. Evelyn Mantilla (D) – came out as America's first openly bisexual state official in 1997. * Delaware General Assembly, Delaware: ** Sen. Karen E. Peterson (D) – came out 2013 **Sen. Sarah McBride (D) – first openly transgender state senator * Florida Legislature, Florida: ** Rep. David Richardson (Florida politician), David Richardson (D) and Rep. Joe Saunders (Florida politician), Joe Saunders (D) – first openly gay Florida state legislators, both elected in 2012 * Georgia General Assembly, Georgia: ** Rep. Karla Drenner (female) (D) – elected 2000 ** Rep. Rashad Taylor (male) (D) – elected 2008, came out 2011 ** Rep. Sam Park (male) (D) – elected 2016 * Hawaii State Legislature, Hawaii: ** Rep. Joe Bertram (Hawaii politician), Joe Bertram (male) (D) – elected 2006 ** Rep. Georgette Jo Jordan (female) (Dem) – appointed January 2011; elected November 2012 ** Rep.
Blake Oshiro Blake Oshiro (born January 16, 1970) is an American politician and lawyer. From 2011 to 2014, he served as deputy chief of staff to the Governor of Hawaii Neil Abercrombie. Oshiro previously served as Majority Leader of the Hawaii House of Repre ...
(D) – first House majority leader, came out 2010 * Idaho Legislature, Idaho: ** Female: Rep. (later Sen.) Nicole LeFavour (D) – elected 2004 ** Male: Rep. John McCrostie (D) – elected 2014 * Illinois General Assembly, Illinois: ** Rep. Larry McKeon (male) (D) – elected 1996 ** Rep. Deb Mell (female) (D) – elected 2009 ** Sen. Mike Simmons (male) (D) – appointed 2021 *Indiana General Assembly, Indiana: ** Sen. J. D. Ford (male) (D) – elected 2018 * Iowa General Assembly, Iowa: ** Male: Sen. Matt McCoy (Iowa politician), Matt McCoy (D) – came out 2001 ** Female: Rep. Liz Bennett (D) – elected 2014 ** Norman Jesse and Dan Johnston (politician), Dan Johnston, who were first elected to the state house in 1967, were not out during their careers in politics, but came out in retirement and revealed that they had been a couple. * Kansas Legislature, Kansas: ** Susan Ruiz (female) (D) – elected 2018 ** Brandon Woodard (male) (D) – elected 2018 **Rep Stephanie Byers (D) – elected 2020; first openly transgender person to serve in the Kansas Legislature; first transgender Native American person elected to public office. * Kentucky General Assembly, Kentucky: ** Sen. Ernesto Scorsone (D) – came out 2003 * Maine Legislature, Maine: ** Sen. Dale McCormick (D) – elected 1990 * Maryland Legislature, Maryland: ** Del. Maggie McIntosh (D) – came out 2001 ** Del. Richard Madaleno (D) – elected 2002 *Massachusetts General Court, Massachusetts: ** Rep.
Elaine Noble Elaine Noble (born January 22, 1944) is an American politician and LGBT activist who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for two terms starting in January 1975. She was the first openly lesbian or gay candidate elected to a state ...
(D) – elected 1974 ** Rep. (later Sen.) Jarrett Barrios (D) – elected to House 1999, elected to Senate 2003 ** Rep.
Althea Garrison Althea Garrison (born October 7, 1940) is an independent American politician from Boston, Massachusetts, who has served on the Boston City Council as an at-large councilor. Garrison was elected as a Republican to the Massachusetts House of Rep ...
(R) – elected 1993, first transgender person elected to a state legislature in the United States. ** Sen. Cheryl Jacques (D) – elected 1993 * Michigan Legislature, Michigan: ** Rep. Chris Kolb – elected 2000 * Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota: ** Sen.
Allan Spear Allan Henry Spear (June 24, 1937 – October 11, 2008) was an American politician and educator from Minnesota who served almost thirty years in the Minnesota Senate, including nearly a decade as President of the Senate. Biography Spear was born ...
(D) – elected 1972, came out December 1974 ** Rep. Erin Maye Quade (D) – elected in 2016, ran for lieutenant governor with Erin Murphy (politician), Erin Murphy in 2018 and is the first LGBTQ person to be endorsed on the ticket of a major Minnesota political party ** Rep. Karen Clark (politician), Karen Clark (D) – elected 1981, out when first elected and was the longest serving openly lesbian member to serve in a state legislature in the United States ** Sen. Paul Koering (R) – elected 2002; came out 2005; re-elected in 2006 ** Sen. Scott Dibble (politician), Scott Dibble (D) – elected in 2000, out when first elected ** Rep. Susan Allen (D) – elected in 2012, out when first elected and first openly lesbian Native American woman to win office in any state legislature * Missouri General Assembly, Missouri: ** Rep. Tim Van Zandt (D) – elected 1994 ** Rep. Jeanette Oxford (D) – elected 2004 ** Rep. Zachary Wyatt (R) – elected 2010; came out 2012 ** Sen.
Jolie Justus Jolie L. Justus (born February 24, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician from Missouri. A Democrat, she was a member of the Missouri State Senate representing the 10th Senatorial District in Kansas City, serving as the Missouri Senate Minor ...
(D) – elected 2007 ** Rep. Randy D. Dunn (D)- elected 2012 * Montana State Legislature, Montana: ** Rep. Diane Sands (D) – appointed 1996 ** Rep. Bryce Bennett (D) – elected 2010 * Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska: ** Senator Megan Hunt (politician), Megan Hunt – elected 2018 (first openly bisexual person ever elected to the Nebraska Legislature) * Nevada Legislature, Nevada: ** Assemblyman (now Sen.) David Parks (politician), David Parks (D) (male) – elected 1996 ** Senator Patricia Spearman (female) (D) – elected 2012 * New Hampshire Legislature, New Hampshire: ** Rep. Raymond Buckley (male) (D) – elected 1986 ** Rep. Marlene DeChane (female) (D) – elected 1994 ** Sen. David Pierce (politician), David Pierce (D) – elected 2012 ** Chris Pappas (D) – elected 2012, first LGBT person ever elected to the New Hampshire Executive Council ** Sen. Daniel Innis, Dan Innis (male) (R) – elected 2016, first LGBT person ever elected to the New Hampshire Senate **Reps. Gerri Cannon and Lisa Bunker (D) – elected 2018, first openly transgender people ever seated in the New Hampshire House of Representatives * New Jersey Legislature, New Jersey: ** Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) – came out 2006 * New Mexico Legislature, New Mexico: ** Sen. Liz Stefanics (female) (D) – elected 1992 ** Sen. Jacob Candelaria (male) (D) – elected 2012 * New York Legislature, New York: ** Rep. Deborah Glick (female) (D) – elected 1990, first openly lesbian or gay person elected to the NY State Legislature ** Sen. Thomas Duane (male) (D) – elected 1998, first openly gay and/or HIV positive person elected to the NY State Senate ** Rep. Daniel J. O'Donnell (male) (D) — elected 2002 ** Rep. Micah Kellner (male; bisexual) (D) – elected 2007 ** Rep. Harry Bronson (male) (D) – elected 2010, first LGBT legislator elected from upstate New York ** Sen. Jabari Brisport (male) (D) — elected 2020, first gay male legislator of Black African ancestry and from Brooklyn elected to NY Legislature * North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina: ** Sen. Julia Boseman (D) – elected 2004 ** Rep. Marcus Brandon (male) (D) – elected 2010 * North Dakota Legislative Assembly, North Dakota: ** Rep. Joshua Boschee (D) – elected 2012 * Ohio General Assembly, Ohio: ** Rep. Nickie Antonio (D) – elected 2010 ** Rep. Tim Brown (Ohio politician), Tim Brown (R) – elected 2012 * Oklahoma Legislature, Oklahoma: ** Rep. (then Sen.) Al McAffrey (male) (D) – elected 2006; elected first state senator 2012 ** Rep. Kay Floyd (female) (D) – elected 2012 **Rep. Mauree Turner (D) - elected 2020, first openly Non-Binary state legislator in the United States. * Oregon Legislative Assembly, Oregon: ** Rep. Gail Shibley (female) D) – appointed 1991; elected 1992 ** Rep. George Eighmey (male) (D) – appointed 1993; elected 1994 ** Rep. Chuck Carpenter (R) – elected 1994, first openly gay Republican legislator in the nation ** Rep.
Kate Brown Katherine Brown (born June 21, 1960) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 38th governor of Oregon since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms as the state representative from the 13th district of the ...
(female; bisexual) (D) – appointed 1991; elected 1992, 1994 ** Sen.
Kate Brown Katherine Brown (born June 21, 1960) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 38th governor of Oregon since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms as the state representative from the 13th district of the ...
(female; bisexual) (D) – elected 1996 ** Rep.
Tina Kotek Tina Kotek (born September 30, 1966) is an American politician and the governor-elect of Oregon. Kotek served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2013 to 2022. She was the first openly lesbian person to serve as a speaker of ...
(female) (D) – elected 2006; first openly lesbian Speaker of the House * Pennsylvania General Assembly, Pennsylvania: ** Rep. Mike Fleck (R) – elected 2007, came out 2012 ** Rep. Brian Sims (D) – elected (while out) 2012 ** Sen. Jim Ferlo (D) – came out 2014 ** Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D), first gay person of color to serve in either house of the Pennsylvania state legislature. * Rhode Island General Assembly, Rhode Island: ** Sen. William P. Fitzpatrick (male) (D) – elected 1992, ran as openly gay; statewide publicity after election ** Rep. Mike Pisaturo (male) (D) – elected 1996 ** Rep. Nancy Hetherington (female) (D) – elected 1994, came out in 2001 ** Sen. Donna Nesselbush (female) (D) – elected 2010 * South Dakota Legislature, South Dakota: ** Sen. Angie Buhl (D) (bisexual) – elected 2011, came out 2012 * South Carolina Legislature, South Carolina: ** Rep. Jason Elliott (politician), Jason Elliott (R) (male) – elected 2016 *Tennessee Legislature, Tennessee: ** Rep. Torrey Harris (D) – elected 2020 **Rep. Eddie Mannis (R) – elected 2020Hannah McDonald
"Harris, Mannis make history as first LGBTQ legislators elected to Tennessee House"
WTVF, November 4, 2020.
* Texas Legislature, Texas: ** Rep. Glen Maxey (male) (D) – elected 1991 ** Rep. Mary Gonzalez (female) (D) – elected 2012; first openly Pansexuality, pansexual elected official in the United States * Utah State Legislature, Utah: ** Rep. Jackie Biskupski (female) (D) – elected 1998 ** Sen. Scott McCoy (male) (D) – elected 2005 * Vermont General Assembly, Vermont: ** Rep. Ron Squires (D) – elected 1990 ** Rep. Suzi Wizowaty (D) – elected 2008 ** Sen. Ed Flanagan (D) – elected 2005 **Rep. Taylor Small (D, Progressive) – elected 2020; first openly transgender Vermont legislator * Virginia General Assembly, Virginia: ** Del. (now Sen.) Adam Ebbin (D) – elected 2003; elected first state senator 2011 ** Del. Dawn Adams (female; lesbian) (D) – elected 2017 ** Del. Danica Roem (D) – elected 2017; first openly transgender person to be elected to a state legislature in the United States. ** Del. Joshua G. Cole (D) – elected 2019; first LGBT person of color and first openly bisexual legislator in VA * Washington Legislature, Washington State: ** Rep. (later Sen.) Cal Anderson (D) – appointed 1987 ** Rep. Laurie Jinkins (female) (D) – elected 2010 * West Virginia Legislature, West Virginia: ** Rep. Stephen Skinner (American politician), Stephen Skinner (D) – elected 2012 * Wisconsin Legislature, Wisconsin: ** Rep. (later Sen.) Tim Carpenter (D) – elected to Assembly in 1984, came out in 2001, elected to Senate in 2002 ** Rep. (later U.S. rep)
Mark Pocan Mark William Pocan ( ; born August 14, 1964) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative from Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district since 2013. The district is based in the state capital, Madison. A member of th ...
(D) – elected 1998 ** Rep. (later U.S. sen.)
Tammy Baldwin Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin (born February 11, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Wisconsin since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms in the Wisconsin Stat ...
(female; lesbian) (D) – elected 1993 ** Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa (female; bisexual) (D) – elected 2010; came out 2012 * Wyoming Legislature, Wyoming: ** Rep. Cathy Connolly (D) – elected 2008


Territorial legislators

* District of Columbia City Council, District of Columbia ** Jim Graham ** David Catania * Legislature of Guam, Guam: ** Sen.
Benjamin Cruz Benjamin Joseph "BJ" Franquez Cruz (born March 3, 1951) is an Chamorro lawyer, jurist, and politician who served as the Speaker of the 34th Guam Legislature from 2017 to 2018 and as Vice Speaker from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Par ...
(D) – elected 2008


Local


Nationwide firsts

*First openly gay mayor of a U.S. state capital:
David Cicilline David Nicola Cicilline (; born July 15, 1961) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 36th mayor of Providence from 2003 to 2011, the first openly ...
, Providence, Rhode Island (2002) *First directly elected openly gay mayor in the U.S.: Gene Ulrich, Bunceton, Missouri, Bunceton, Missouri (1980) *Largest city (in the country) with an openly lesbian mayor:
Lori Lightfoot Lori Elaine Lightfoot (born August 4, 1962) is an American attorney and politician serving since 2019 as the 56th mayor of Chicago. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming mayor, Lightfoot worked in private legal practice as ...
, Chicago, Illinois (2019) (Formerly held by
Annise Parker Annise Danette Parker (born May 17, 1956) is an American politician who served as the 61st Mayor of Houston, Texas, from 2010 until 2016. She also served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council from 1998 to 2003 and city controller fro ...
, Houston, Texas (2009)) *Largest city with an openly gay male mayor: Ed Murray, Seattle, Washington (state), Washington (2014) *First openly gay president of a city council: Cathy Woolard, Atlanta City Council President from 2002 to 2004. *First openly transgender mayor: Stu Rasmussen, Silverton, Oregon (2008) *First openly LGBT members of a city council: Nancy Wechsler and Jerry DeGrieck, both elected as members of the Human Rights Party (United States), Human Rights Party to the Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ann Arbor City Council in 1972; both came out in 1973. *First openly gay person (male or female) elected to public office (city council): Kathy Kozachenko, Ann Arbor, Michigan (1974) *First openly gay man elected to a U.S. city council (incumbent): Jim Yeadon, Madison, Wisconsin (1977) *First openly gay or lesbian elected official in California: Harvey Milk, member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors; elected 1977, assassinated in 1978 by Dan White shortly after White killed Mayor George Moscone. *First openly gay black person elected to public office in the United States: Keith St. John (politician), Keith St. John, elected to Albany, New York common council in 1989. *First openly gay Hispanic person elected to public office in the United States: Ricardo Gonzalez (politician), Ricardo Gonzalez, Madison, Wisconsin (1989) *First openly transgender member of a city council: Joanne Conte (Arvada, Colorado) – trans woman, served on Arvada City Council from 1991 to 1995. *First openly bisexual member of a city council: Marlene Pray, joined Doylestown, Pennsylvania, council in 2012, resigned 2013 (also first openly bisexual office holder in Pennsylvania). *First openly gay City Council Speaker: Christine Quinn (elected 2006) *First openly gay married couple to serve elected public office together for the same municipality (Borough Council): Thos Shipley and Joe DeIorio, Roselle Park, New Jersey, 2018.


By state

*Alaska **Mayor of Anchorage: Austin Quinn-Davidson, 2020 *Arizona **Tempe ***Mayor: Neil Giuliano, 1994–2004 *California **Ron Galperin was the first openly gay citywide elected official in Los Angeles when he was elected Los Angeles City Controller, City Controller in 2013. Galperin was re-elected to a second term in 2017. **Robert F. Gentry was elected mayor of Laguna Beach, California, Laguna Beach, in 1982, becoming the first openly gay mayor in California and the first openly gay elected official in southern California. **John Laird (American politician), John Laird was elected mayor of Santa Cruz, California, Santa Cruz in 1983. **Danny Wan was appointed member of the Oakland City Council in 1999, and elected in the post in 2002, becoming the city's first openly gay politician. **Ron Oden was elected mayor of Palm Springs, California, Palm Springs in 2003; he became the first openly gay black man elected mayor of an American city and was the first openly gay mayor of Palm Springs. **Mike Gin was elected mayor of Redondo Beach, California, Redondo Beach in 2005, becoming the first openly gay Asian-American mayor elected in the US and the first Republican gay mayor elected in California. **
Todd Gloria Todd Rex Gloria (born May 10, 1978) is an American politician serving as the 37th and current mayor of San Diego since 2020. As a strong mayor, he is the chief executive officer in the city of San Diego. A member of the Democratic Party, he is t ...
was elected mayor of San Diego in 2020, becoming the first gay and first person of color to serve as mayor of the 8th largest city in America as well as the first Native American and Filipino-American to serve as mayor of a city of more than one million people. **Christopher Cabaldon was elected mayor of West Sacramento, California, West Sacramento in 1998 and came out in 2006, making him the first openly gay Filipino elected as mayor in the US. As of 2016, he is the longest-serving LGBT mayor. **Evan Low was elected mayor of Campbell, California, Campbell in 2009, at the age 26, making him the youngest gay mayor (and the youngest Asian American, Asian-American mayor) nationwide at the time. Low was reelected in 2013. **Joe Mosca took office as mayor of Sierra Madre, California, Sierra Madre in 2010, becoming the first openly gay mayor in the San Gabriel Valley.Brenda Gazzar
Sierra Madre's Mosca first openly gay mayor in the San Gabriel Valley
''Pasadena-Star News'' (May 2, 2010).
By 2010, there were four openly gay mayors in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County: Mosca, John Heilman of West Hollywood, California, West Hollywood, Mitch Ward of Manhattan Beach, California, Manhattan Beach, and Mike Gin of Redondo Beach, California, Redondo Beach. **Bao Nguyen (politician), Bao Nguyen was elected mayor of Garden Grove, California, Garden Grove, in 2014, at the age 34, making him the first gay mayor and first Vietnamese mayor of Garden Grove, as well as the youngest mayor in Orange County, California, Orange County. He also became the first Vietnamese Democratic mayor in the United States. **Gerrie Schipske, was elected to Long Beach Community College Board of Trustees, 1992–1996, served as president, and was elected to Long Beach City Council, 2006–2014, in each case becoming the first openly lesbian elected official. **Gary Miller was elected to the Robla Elementary School District Board in 1987 and became the first openly Gay local elected official in Sacramento and Sacramento County. Miller won re-election many times and served on the board from 1987 to 2006. Mr Miller was also the first openly Gay local elected official in Placer County where he won a seat on the Roseville City School Board in 2008, won re-election in multiple races, and served until 2020. *Connecticut **Pedro Segarra was the first openly gay mayor of Hartford, Connecticut, mayor of Hartford. Segarra, the former president of the city council, became mayor in 2010 after his predecessor Eddie A. Perez resigned from office. Segarra won a full term in the 2011 election. ** Daryl Justin Finizio was the first openly gay mayor of New London, Connecticut, New London (elected 2011). *Delaware ** The first openly gay elected official was John Brady as Sussex County Register in Chancery(chief clerk of court) in 2000. Brady also served as The Sussex County Recorder of Deeds and Sussex County Clerk of the Peace (Marriage Bureau Chief Official) before retiring after 14 years of Service **The first openly gay mayor in Delaware was John Buchheit of Delaware City, Delaware, Delaware City (elected 2011). *Florida **Richard A. Heyman – elected mayor of Key West, Florida, Key West in 1983, becoming the first openly LGBT mayor in Florida and one of the first openly LGBT mayors in the United States (Robert F. Gentry of Laguna Beach, California, and John Laird (American politician), John Laird of Santa Cruz, California, were both elected the same year). **J.P. Sasser – mayor of Pahokee, Florida, Pahokee; came out in 2006, while in his third term in office **Ken Keechl – first openly LGBT person to serve on the Broward County, Florida, Broward County Commission (elected 2006), and to serve as vice mayor (2008) and mayor (2009) of Broward County (mayor and vice mayor are chosen by vote on commissioners) **Craig Lowe – first openly LGBT mayor of Gainesville, Florida, Gainesville (and of any north Florida city); elected 2010 **Teri Johnston – first openly lesbian mayor of Key West, Florida, Key West and first openly lesbian mayor in Florida in 2018. **Justin Flippen – first openly gay mayor of Wilton Manors, Florida, Wilton Manors in 2018. **Dean Trantalis – first openly gay mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Fort Lauderdale in 2018. **Jane Castor – first openly lesbian mayor of Tampa, Florida, Tampa in 2019. **J. Tyler Payne – first openly gay mayor of Treasure Island, Florida in 2021. *Georgia **Cathy Woolard was elected to the Atlanta City Council in 1997, becoming the first openly LGBT elected official in the state of Georgia. She went on to become council president. **Ben Ku was elected to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners in 2018, becoming the first openly LGBT official to be elected to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. *Hawaii **Tim Riley was elected to the Waianae neighborhood board in February 2019. *Illinois **
Lori Lightfoot Lori Elaine Lightfoot (born August 4, 1962) is an American attorney and politician serving since 2019 as the 56th mayor of Chicago. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming mayor, Lightfoot worked in private legal practice as ...
, was elected Mayor of Chicago in April 2019, making her the first openly gay mayor of Chicago and making Chicago the largest US city ever to elect an openly gay mayor. *Indiana **
Pete Buttigieg Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg ( ; ; Sometimes pronounced or , but not by Buttigieg himself. born January 19, 1982) is an American politician and former military officer who is currently serving as the United States secretary of transp ...
, first major political party candidate for president; before that mayor of South Bend, Indiana, South Bend – publicly announced that he was gay in 2015, while in his first term in office; first openly LGBT executive official in Indiana. **Veronica Pejril – Indiana's first transgender elected official, Greencastle, Indiana, Greencastle city council, elected 2019. *Iowa **Bill Crews (politician), Bill Crews – mayor of Melbourne, Iowa, Melbourne; came out while in office (reelected 1995) *Kansas **Longest-serving LGBTQ elected official: Henry Schwaller, elected 1999 – city commissioner, Hays, Kansas **Mayor: C.C. Smith (female), elected 2017 – Linn Valley, Kansas **Kansas has six openly-LGBT city councillors/commissioners, including in two of the state's ten biggest cities: Shawnee, Kansas, Shawnee and Manhattan, Kansas, Manhattan. *Kentucky **Lexington ***Mayor: Jim Gray (Kentucky politician), Jim Gray *Maine **Geo Soctomah Neptune – elected 2020; first trans, non-binary, and two-spirit person elected to public office in Maine *Massachusetts **Cambridge ***Kenneth Reeves (male), elected 1992 ***E. Denise Simmons (female), elected 2008 *Michigan **Ferndale, Michigan, Ferndale ***Mayor: Craig Covey *Minnesota **Minneapolis ***Andrea Jenkins elected in 2017, first openly transgender black woman elected to public office in the United States ***Phillipe Cunningham elected in 2017, first openly transgender black man elected to a city council in the United States * Mississippi **Southaven, Mississippi, Southaven ***Mayor: Greg Davis (Mississippi politician), Greg Davis (came out in 2011) *New Hampshire ** Nashua, New Hampshire, Nashua *** Board of Education: Tim Nickerson, elected 1997, First openly gay person elected at any level in NH. Others previously elected came out after his election *New Jersey ** Chatham Borough, New Jersey, Chatham Borough *** Mayor: Bruce Harris, elected 2011 **Maywood, New Jersey, Maywood *** Mayor: Tim Eustace *New Mexico **Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe ***Mayor: Javier Gonzales *New York **Eddie Sundquist, elected 2019, is the first openly gay mayor of Jamestown, New York. *North Carolina **Wake County (State capital county) ***County Commissioner and chairman of the Board: Gregory (Greg) Ford, elected 2016 ** Carrboro *** Mayor Michael R. Nelson, elected 1995 (first openly gay mayor elected in NC) **Chapel Hill *** Town councilman Joe Herzenberg, elected 1987 (first openly gay elected official in the South) *** Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt (politician), Mark Kleinschmidt, elected 2009 **Raleigh *** Raleigh city councilman: Saige Martin, elected 2019 *Oregon **Portland ***Sam Adams (Oregon politician), Sam Adams ** Silverton, Oregon, Silverton *** Stu Rasmussen (transgender) *Pennsylvania **Erie *** Tyler Titus, a transgender man, became the first openly transgender person elected to public office in Pennsylvania when he was elected to the Erie School Board in 2017. *Rhode Island **Providence ***Mayor:
David Cicilline David Nicola Cicilline (; born July 15, 1961) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 36th mayor of Providence from 2003 to 2011, the first openly ...
*Texas **Houston *** Mayor (Major City):
Annise Parker Annise Danette Parker (born May 17, 1956) is an American politician who served as the 61st Mayor of Houston, Texas, from 2010 until 2016. She also served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council from 1998 to 2003 and city controller fro ...
, elected 2009, assumed office January 2010 **Kemp *** Mayor (Any City): Matthew Ganssle, elected 2009, assumed office May 2009 **New Hope *** Mayor: Jess Herbst, appointed 2016, came out as transgender 2017 *Utah **Willy Marshall, a member of the Libertarian Party (United States), Libertarian Party, became the first openly gay mayor in Utah when he was elected mayor of Big Water, Utah, Big Water in 2001. *Virginia **Jay Fisette, elected member of Arlington County Board, Virginia, as openly gay in 1997. Served until 2017. **Joel McDonald, member of the Virginia Beach, Virginia, Virginia Beach School Board, elected 2012. First openly gay candidate to be elected in Hampton Roads. **Lawrence Webb, elected member of Falls Church City School Board, Virginia. First openly gay elected African American in Virginia in 2008 to Falls Church City Council. Current member of the Falls Church City School Board. *Washington **Seattle ***Mayor: Ed Murray (male) ***Mayor:
Jenny Durkan Jenny Anne Durkan (born May 19, 1958) is an American attorney, former federal prosecutor, and politician who served as the 56th mayor of Seattle, Washington. She is the daughter of Martin Durkan. Durkan is a member of the Democratic Party. Afte ...
(female) *Wisconsin **Satya Rhodes-Conway – mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison.


Judicial

The first openly gay judge in the United States was Stephen M. Lachs, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 1979.David E. Newton, ''Gay and Lesbian Rights: A Reference Handbook'' (ABC-CLIO: 2d ed. 2009), p. 128. Before leaving office in 1981, Brown appointed three more gay and lesbian judges to the California courts, including the nation's first openly lesbian judge, Mary Morgan, who served on the San Francisco municipal court. In 1994, Thomas R. Chiola became the first openly gay judge in Illinois (and the first openly gay elected official in Illinois) when voters elected him to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Deborah Batts was the nation's first openly LGBT United States federal judge, federal judge. She was List of federal judges appointed by Bill Clinton, appointed by President Bill Clinton to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote in 1994. (Judge Vaughn Walker of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Northern District of California served from 1989 to February 2011 but did not come out until April 2011, after his retirement.)Mark Joseph Stern
Obama's Most Enduring Gay Rights Achievement
Slate (June 17, 2014).
Batts was the sole openly LGBT judge on the federal bench for seventeen years, until List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama, Barack Obama appointed a series of gay and lesbian judges to the district courts: J. Paul Oetken (Southern District of New York, 2011); Alison J. Nathan (Southern District of New York, 2011); Michael W. Fitzgerald (United States District Court for the Central District of California, Central District of California, 2012); Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2013); Pamela K. Chen (United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Eastern District of New York, 2013); Michael J. McShane (United States District Court for the District of Oregon, District of Oregon, 2013); Darrin P. Gayles (United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, 2014); Staci Michelle Yandle (United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois, 2014), and Judith Ellen Levy (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of Michigan, 2014). Obama also appointed the first openly LGBT judge of a United States courts of appeals, federal court of appeals, Todd M. Hughes of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The first openly LGBT justice of a state supreme court was Rives Kistler, appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court in 2003, and Retention election, retained by voters the following year.Christie nominates gay black man, Asian to New Jersey Supreme Court seats
Associated Press (January 23, 2012).
The next gay or lesbian state supreme court justices were Virginia Linder (Oregon Supreme Court, 2006); Monica Márquez (Colorado Supreme Court, 2010); Barbara Lenk (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 2011); Sabrina McKenna (Supreme Court of Hawaii, 2011); Beth Robinson (Vermont Supreme Court, 2011). In 2017, Paul Feinman became the first openly gay judge to sit on the New York Court of Appeals.
Benjamin Cruz Benjamin Joseph "BJ" Franquez Cruz (born March 3, 1951) is an Chamorro lawyer, jurist, and politician who served as the Speaker of the 34th Guam Legislature from 2017 to 2018 and as Vice Speaker from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Par ...
of
Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...
was the first openly gay judge of a territorial supreme court; he came out in 1995 and was appointed to the Supreme Court of Guam in 1997. Cruz served as associate justice from 1997 to 1999 and as chief justice from 1999 until his retirement in 2001. The first openly bisexual judge in the United States is Mike Jacobs (Georgia politician), Mike Jacobs, a state court judge in DeKalb County, Georgia, who came out publicly in 2018. *State judge of compensation claims: Rand Hoch, Flagler, Seminole and Volusia counties, Florida – appointed 1992 *Transgender judge: Victoria Kolakowski, Superior Court of Alameda County, California – elected 2010 *Superior Court judge Victor Carlson, 3rd Judicial District State of Alaska at Anchorage – appointed 1975 served until 1985 when he lost a retention election that was held in the shadow of his coming out.


See also

* List of LGBT politicians in the United States


References


External links

* {{Portal bar, LGBT, Politics, United States LGBT politicians from the United States, 1st Lists of the first LGBT holders of political offices, United States Lists of political office-holders in the United States, LGBT LGBT history in the United States