Just curious but…in the UK we have one or two high flying politicians who are gay and are “out” they seem to be getting by ok despite a fairly unhealthy rabidly anti-gay contingent in UK society so I was wondering if the same were true in the US?
I did a quick search and found this site. They list three out politicians:
Tammy Baldwin, Democratic member of Congress from Wisconsin
Barney Frank, Democratic member of Congress from Massachusetts
Jim Kolbe, Republican member of Congress from Arizona
I thought that California had a lesbain senator at one time, but I may be remembering incorrectly.
Oh, and Kolbe isn’t exactly welcomed by his own party. When he gave a speech at the Republican convention, some of the delegates held a prayer protest and held up signs telling him he should change.
The little city of Santa Cruz, California had an openly gay mayor, when I lived there. Also there is a city councilwoman here in Arvada (a suburb of Denver) who came out with the fact that she had had gender…crap it’s early & I can’t remember the term. Anyhow she used to be “male” and now she’s a woman. Arvada being a very conservative little town, this caused quite a stir and many people wanted her to resign. :rolleyes: She stayed on, though I think she is retired now.
And yes I realise she’s not necessarily gay, but it is to many people equally shocking or repugnant or whatever.
Gender reassignment?
I think that’s the term.
The fact that Kolbe was invited to speak in the first place shows that it is not the Republican Party as a whole that is unwelcoming, just some of the delegates.
That’s a good point.
To clarify for the OP, Barney Frank is undoubtedly the most well known - he’s one of the more senior congress-critters, high up in the Democratic party leadership, and enjoys a reputation as a formidable debater. He turns up in the headline news from time to time, not always on gay-related issues. About ten years ago he survived a sex scandal involving a male aide.
Did whasis name ever get comfirmed to be Ambassador to Luxembourg? If so he’s one.
Here in CA, we have Carole Midgen… plus a bunch of others in SF and around.
I know you didn’t ask about Canada, but perhaps it would interest you to know that New Democratic MP Svend Robinson has been out since 1978; there’s also Bloc Québécois MP Réal Ménard. Also, the mayor of Winnipeg, Glen Murray, is gay, making Winnipeg the largest city in the world with an out gay mayor.
There are a lot of gay people in various governmental positions- Clinton made a conscious effort to have quite a few.
Isn’t Donna Shalela a lesbian?
And, as I’m sure you know, Trent Lott is a big old homo. 
On a local level…NYC Councilman, Tom Duane (Democrat).
I don’t think so… I used to wait on her at the sunporch cafe in Madison… and I’m pretty sure she was there with her husband… Coulda been a sham though.
Who is, IMHO, a total babe – and she supports universal health care! I just wish I knew if she was single.