# Homosexuals in Elected Office **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 13, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058 "2007-02-13T19:17:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alistair\_McCello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Alistair\_McCello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alistair_McCello)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/1 "2007-02-13T19:17:20Z")
After the slew of “Could [Member of X group] be elected POTUS” threads that went through GD recently I began wondering not about the chances of a gay or lesbian POTUS candidate (it is going to be a long time before that is possible, sadly) but rather what is the highest elected office such a candidate has attained. I know that there have been scandals where an elected official turns out to be gay, but that is different as they were elected while under the pretense of being heterosexual. What is the highest office an openly homosexual candidate has been elected to in the US? Or for comparisons sake, what about other countries? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/2 "2007-02-13T19:27:33Z")
Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) comes immediately to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/3 "2007-02-13T19:28:34Z")
There have been 5 gay people that I know of elected to congress that were out when elected. Tammy Baldwin, Gerry Studds, Barney Frank, Steve Gunderson and Jim Kolbe. The last two of those are republican. Some came out while in office but were reelected. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/4 "2007-02-13T20:42:25Z")
> [@](#): > > I know that there have been scandals where an elected official turns out to be gay, but that is different as they were elected while under the pretense of being heterosexual. In my opinion, the scandal has not been “pretense of heterosexuality” but “stupid/illegal behavior that also happens to out the person.” ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/5 "2007-02-13T20:51:31Z")
Depending on what happens in the next elections, we could have an openly gay premier of Quebec soon: [André Boisclair](http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=c7fcf3a1-931f-4703-bcca-afd2e9b71f9a&k=13836) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/6 "2007-02-13T21:06:57Z")
There are quite a few gay state legislators, scattered around the country including in places you would probably not expect (e.g., South Carolina). There was (still is?) a gay mayor of the small city of Plattsburgh, NY. Amusingly, the Mayor of Carrboro, NC, and a Town Councilman of adjacent Chapel Hill are dating and planning to become [extralegal] life partners (North Carolina does not recognize gay marriages or the equivalent). There’s a small town in Kansas with an out gay mayor. I suspect one of our more activist gay Dopers may have a more comprehensive list, but those are a few that stuck with me from reading about the issue. ---
**Author:** ![desdinova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@desdinova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desdinova)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/7 "2007-02-13T21:34:25Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] There are quite a few gay state legislators, scattered around the country including in places you would probably not expect (e.g., South Carolina). [/QUOTE] Oklahoma recently [elected its first openly gay state legislator.](http://almcaffrey.com/index.html) Okay, he ran unopposed by a Republican, but he did have to beat two other candidates in the Democratic primary. I was surprised that there really didn’t seem to be any huge uproar over this, at least none that I noticed. I’m sure [this wikipedia list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_first_LGBT_holders_of_political_offices) is not comprehensive, but maybe it will help. ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/8 "2007-02-13T21:47:48Z")
[QUOTE=Alistair McCello] Or for comparisons sake, what about other countries? [/QUOTE] In Germany two persons come to mind. Number one is [Klaus Wowereit](http://www.klaus-wowereit.de/international/biography/), social democrat Governing Mayor (Mayor, “Governor” and “Senator” combined) of Berlin. While openly gay he was first made Governing Mayor by the state parliament. Later he was confirmed in two popular elections (2001 and 2006) and achieved the first plurality for his party in 30 years. In 2001/2002 he was president of one of the chambers of the German parliament and thus Vice President of Germany (although Vice _President_ of Germany is a rather obscure office) Number two is [Ole von Beust](http://www.cduhamburg.de/deutsch/863/731/731/27002/design2.html), conservative Christian Democrat First Mayor of Hamburg (different title, same office as above.) He was outed during his first term. After that his father spoke out in support of his son’s homosexuality. However at the time von Beust himself still refused to discuss his private life. In 2004 he was reelected. Since that time he has confirmed his homosexuality. There are also a few other members of parliament holding various parliamentary and party-internal offices. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/9 "2007-02-13T22:19:18Z")
You might find the Wikipedia list of the first [LGBT holders of various political offices](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_first_LGBT_holders_of_political_offices) useful. I’m always a little proud of my hometown when I remember that we elected the [first openly gay mayor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Murray_%28politician%29) of a major city in North America, and possibly anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/10 "2007-02-13T22:20:49Z")
Not only is George Smitherman, the Minister of Health in Ontario, gay, but he just announced his marriage to his partner, Christopher Peloso! It was in yesterday’s (12 Febriary 2007) Toronto Star. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/11 "2007-02-13T22:22:33Z")
Peter Mandelson’s done rather well for himself. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/12 "2007-02-13T23:35:24Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] Peter Mandelson’s done rather well for himself. [/QUOTE] Chris Smith was a Cabinet Minister. ---
**Author:** ![sjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@sjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjc)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/13 "2007-02-14T01:19:49Z")
Pim Fortuyn was Prime Minister of the Netherlands, I believe, before he was assassinated. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/14 "2007-02-14T01:33:50Z")
[QUOTE=xnylder] Depending on what happens in the next elections, we could have an openly gay premier of Quebec soon: [André Boisclair](http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=c7fcf3a1-931f-4703-bcca-afd2e9b71f9a&k=13836) [/QUOTE] If he loses, it will not be because he is gay, but because he suffers from foot-in-mouth disease and other problems with his party (he is not sufficiently doctrinaire over separation). ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/15 "2007-02-14T01:48:37Z")
[QUOTE=sjc] Pim Fortuyn was Prime Minister of the Netherlands, I believe, before he was assassinated. [/QUOTE] While clearly a significant figure in recent Dutch politics, [he was never PM](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pim_Fortuyn). ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/16 "2007-02-14T02:02:35Z")
While it’s still a [matter of some debate](http://tompaine.com/Archive/scontent/2458.html) there appears to be some evidence that James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States, was openly gay. Or, if not officially ‘out’ (such didn’t really play in the early/mid nineteenth century) certainly many in Washington knew of his relationship with King and commented on it. If true, that would put the highest spot in this debate at the VERY highest spot indeed. Short of King of England or Pope or something it doesn’t get much higher than POTUS. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/17 "2007-02-14T02:32:57Z")
What about Harvey Milk? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/18 "2007-02-14T02:37:20Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > …King of England… Well, we have [Edward II](http://www.historyhouse.com/in_history/edward_ii/). Or perhaps [Richard I](http://www.gayheroes.com/rich.htm) (the Lion-hearted)? What about [James I and VI](http://www.infopt.demon.co.uk/jamesi.htm), he of the King James Bible? > [@](#): > > …an epigram had been circulated which roused much mirth and nodding of the heads: Rex fuit Elizabeth: nunc est regina Jacobus—“Elizabeth was King: now James is Queen.” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/19 "2007-02-14T04:41:38Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] Not only is George Smitherman, the Minister of Health in Ontario, gay, but he just announced his marriage to his partner, Christopher Peloso! It was in yesterday’s (12 Febriary 2007) Toronto Star. [/QUOTE] In addition to being Minister of Health, he’s also the [Deputy Premier of Ontario](http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/team/biography.asp?MPPID=23), which is pretty high ranking. There’s also [Scott Brison, M.P for Kings-Hants, Nova Scotia](http://www.brison.ca/page.asp?pageid=37), currently in opposition in the Canadian Parliament, but formerly a member of the Martin Cabinet: > [@](#): > > Mr. Brison has won election to the House of Commons in four general elections: June 1997, November 2000, June 2004 and January 2006. He currently serves in the Shadow Cabinet as the Liberal Opposition Critic for Industry. He served as Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Receiver General of Canada, from 2004 to 2006, the youngest member of Prime Minister Paul Martin’s cabinet. He also served on three cabinet committees including Treasury Board, Domestic Affairs and Expenditure Review. Mr. Brison previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with special emphasis on Canada-U.S. Relations. ---
**Author:** ![dynamitedave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@dynamitedave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dynamitedave)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058/20 "2007-02-14T06:22:25Z")
There’s a transgendered mayor who’s now a Member of Parliament here in New Zealand > **[Georgina Beyer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgina_Beyer)** > > Georgina Beyer MNZM JP (November 1957 – 6 March 2023) was a New Zealand Labour Party politician who represented Wairarapa in the Parliament of New Zealand from 1999 to 2005, after serving as mayor of Carterton from 1995 to 1999. Beyer was the world's first openly transgender mayor, and the world's first openly transgender member of parliament. As a member of the Labour Party Beyer supported progressive policies including prostitution law reform, civil unions, anti-discrimination laws, and the ... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-elected-office/392058.md?page=2)