It kinda-sorta links to another thread which digressed onto a discussion about religion in the US congress.
It made me think that I know of no gay US politicians, which is suprising considering how much more outspoken the gay rights movement seems to be over there (at least that’s what the internet shows me).
So I would like to know who the most prominent homosexual politician in US politics, it would be nice if someone knows. Secondly I wonder how many people from abroad realise that possible the most powerful person in the British Government right now (Browns on holiday) is gay? His long term partner is from Brazil.
So how well known is this- particularly among gay communities?
Edit: Re-reading this sounds really abrupt but I am wondering about the position of gay politicians in other countries. Thanks if you’ve got any insight.
There are also former Rep. Mark Foley of Florida, the late Rep. Gerry Studds of Massachusetts, and Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho. Craig denies that he is gay, but he was basically caught cottaging in an airport restroom, so the denials are a little thin.
I would say that the percentage of Americans who know that Peter Mandelson is gay is approximately equal to the number of Americans who have ever heard of Peter Mandelson.
Eh. Barney’s in the news a lot lately (for things other than being the unwitting sugardaddy to a hustler pimp, thank Og), Mark Foley was pretty prominent back in 2005 (his page scandal was the pebble that started the avalanche that delivered the Republicans into the valley in November), and Larry Craig was pretty prominent after his confession of “disorderly conduct” was publicized (also late 2005, I believe).
J. Edgar Hoover was very powerful for a non-elected guy.
I was kind of surprised that people here in NC elected an openly gay woman to the state senate. She comes from an area that is semi-liberal , Wilmington. Last year a guy who ran for the Dem nomination for US Senate was openly gay.
The relevant Wikipedia article ( United States order of precedence - Wikipedia ) puts senators in position 25, after such office holders as Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and members of the Cabinet.
A Senator is the next highest office to the Presidency. Not only is Senator Frank gay but he paid for a prostitute while in public office who later became his companion. He put his companion on parole as an aid.
Senator Frank survived public disclosure that his prostitute/companion operated a brothel out of his apartment (Frank was unaware).
Not too many politicians can survive putting a prostitute on payroll so I disagree with your point that sexual orientation affects public office.
(The one you linked is not official - it says so right on the page. )
However you are right that most cabinet members are ahead of Congressmen, with the excepton of Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate.
The ex-Senator (he no longer holds office) is a rather dubious example. He has never admitted that he’s gay. Sure, he was bust wide-stanced, so to speak, but I’m sure most of his constituents think he was the victim of a Commie plot.
It’s true they are not elected, but many of them are politicians and they get appointed based on politics in most cases.
If you look at Obama’s cabinet 8 of them were elected to office before being appointed to the cabinet. And some could be elected again once they leave the cabinet.
