# How many people realise the UK gov's No2 Peter Mandelson is gay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 3, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766 "2009-09-03T17:25:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sri\_Theo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Sri\_Theo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sri_Theo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/1 "2009-09-03T17:25:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/2 "2009-09-03T17:52:39Z")
[Barney Frank](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Frank) seems to fit the bill. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/3 "2009-09-03T18:13:28Z")
Barney Frank would be my answer as well, at least right now. He’s been in the news lately, which makes him especially prominent. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/4 "2009-09-03T18:30:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/5 "2009-09-03T18:31:37Z")
The NJ governor was gay but didn’t reveal that until he quit. Of course Larry Craig is not gay, he just has sex with men. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/6 "2009-09-03T18:32:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/7 "2009-09-03T18:38:16Z")
In other words, no really prominent US politician is gay, or at least gay and out. (I certainly wouldn’t call those named so far ‘prominent’). It’s unsurprising, politicians don’t like taking chances and coming out is taking one huge chance with your career. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/8 "2009-09-03T18:41:56Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > In other words, no really prominent US politician is gay, or at least gay and out. (I certainly wouldn’t call those named so far ‘prominent’). 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). ---
**Author:** ![cdsilv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cdsilv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdsilv)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/9 "2009-09-03T18:44:18Z")
another question : Who cares? I for one don’t - I’m more concerned about what they do as opposed to who. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/10 "2009-09-03T18:48:47Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > In other words, no really prominent US politician is gay, or at least gay and out. (I certainly wouldn’t call those named so far ‘prominent’). A Senator is the next highest office to the Presidency. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/11 "2009-09-03T18:57:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/12 "2009-09-03T18:58:11Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > A Senator is the next highest office to the Presidency. The relevant Wikipedia article ( [United States order of precedence - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_precedence_in_the_United_States_of_America) ) puts senators in position 25, after such office holders as Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and members of the Cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/13 "2009-09-03T19:03:19Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > In other words, no really prominent US politician is gay, or at least gay and out. (I certainly wouldn’t call those named so far ‘prominent’). 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. > [@aldiboronti](#): > > It’s unsurprising, politicians don’t like taking chances and coming out is taking one huge chance with your career. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/14 "2009-09-03T19:03:23Z")
Giles, the real link is here: [United States presidential line of succession - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_line_of_succession) (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. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/15 "2009-09-03T19:05:59Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > A Senator is the next highest office to the Presidency. 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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/16 "2009-09-03T19:14:55Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > 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. 🙂 My mistake. Barney Frank is a Congressman. He is still in office and will probably die there. ---
**Author:** ![WreckingCrew](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wreckingcrew/32/4080_2.png) [@WreckingCrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WreckingCrew)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/17 "2009-09-03T19:16:24Z")
Barney Frank is not a Senator, he is a Representative in Congress. He is very well known though. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/18 "2009-09-03T19:16:40Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Giles, the real link is here: > > [United States presidential line of succession - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_line_of_succession) > > (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. Cabinet members are not elected. Senators are the next highest office on the food chain followed by members of Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/19 "2009-09-03T19:22:53Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Cabinet members are not elected. Senators are the next highest office on the food chain followed by members of Congress. Yes, but in terms of precedence, Cabinet members are above Senators. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766/20 "2009-09-03T19:25:35Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-realise-the-uk-govs-no2-peter-mandelson-is-gay/508766.md?page=2)