This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2008)

This is a list of political offices which have been held by a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered person, with details of the first holder of each office. It should only list people who came out as LGBT before or during their terms in office; it should not list people who came out only after retiring from politics, or people who were outed by reference sources only after their death.

The year in brackets refers to the year which the officeholder was elected as an openly LGBT person. If he or she came out during term of office it is referred to after the year in brackets.

It is ordered by country, by dates of appointment. Former countries are also to be listed.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

International bodies

European Union

European Commission

• European Commissioner for Trade: Peter Mandelson - 2004 (British)

European Parliament

• Austria: Ulrike Lunacek - 2009
• Denmark: Torben Lund - 1999-2005
• Germany: Lissy Gröner
• Italy: Gianni Vattimo - 1999
• Netherlands: Herman Verbeek (PPR) - 1984
• Spain: José María Mendiluce Pereiro (PSOE-later joined the Greens) 1999-2004 - came out 2003
• United Kingdom: Michael Cashman - 1999

National bodies

Americas

Brazil

• First transgender elected (Alderperson): Kátia Tapety - Colônia do Piauí - 1992
• First transgender vice-mayor: Kátia Tapety - 2004
• Member of Parliament (Congress): Clodovil Hernandez - 2006

Canada

• First openly gay political candidate, regardless of electoral status: Robert Douglas Cook - 1979
• First transgender candidate, regardless of electoral status: Jamie Lee Hamilton¹
• First openly gay person elected to office: Raymond Blain (Montreal City Council), 1986
• Member of Parliament:
  • Male: Svend Robinson - elected 1979, came out in 1988
  • Female: Libby Davies - elected 1997, came out in 2001
  • Already out at first election: Bill Siksay - 2004
• Senator:
  • Male: Laurier LaPierre - 2001
  • Female: Nancy Ruth - 2005
• Mayor of large city: Glen Murray (Winnipeg) - 1998 (world's first)
• Leader of a federal political party: Chris Lea (Green) - 1990
• Federal cabinet minister: Scott Brison - 2004
• Provincial cabinet minister:
  • Male: Tim Stevenson (British Columbia) - 2000
  • Female: Kathleen Wynne (Ontario) - 2006
• Leader of a provincial party: Allison Brewer (New Brunswick New Democratic Party) - 2005
• Leader of a provincial party with seats in a legislature: André Boisclair (Parti Québécois) - 2005
• Deputy Premier of a province: George Smitherman (Ontario) - 2006
• Municipal politician in Vancouver: Gordon Price - 1986
• Municipal politician in Winnipeg: Glen Murray - 1989
• Municipal politician in Toronto: Kyle Rae - 1991
• Municipal politician in Edmonton: Michael Phair - 1992
• Municipal politician in Ottawa: Alex Munter and Stéphane Émard-Chabot - 1994
• Municipal politician in Saskatoon: Lenore Swystun - 2000

Mexico

• Member of Congress:
  • Male: David Sánchez Camacho - 2006
  • Female: Patria Jiménez - 1997

United States

Federal

• Congress:
  • U.S. Representative: Gerry Studds² (MA-12, MA-10) - came out 1983
  • U.S. Representative (out when first elected): Tammy Baldwin (WI-2) - elected 1998
  • U.S. Representative (out when first elected, male): Jared Polis (CO-2) - elected 2008
  • Congressional committee chair: Barney Frank³ (MA-4) - came out 1987, chair of House Financial Services Committee 2007

State

• State governor:
  • New Jersey: Jim McGreevey⁴ - came out 2004 (during the same speech in which he resigned as Governor)
• State legislators:
  • Massachusetts: Rep. Elaine Noble - elected 1974, came out 1974 after election
  • Minnesota: Sen. Allan H. Spear - elected 1972, came out December 1974
  • New Hampshire: Rep. Raymond Buckley - elected 1986
  • Washington State: Rep. (later Sen.) Cal Anderson - appointed 1987
  • Connecticut: Rep. Joseph S. Grabarz Jr - came out 1990
  • Maine: Sen. Dale McCormick - elected 1990
  • New York: Assemblywoman Deborah Glick - elected 1990
  • Vermont: Rep. Ron Squires - elected 1990
  • Oregon: Rep. Gail Shibley - appointed 1991
  • Texas: Rep. Glen Maxey - elected 1991
  • New Mexico: Sen. Liz Stefanics - elected 1992
  • Wisconsin: Rep. (now U.S. Rep.) Tammy Baldwin - elected 1992
  • Rhode Island: Sen. William Fitzpatrick - elected 1992, came out 1992 after election
  • Arizona: Rep. (now Sen.) Ken Cheuvront - elected 1994
  • California: Assemblywoman (later Sen.) Sheila Kuehl - elected 1994
  • Missouri: Rep. Tim Van Zandt - elected 1994
  • Illinois: Rep. Larry McKeon - elected 1996
  • Montana: Rep. Diane Sands - appointed 1996
  • Nevada: Assemblyman (now Sen.) David Parks - elected 1996
  • Utah: Rep. Jackie Biskupski - elected 1998
  • Georgia: Rep. Karla Drenner - elected 2000
  • Michigan: Rep. Chris Kolb - elected 2000
  • Colorado: Rep. (later Sen.) Jennifer Veiga - came out 2002
  • Maryland: Del. Maggie McIntosh - came out 2002
  • Kentucky: Sen. Ernesto Scorsone - came out 2003
  • Virginia: Del. Adam Ebbin - elected 2003
  • Iowa: Sen. Matt McCoy - came out 2004
  • Idaho: Rep. (now Sen.) Nicole LeFavour - elected 2004
  • North Carolina: Sen. Julia Boseman - elected 2004
  • Alabama: Rep. Patricia Todd - elected 2006
  • Arkansas: Rep. Kathy Webb - elected 2006
  • Oklahoma: Rep. Al McAffrey - elected 2006
  • New Jersey: Assemblyman Reed Gusciora - came out 2006
  • Wyoming: Rep. Cathy Connolly - elected 2008

Local

• Executive:
  • First mayor of a U.S. state capital: David Cicilline, Providence, Rhode Island - 2002
  • Largest city (in the world) with a lesbian mayor: Annise Parker, Houston, Texas - 2009
  • Largest city with a gay male mayor: Sam Adams, Portland, Oregon - 2008
  • First transgender mayor: Stu Rasmussen, Silverton, Oregon - 2008

• Legislative:
  • City Councilmembers: Nancy Wechsler, Jerry DeGrieck (Ann Arbor) - came out 1973
  • City Councilmember (out when first elected): Kathy Kozachenko (Ann Arbor) - elected 1974
  • City-County Supervisor: Harvey Milk (City and County of San Francisco) - out when elected in 1977
  • City Councilmember (transgender): Joanne Conte (Arvada, Colorado) - transwoman, underwent sex reassignment surgery in 1973, served on Arvada City Council from 1991 to 1995

Europe

Austria

• Member of Parliament: Ulrike Lunacek - 1999

Belgium

• Member of Parliament, Party president and Minister-President of the Waloon Region: Elio di Rupo (PS) - came out in 2001
• Member of the Flemish Government, Pascal Smet (SP.A) - came out in 2009

Denmark

• Member of Parliament:
  • Female: Yvonne Herløv Andersen - 1998 she was also MP a few terms during the 70's and 80's, but not as openly lesbian.
  • Male: Torben Lund - 1998 came out in February 1998 while still an MP.

Finland

• Member of Parliament: Pekka Haavisto - 1987
• Minister of the Environment: Pekka Haavisto - 1995
• Member of Parliament: Oras Tynkkynen - 2004

France

• Member of Parliament: André Labarrère - came out 1998⁵
• Mayor of Paris: Bertrand Delanoë - came out 1998, elected 2001 ⁶
• Government Member: Roger Karoutchi, Secretary of State for relations with parliament - came out 2009⁷

Germany

• Member of Parliament:
  • Male: Herbert Rusche - 1985
  • Female: Jutta Oesterle-Schwerin - 1987
• Leader of a big political party: Guido Westerwelle (FDP) came out 2004
• Mayors:
  • Berlin: Klaus Wowereit - 2001
  • Hamburg: Ole von Beust - 2001
• Member of Government: Guido Westerwelle (FDP), since 2009

Hungary

• Member of Government:
  • Secretary of State for Human Resources: Gábor Szetey came out 2007
• Klára Ungár, politician

Iceland

• Prime Minister: Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir (2009, first in the world)

Ireland

• Senator: David Norris (Dublin University) - 1987
• County Councillor: Peter Kelly (Cork County Council)⁸ - 1999⁹

Italy

• Member of Parliament:
  • Male: Angelo Pezzana - 1983
  • Female: Titti De Simone - 2001
  • Transgender: Vladimir Luxuria - 2006
• Member of the government:
  • Minister of Environment: Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio - 2000 came out later 2000 - again Minister of Environment in 2006 (bisexual)

Netherlands

• Member of Parliament:
  • Male: Coos Huijsen (CHU) - came out 1977
  • Female: Evelien Eshuis (CPN) - 1982
• Member of Government:
  • Male: Minister of Minister of Economic Affairs: Joop Wijn (CDA) - 2006
  • Female: Minister of Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Gerda Verburg (CDA) - 2007
  • (note Ien Dales' (PvdA, Minister of the Interior) sexual orientation was only revealed after her death)

Norway

• Member of Parliament:
  • Female: Wenche Lowzow - 1977-1985 came out 1979, reelected 1981
  • Male: Anders Hornslien - came out 1994
• Member of Government:
  • Minister of Finance: Per Kristian Foss - 2001-2005
• City council chairman of Oslo: Erling Lae - 2000-present

Portugal

• Member of Parliament:
  • Male: Miguel Vale de Almeida - 2009-present

Spain

• Member of the Cortes: Jerónimo Saavedra Acevedo(PSOE)-Has been a member of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate since 1977 until 2004 with some interruptions - came out 2000
• Autonomic President: Jeronimo Saavedra Acevedo , President of the Canary Islands 1983-1987 and 1991-1993
• Member of Government:
  • Minister of Public Administrations and of Education and Science: Jerónimo Saavedra (Public Administrations, 1993-1995 and of Education and Science 1995-1996)
• Mayor of a Provincial Capital: Jerónimo Saavedra, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Incumbent since 2007
• Member of the Parliament of Catalonia when openly gay: Miquel Iceta PSC, since 1999
• Transgender town councillor: Manuela Trasobares (ARDE) 2007 - at Geldo, Castellon

Sweden

• Member of Parliament:
  • Male: Kent Carlsson (s) - came out 1991, died in 1993
  • Female: Elisebeht Markström (s) - came out publicly in 2006
• Member of Government:
  • Minister of the Environment: Andreas Carlgren (c) - 2006
  • Minister of Migration Affairs: Tobias Billström (m) - 2006 (bisexual)

Switzerland

• Member of Parliament:
  • Male: Claude Janiak - elected 1999 - speaker of House of Representatives 2006
  • Female: Doris Stump - elected 2003
• Mayor of a large city:
  • Female: Corine Mauch - elected 2009 - Mayor of Zurich (largest city in Switzerland), first openly gay mayor of a large swiss city

United Kingdom

• Member of Parliament: Chris Smith (came out 1984, re-elected 1987)
  • out when first elected: Ben Bradshaw & Stephen Twigg (elected 1997)
  • lesbian: Angela Eagle (came out 1997, re-elected 2001)
  • Conservative: Michael Brown (outed 1994)
  • Conservative, voluntarily out: Alan Duncan (came out 2002, re-elected 2005)
  • Conservative, out when first elected: Nick Herbert (elected 2005)
  • Liberal Democrat, out when first elected: Stephen Williams (elected 2005)
• Member of Government:
  • Chris Smith (appointed 1997)
• Peer: Waheed Alli, Baron Alli (came out 1999)
• Member of Scottish Parliament: Margaret Smith - 1999

Africa

South Africa

• Member of Parliament: Mike Waters - 1999
• High Court Judge: Edwin Cameron - 1995

Asia

Israel

• Member of Knesset (Parliament): Uzi Even (elected 2003)
• City councillors:
  • Tel-Aviv: Michal Eden (elected 1998), Itai Pinkas (first gay man; elected 2003)
  • Jerusalem: Saar Nathaniel (elected 2003)

Japan

• Transgender city councillor: Aya Kamikawa - 2003
• Lesbian,Osaka congressist: Kanako Otsuji - 2005

Nepal

• Constituent Assembly Member: Sunil Babu Pant - 2008

Oceania

Australia

• Senator:
  • Male senator: Bob Brown - 1996
  • Female senator: Penny Wong - 2002
• Member of Government:
  • Minister for Climate Change and Water: Penny Wong - 2007
• State MPs:
  • Australian Capital Territory: Andrew Barr - 2006
  • New South Wales: Paul O'Grady came out 1990
  • South Australia: Ian Hunter - 2006
  • Tasmania: Bob Brown - 1983
  • Victoria: Andrew Olexander - 1999
  • Western Australia: Giz Watson - 1997
  • State or territory cabinet minister: Andrew Barr - 2006
• Justice of the High Court of Australia:
  • Male: Michael Kirby came out 1999
  • Female: Virginia Bell (2009)

Guam

• Member of Legislature: Benjamin Cruz - 2004
• Supreme Court Justice: Benjamin Cruz - 1997, Chief Justice 1999-2001 (came out 1995)

New Zealand

• Member of Parliament:
  • Male: Chris Carter - 1993
  • Female: Maryan Street - 2005
  • Transsexual: Georgina Beyer - 1999 (world's first)
• Cabinet Minister: Chris Carter - 2002
• Transsexual mayor: Georgina Beyer - 1995 (world's first)

See also

• List of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender firsts by year

References

1. ^ Peace River Block News Dawson Creek, BC; 1995 December 15, page 8.
2. ^ Housecleaning, Time, July 25, 1983
3. ^ John Gallagher, "Politics: A Broader Bully Pulpit: As Congress grapples with solutions for a faltering economy, Barney Frank sits at the center of power," The Advocate, September 9, 2008, p. 24.
4. ^ Curry, Tom (2004-08-13). "McGreevey confession doesn't reveal all". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5694815/. Retrieved 2008-03-10. 
5. ^ http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2009/01/23/roger-karoutchi-revele-son-homosexualite_1145938_823448.html#xtor=RSS-3208
6. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2305849.stm
7. ^ http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2009/01/23/roger-karoutchi-revele-son-homosexualite_1145938_823448.html
8. ^ O’Riordan, Seán (2006-04-05). "Fine Gael to elect new council leader". Irish Examiner. http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2006/04/05/story901079391.asp. Retrieved 2008-09-25. 
9. ^ "People > K > Peter Kelly". electionsireland. http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=6141. Retrieved 2008-09-25.