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List of LGBT members of the United States Congress

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

As of November 2023, 32 members of the LGBT community are known to have held office in the United States Congress. In the House, 30 LGBT people held office; in the Senate, 4 held office. Two people, Tammy Baldwin, and Kyrsten Sinema, served in the House and were later elected into the Senate. The earliest known LGBT congressperson was Ed Koch, who began his term in the House in 1969. The earliest known LGBT senator is Harris Wofford, who began his term in 1991. Both men were not out during their tenure: Koch's sexuality was confirmed after his death and Wofford announced his plans to marry a man over 20 years after serving in the Senate. There are no known transgender congresspeople.

There are 12 openly LGBT members of the current (118th) Congress, all of whom are Democrats or aligned with Democrats. Three are senators and the rest are House representatives. This constitutes the second highest number of LGBT congresspeople serving at the same time in U.S. history.[a][1][2]

Senate

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† Came out after serving

SenatorPartyStateTermNotes
StartEndLength of
service
Harris Wofford†DemocraticPennsylvaniaMay 8, 1991Jan 13, 19953 years, 250 daysAnnounced his marriage to a man in 2016.[3][4]
Tammy BaldwinDemocraticWisconsinJan 3, 2013Incumbent11 years, 168 daysAs an openly lesbian woman, Baldwin is the first openly LGBT senator.[1][5][6]
Kyrsten SinemaDemocratic
(2019–2022)		ArizonaJan 3, 2019Incumbent5 years, 168 daysSinema is the first openly bisexual senator.[1][7]
Independent
(2022–present)
Laphonza ButlerDemocraticCaliforniaOct 3, 2023Incumbent260 daysButler is openly lesbian and is the first openly LGBT African-American senator.[8][9]

House of Representatives

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† Came out after serving‡ Posthumously identified as LGBT

RepresentativePartyStateTermNotes
StartEndLength of
service
Ed Koch‡DemocraticNew YorkJan 3, 1969Dec 31, 19778 years, 362 daysKoch denied he was gay throughout his life, but a 2022 article in The New York Times identified him as such.[10]
Stewart McKinney‡RepublicanConnecticutJan 3, 1971May 7, 198716 years, 124 daysAfter dying in office of AIDS, McKinney was outed as bisexual in his obituary.[4][11][12][13][14][15]
Barbara Jordan‡DemocraticTexasJan 3, 1973Jan 3, 19796 years, 0 daysJordan's domestic partnership with Nancy Earl was revealed in her obituary in 1996, making her the first LGBT woman in Congress (per the U.S. National Archives).[16][17]
Gerry StuddsDemocraticMassachusettsJan 3, 1973Jan 3, 199724 years, 0 daysStudds came out as gay as a result of his implication in the 1983 congressional page sex scandal.[18] He became the first openly LGBT person to win election to Congress with his reelection in 1984.[4]
Robert BaumanRepublicanMarylandAug 21, 1973Jan 3, 19817 years, 135 daysBauman was outed as gay in October 1980 while in office, making him the first openly LGBT member of Congress.[19][20][4]
Jon HinsonRepublicanMississippiJan 3, 1979Apr 13, 19812 years, 100 daysHinson was outed as gay after being arrested on a charge of oral sodomy on February 4, 1981.[21][4]
Barney FrankDemocraticMassachusettsJan 3, 1981Jan 3, 201332 years, 0 daysFrank came out as gay in 1987 and in 2012 became the first member of Congress in a same-sex marriage.[4][22][23]
Steve GundersonRepublicanWisconsinJan 3, 1981Jan 3, 199716 years, 0 daysGunderson was outed as gay on the floor of the House in 1994, Gunderson was the first openly gay Republican to be reelected after being outed.[24][25][4]
Jim KolbeRepublicanArizonaJan 3, 1985Jan 3, 200722 years, 0 daysKolbe came out as gay while in office after voting for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. He was the first openly gay person to address the Republican National Convention.[26][27][28][4]
Michael Huffington†RepublicanCaliforniaJan 3, 1993Jan 3, 19952 years, 0 days.Huffington came out as bisexual in 1998[4][29]
Mark Foley†RepublicanFloridaJan 3, 1995Sep 29, 200611 years, 269 daysFoley came out as gay after being implicated in a 2006 congressional page scandal.[30]
Tammy BaldwinDemocraticWisconsinJan 3, 1999Jan 3, 201314 years, 0 daysBaldwin is openly lesbian, and was the first openly LGBT non-incumbent elected to Congress.[5][4]
Mike MichaudDemocraticMaineJan 3, 2003Jan 3, 201512 years, 0 daysMichaud came out as gay in 2013.[31][32][4]
Jared PolisDemocraticColoradoJan 3, 2009Jan 3, 201910 years, 0 daysIn 2011, Polis became the first same-sex parent in Congress.[4][33][6][34]
Aaron Schock†RepublicanIllinoisJan 3, 2009Mar 31, 20156 years, 87 daysSchock came out as gay in 2020.[35]
David CicillineDemocraticRhode IslandJan 3, 2011May 31, 202312 years, 148 daysCicilline is openly gay.[1][4][6]
Sean Patrick MaloneyDemocraticNew YorkJan 3, 2013Jan 3, 202310 years, 0 daysMaloney is openly gay.[1][4][6] In 2014, he married his longtime partner.[36]
Mark PocanDemocraticWisconsinJan 3, 2013Incumbent11 years, 168 daysPocan is openly gay and the first LGBT member of Congress to replace another LGBT member of Congress (Tammy Baldwin) and the first non-incumbent in a same-sex marriage elected to Congress.[1][4][6][37]
Kyrsten SinemaDemocraticArizonaJan 3, 2013Jan 3, 20196 years, 0 daysSinema was the first openly bisexual member of Congress.[4][6][38]
Mark TakanoDemocraticCaliforniaJan 3, 2013Incumbent11 years, 168 daysTakano is openly gay and the first openly LGBT person of color (specifically Asian American) elected to Congress.[1][6]
Angie CraigDemocraticMinnesotaJan 3, 2019Incumbent5 years, 168 daysCraig is openly lesbian and the first non-incumbent LGBT parent elected to Congress.[1][39]
Sharice DavidsDemocraticKansasJan 3, 2019Incumbent5 years, 168 daysDavids is openly lesbian and the first openly LGBT woman of color (specifically Native American) elected to Congress.[1][40]
Katie HillDemocraticCaliforniaJan 3, 2019Nov 1, 2019302 daysHill is openly bisexual.[41]
Chris PappasDemocraticNew HampshireJan 3, 2019Incumbent5 years, 168 daysPappas is openly gay.[1][42]
Mondaire JonesDemocraticNew YorkJan 3, 2021Jan 3, 20232 years, 0 daysAlong with Ritchie Torres, Jones was the first openly gay African American elected to Congress.[1][43]
Ritchie TorresDemocraticNew YorkJan 3, 2021Incumbent3 years, 168 daysAlong with Mondaire Jones, Torres was the first openly gay African American elected to Congress,[43] and the first openly gay Hispanic member of Congress.[1]
Becca BalintDemocraticVermontJan 3, 2023Incumbent1 year, 168 daysBalint is openly lesbian.[44]
Robert GarciaDemocraticCaliforniaJan 3, 2023Incumbent1 year, 168 daysGarcia is openly gay.[45]
George SantosRepublicanNew YorkJan 3, 2023Dec 1, 2023332 daysSantos is openly gay[46] and the first openly LGBT non-incumbent Republican elected to Congress[b]
Eric SorensenDemocraticIllinoisJan 3, 2023Incumbent1 year, 168 daysSorensen is openly gay.[48]

Shadow representatives

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Further information: Shadow congressperson
RepresentativePartyJurisdictionTermNotes
StartEndLength of service
Sabrina SojournerDemocraticDistrict of ColumbiaJan 3, 1997Jan 3, 19992 years, 0 daysSojourner came out as lesbian in 1976.[49][50]

Histograph of openly-serving LGBT members of Congress

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StartingTotalGraphEvent
March 4, 17890  
October 3, 19801
 Robert Bauman outed
January 3, 19810
 Robert Bauman lost reelection
February 4, 19811
 Jon Hinson outed
April 13, 19810
 Jon Hinson resigned
July 14, 19831
 Gerry Studds comes out
May 29, 19872
 Barney Frank comes out
March 24, 19943
 Steve Gunderson outed
August 1, 19964
 Jim Kolbe comes out
January 3, 19972
 Gerry Studds and Steve Gunderson retired
January 3, 19993
 Tammy Baldwin elected to the House
January 3, 20072
 Jim Kolbe retired
January 3, 20093
 Jared Polis elected
January 3, 20114
 David Cicilline elected
January 3, 20117
 Tammy Baldwin moved from House to Senate; Sean Patrick Maloney, Mark Pocan, Kyrsten Sinema, and Mark Takano elected; Barney Frank retired
November 4, 20138
 Mike Michaud comes out
January 3, 20157
 Mike Michaud retired
January 3, 201910
 Kyrsten Sinema moved from House to Senate; Angie Craig, Sharice Davids, Katie Hill, and Chris Pappas elected; Jared Polis retired
November 1, 20199
 Katie Hill resigned
January 3, 202111
 Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres elected
January 3, 202313
 Becca Balint, Robert Garcia, George Santos, and Eric Sorensen elected; Mondaire Jones lost renomination; Sean Patrick Maloney lost reelection
June 1, 202312
 David Cicilline resigned
October 4, 202313
 Laphonza Butler appointed
December 1, 202312
 George Santos expelled

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ From the start of the 118th Congress until the resignation of Rep. David Cicilline (D–CT) on Jun. 1, 2023, and again from the appointment of Sen. Laphonza Butler (D–CA) on Oct. 4, 2023, until the expulsion of Rep. George Santos (R–NY) on Dec. 1, 2023, there were 13 total LGBT members of Congress.
  2. ^ Incidentally, this also marked the first election in which both major party candidates (Santos and Democrat Rob Zimmerman) were openly LGBT[47]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Flores, Andrew; Gossett, Charles; Magni, Gabriele; Reynolds, Andrew (November 30, 2020). "11 openly LGBTQ lawmakers will take their seats in the next Congress. That's a record in both numbers and diversity". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  2. ^ LeBlanc, Paul. "Rep. Katie Hill announces resignation amid allegations of improper relationships with staffers". CNN. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Wofford, Harris (April 23, 2016). "Finding love again, this time with a man". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2016. Too often, our society seeks to label people by pinning them on the wall – straight, gay or in between. I don't categorize myself based on the gender of those I love. I had a half-century of marriage with a wonderful woman, and now am lucky for a second time to have found happiness.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Illsley, C. L. (May 31, 2019). "Openly LGBT Members Of Congress". WorldAtlas. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  5. ^ a b O'Brien, Brendan (October 19, 2012). "Wisconsin's Baldwin becomes first openly gay senator". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Olugbemiga, Ayobami (February 4, 2014). "Capitol Hill: The 7 Openly Gay and Lesbian Members of Congress". DC Inno. Business Journals. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Vagianos, Alanna (January 3, 2019). "Kyrsten Sinema Makes History As First Openly Bisexual Person Sworn In To Senate". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  8. ^ Reston, Maeve; Pager, Tyler (October 1, 2023). "Newsom taps Emily's List leader to fill Feinstein's Senate seat". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  9. ^ Hubler, Shawn (October 1, 2023). "Newsom Names Emily's List President as Feinstein Successor". The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Flegenheimer, Matt; Goldensohn, Rosa (May 7, 2022). "The Secrets Ed Koch Carried". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  11. ^ "AIDS Makes Another Chilling Advance, Claiming the Life of a Congressman". People. May 25, 1987. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  12. ^ Houston, Paul (May 8, 1987). "Connecticut's McKinney, GOP Liberal, Dies of AIDS". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  13. ^ Kimmey, Samantha (December 20, 2012). "Rep. Barney Frank Comments on Scalia, Prostitution, Marijuana and More". The Raw Story. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  14. ^ "Congressman Killed by AIDS Led Secret Life, Gay Man Claims". Bangor Daily News. Associated Press. August 23, 1989. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  15. ^ May, Clifford D. (May 9, 1987). "Friends Say McKinney Had Homosexual Sex". The New York Times. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  16. ^ Bartgis, Rachel (June 10, 2021). Kratz, Jessie (ed.). "LGBTQ+ History Month: Barbara Jordan". Pieces of History. U.S. National Archives. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021.
  17. ^ Henderson, Kali. "Barbara Jordan | LGBT African Americans (2014) by Kali Henderson and Dionn McDonald". OutHistory.org. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Housecleaning". Time. July 25, 1983. Archived from the original on November 3, 2006.
  19. ^ Bauman, Robert (August 1986). The Gentleman from Maryland: The Conscience of a Gay Conservative. Arbor House. pp. 1–3. ISBN 978-0877956860.
  20. ^ Kelly, Jacques (April 5, 2008). "Whatever happened to . . . Robert E. Bauman?". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "Jon Hinson, 53, Congressman and Then Gay-Rights Advocate". New York Times. July 26, 1995. p. 19. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  22. ^ O'Keefe, Ed (December 3, 2012). "When Barney Frank announced he was 'coming out of the room' (er... the closet)". The Washington Post.
  23. ^ "DC's Most Influential Gay Couple Calls It Quits". Tuscaloosa News. July 3, 1998. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  24. ^ Bergling, Tim (May 11, 2004). "Closeted in the capital: they're powerful, Republican, and gay. Will the marriage battle finally get them to come out to their bosses?". The Advocate. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
  25. ^ Bierbauer, Charles (November 28, 1997). "Gunderson Leaves 'Increasingly Polarized' House". CNN. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  26. ^ Dunlap, David W. (August 3, 1996). "A Republican Congressman Discloses He Is a Homosexual". New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
  27. ^ Campbell, Julia (August 1, 2000). "Openly Gay Congressman Addresses Convention". ABC News.
  28. ^ Eaklor, Vicki Lynn (2008). Queer America: a GLBT history of the 20th century. ABC-CLIO. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-313-33749-9.
  29. ^ King, Ryan James (May 22, 2006). "Michael Huffington: The long-awaited Advocate interview". The Advocate. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  30. ^ "Foley lawyer makes statement". CNN. October 2, 2006. Retrieved October 4, 2006.
  31. ^ Cousins, Christopher (November 5, 2013). "Michaud: 'I haven't changed. I'm Mike.'". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  32. ^ Michaud, Mike (November 4, 2013). "Rep. Michaud's op-ed column: Yes, I'm gay. Now let's get our state back on track". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  33. ^ Parkinson, John (September 30, 2011). "House Democrat Jared Polis Becomes First Openly Gay Parent in Congress". ABC News. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  34. ^ Anderson, James; Slevin, Colleen (January 9, 2019). "Colorado's Jared Polis Makes History as Gay Governor". Associated Press. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  35. ^ Coleman, Justin (March 5, 2020). "Former GOP Rep. Aaron Schock comes out as gay". The Hill. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  36. ^ "New York's First Openly Gay Congressman Marries Longtime Partner". NewYorkCityNews.net. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  37. ^ Craver, Jack (May 11, 2013). "Mark Pocan's husband finally recognized as congressional 'spouse'". Capital Times. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  38. ^ Fitzsimons, Tom (November 3, 2018). "Kyrsten Sinema makes history as first bisexual member of U.S. Senate". NBC News. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  39. ^ "Minnesota Democrat Angie Craig, a former health care executive, is the first lesbian mother to be elected to Congress". WJCT. Retrieved January 19, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  40. ^ Sopelsa, Brooke; Fitzsimons, Tim (November 7, 2018). "Sharice Davids, a lesbian Native American, makes political history in Kansas". NBC News. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  41. ^ North, Anna (October 28, 2019). "Revenge porn, biphobia, and alleged relationships with staffers: The complicated story around Rep. Katie Hill, explained". Vox. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  42. ^ Verhovek, John (November 3, 2018). "New Hampshire could elect its first openly gay congressman". ABC News. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  43. ^ a b Avery, Dan (November 6, 2020). "Mondaire Jones joins Ritchie Torres as first gay Black men elected to Congress". NBC News. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  44. ^ Rathke, Lisa (November 8, 2022). "Becca Balint becomes Vermont's 1st woman elected to Congress". PBS News Hour.
  45. ^ Fox11 Digital Team (November 8, 2022). "Robert Garcia makes history as first LGBTQ immigrant to serve in Congress". KTTV.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  46. ^ "In a political first, two gay candidates face off in congressional election". NBC News. September 22, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  47. ^ Moreau, Julie (September 22, 2022). "In a political first, two gay candidates face off in congressional election". nbcnews.com. NBC. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  48. ^ Denham, Ryan; Johnson, Brady; Shelley, Tim (November 9, 2022). "Eric Sorensen declares victory in 17th Congressional District". WGLT.
  49. ^ Hamilton, Martha. "Washingtonpost.com: Retirement". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  50. ^ Yeager, Kenneth S. (2019). Trailblazers : profiles of America's gay and lesbian elected officials. Routledge. ISBN 9781317712305. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
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