List of LGBTQ politicians in the United States explained

This is an alphabetical list of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender politicians who have held office in the United States. Historical figures are included only if there is documented evidence of an open queer identity.

Most openly LGBT politicians in the U.S. are part of the Democratic Party, which has taken a more favorable stance than Republicans towards LGBT rights.[1] [2]

Federal

Executive

Notes
Roberta Achtenberg
Democratic19931995Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
(1993-1995)
Commissioner, United States Commission on Civil Rights
(2011-2016)		First openly lesbian or gay public official requiring United States Senate confirmation[3]
20112016
Christine Abizaid
2021IncumbentDirector of the National Counterterrorism Center
(2021–present)		First female and first openly gay director of the National Counterterrorism Center.[4] [5]
John Berry
Democratic20002016Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
(2000-2005)
Director of the National Zoological Park
(2005-2009)
Director of the Office of Personnel Management
(2009-2013)
United States Ambassador to Australia
(2013-2016)		First out head of a federal agency[6]
Randy W. Berry
2015IncumbentUnited States Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons
(2015–2017)
United States Ambassador to Nepal
(2018–2022)
United States Ambassador to Namibia
(2023–present)		First United States Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons.[7] [8]
Pete Buttigieg
Democratic2021IncumbentSecretary of Transportation
(2021–present)		First openly gay Cabinet Secretary[9]
Eric Fanning
Democratic20132017United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
(2013-2015)
Chief of Staff to Secretary of Defense
(2015; 2015–2016)
United States Secretary of the Army
(2016-2017)		First openly LGBT Secretary of the Army[10]
Richard Grenell
Republican20182020Ambassador to Germany
(2018–2020)
Director of National Intelligence
(2020) 		First openly gay member of the United States Cabinet, albeit in an acting capacity[11]
James Hormel
Democratic19992001Ambassador to Luxembourg
(1999-2001)		First openly LGBT ambassador for the United States[12]

Legislative

State

Executive

Notes

Democratic2023IncumbentDeputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities
(2023–present)		[13]

Democratic20152023Oregon Secretary of State
(2009–2015)
Governor of Oregon
(2015–2023)		First openly bisexual person to be elected secretary of state in American history and Oregon's first out LGBT constitutional officer. Succeeded to the governor's office upon the resignation of John Kitzhaber (D); subsequently elected in her own right in 2016. Brown is thus the first openly LGBT person to be elected governor in the U.S.[14]

Nonpartisan[15] Guam2018IncumbentPublic Auditor of Guam
(2018–present)		Previously served as an Associate Justice and later Chief Justice of the Guam Supreme Court

Democratic19932001Vermont Auditor of Accounts
(1993-2001)		First openly gay state auditor to be elected in American history[16] [17]

Democratic2015IncumbentMassachusetts Attorney General
(2015–2023)
Governor of Massachusetts
(2023–present)		First out Attorney General elected at state level[18]
First out Governor of Massachusetts[19]

Nonpartisan20012021California State Auditor
(2001–2021)
First woman and first out lesbian appointed California state auditor; longest-serving state auditor in California's history[20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

Democratic20062011Member of Hawaii Board of Education
(2006-2011)		First openly transgender person to win a statewide office[25]

Democratic2023IncumbentGovernor of Oregon
(2023–)		First LGBT person to succeed another LGBT person (Kate Brown) as Governor.

Democratic2019IncumbentCalifornia Insurance Commissioner
(2019–present)		First out state Insurance Commissioner[26]

Democratic2023IncumbentArizona Attorney General
(2023–present)		First out Attorney General of Arizona[27]

Democratic19972005Maine State Treasurer
(1997-2005)		First openly LGBT state treasurer (elected by state legislature) and Maine's first openly LGBT Constitutional officer[28] Possibly first out legislator for Maine

Democratic20022004Governor of New Jersey
(2002–2004)		Came out in the same speech as his resignation
First openly gay governor[29]

Democratic19941995Secretary of State of California
(1994-1995)		First openly LGBT Secretary of State[30]

Democratic2019IncumbentMichigan Attorney General
(2019–present)		First out Attorney General of Michigan
First openly LGBT person elected to statewide office in Michigan[31]

Democratic2019IncumbentGovernor of Colorado
(2019–present)		First openly gay man to be elected governor in the U.S.[32]
Democratic Guam2019IncumbentLieutenant Governor of Guam
(2019–present)		First openly LGBT lieutenant governor[33]

Democratic2023IncumbentSecretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs
(2023–present)		[34]

Legislative

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Notes

DemocraticMontana House of Representatives (2017–present)[35]

DemocraticMaryland House of Delegates
(2019–present)		[36]

DemocraticCalifornia State Assembly
(2024–present)		[37]

Notes and References

  1. News: Phillips . Amber . Analysis How out of step is the Republican Party on gay rights? . 29 December 2020 . . 15 June 2020.
  2. News: Lerer . Lisa . Russonello . Giovanni . Paz . Isabella Grullón . On L.G.B.T.Q. Rights, a Gulf Between Trump and Many Republican Voters . 29 December 2020 . . 17 June 2020.
  3. Book: Gerstner, David A. . Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture . . 2006 . 9780415306515 . Forde . John . 2–3 . en.
  4. News: Barnes . Julian E. . 2021-06-09 . A Senate committee questioned Christine Abizaid, Biden's nominee for a top counterterrorism post. . 2022-12-07 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  5. Web site: Gazis . Olivia . June 5, 2024 . U.S counterterrorism chief Christy Abizaid to step down after 3 years on the job - CBS News . www.cbsnews.com.
  6. News: Rein . Lisa . 2012-09-18 . John Berry, head of OPM and openly gay, helps Obama reach out to gay community . en-US . Washington Post . 2022-07-21 . 0190-8286.
  7. News: America's new LGBT envoy . POLITICO . March 9, 2017.
  8. News: Dorell . Oren . April 26, 2015 . Exclusive: First diplomat for LGBT rights speaks out . USA Today . January 26, 2016.
  9. Web site: Cathey . Libby . February 2, 2021 . Pete Buttigieg makes history as 1st openly gay Cabinet member confirmed by Senate . . March 26, 2021.
  10. Web site: Tan . Michelle . 2015-09-18 . President nominates first openly gay Army secretary . 2022-07-21 . Army Times . en.
  11. Web site: Trump Names Richard Grenell as Acting Head of Intelligence. Julian E.. Barnes. Maggie. Haberman. The New York Times. February 19, 2020. March 26, 2021.
  12. Book: Smith . Raymond A. . Gay and Lesbian Americans and Political Participation: A Reference Handbook . Haider-Markel . Donald P. . ABC-Clio . 2002 . 1-57607-256-8 . Santa Barbara, California.
  13. News: Belcastro . Lisa . Supreme Court ruling 'monumental' for LGBTQ teachers . June 28, 2023 . The Baltimore Sun . June 24, 2020 . When asked about my partner, I always answer honestly or correct the record by sharing that I have a wife..
  14. Web site: Domonoske . Camila . November 9, 2016 . For First Time, Openly LGBT Governor Elected: Oregon's Kate Brown . NPR . en-US . March 10, 2020.
  15. By law, the post of public auditor is strictly nonpartisan. No candidate for the office may declare a partisan affiliation, and if previously affiliated with a political party a candidate must renounce their membership. Moreover, no candidate for the office of public auditor may seek the endorsement of or receive financial or material support from a political party. Any violation of these requirements invalidates the candidacy of the affected individual for public auditor. See Web site: § 1903., Guam Code Annotated. Guam Compiler of Laws. December 6, 2022.
  16. Book: Handbook of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Administration and Policy . Marcel Dekker . 2004 . Swan . Wallace . 100.
  17. Web site: 1996 - Explore a Year in LGBT History . Pride & Progress . en . 2022-07-26.
  18. Web site: Johnson . Akilah . November 12, 2014 . Maura Healey setting her course as attorney general . Boston Globe . en-US . September 5, 2022.
  19. Web site: Maura Healey is first woman and first out gay person elected Massachusetts governor . The Guardian . en-GB . November 9, 2022 . November 9, 2022.
  20. Web site: Capitol Gains for Gay Pols. Jenifer Warren. Los Angeles Times. December 10, 2001. August 22, 2024.
  21. Web site: California’s longest serving auditor pulled no punches. Who will replace her?. Melody Gutierrez. Los Angeles Times. January 4, 2022. August 22, 2024.
  22. Web site: Elaine Howle. Ballotpedia. August 22, 2024.
  23. Web site: Person of the Year: Elaine M. Howle. Ryan Holeywell. Governing Magazine. December 2012. August 22, 2024.
  24. Web site: Will California’s auditor remain independent?. Dan Walters. CalMatters. October 27, 2021. August 22, 2024.
  25. Web site: 2015-03-25 . Hawaiian Becomes Highest-Elected Transgender Official . 2022-07-22 . Associated Press . en-US.
  26. Web site: Ocamb . Karen . November 17, 2018 . Ricardo Lara wins Insurance Commissioner race! . Los Angeles Blade . en-US . September 5, 2022.
  27. Web site: Kavaler. Tara. December 29, 2022. 'Thankful': New Arizona Attorney General Mayes responds after recount affirms win. The Arizona Republic.
  28. Web site: December 1, 2010 . University of Maine at Augusta » Dale McCormick . University of Maine . en-US . July 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101201113544/http://uma.edu/mwhof-dmccormick.html . 1 December 2010 . dead.
  29. News: New Jersey governor quits, comes out as gay . CNN . August 13, 2004 . March 12, 2020.
  30. Web site: 1999-10-11 . California Journal: Veteran Lawmaker, acting secretary voe to replace March Fong Eu . 2022-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/19991011083816/http://calvoter.org/archive/94general/cand/state/journal.html . 11 October 1999 . dead.
  31. Web site: Biolchini . Amy . November 7, 2018 . Democrat Dana Nessel wins Michigan attorney general seat . Michigan Live . en-US . November 9, 2022.
  32. News: Smith . David . April 5, 2019 . What it's like being America's first openly gay governor . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . March 10, 2020.
  33. Web site: . Leon Guerrero, Tenorio join Pride March . The Guam Daily Post . June 5, 2018 . en . July 21, 2022.
  34. News: Gaskill . Hannah . Maryland Gov.-elect Wes Moore's cabinet nominations include Bronze Star veteran once kicked out of Army for being openly gay . June 28, 2023 . The Baltimore Sun . January 12, 2023.
  35. Web site: GOP lawmaker's comment on gays questioned; she says it's out of context . November 19, 2021 . KTVH . Mike . Dennison.
  36. News: Wellemeyer . James . Gabriel Acevero makes history in Md. General Assembly . June 25, 2022 . . February 25, 2019.
  37. News:

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