48 States Now Have 'Out' Gay Politicians

With the coming out of a mayor in Mississippi, 48 US states now have openly lesbian or gay public officials.

Republican Mayor Greg Davis of Southhaven, Mississippi, the state’s third-largest city, came out last month, saying:

At this point in my life and in my career, while I have tried to maintain separation between my personal and public life, it is obvious that this can no longer remain the case. While I have performed my job as mayor, in my opinion, as a very conservative, progressive individual — and still continue to be a very conservative individual — I think that it is important that I discuss the struggles I have had over the last few years when I came to the realization that I am gay.

Davis made the comments after a newspaper revealed that his expenses included a visit to an adult store catering to gay men while on a recruitment trip to Canada.

Only Alaska and South Dakota now are lacking openly gay officials or politicians.

Tiffany Muller, Vice President for Programs at the Victory Institute, said:

It’s important that people know there are LGBT people serving in public office, especially in their own communities. That doesn’t mean that LGBT issues are front and center in their work. In some cases just being open and honest about that part of our lives has great potential to deepen understanding of our community, and that makes a huge difference.

She hopes to see the ‘milestone’ of an ‘out’ official in every state reached in 2012.

The Victory Institute maintains an up-to-date database of ‘out’ LGBT officials, and in recent years elected officials in states like Kansas, South Carolina, West Virginia and North Dakota have been added. They also run training and professional development programs and have supported many candidates who’ve gone on to be elected.

In 1974 Kathy Kozachenko became the first openly lesbian American elected to public office when she won a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan city council.

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Read more: alaska, lgbt, mississippi, politicians, south dakota

Picture by Tjook

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Norma V.

10:11PM PST on Jan 15, 2012

Oh my goodness...politicians coming out of the closet and the world still hasn't ended?

January 15
send a green star

John K.

9:22PM PST on Jan 10, 2012

Gays and lesbians should try to get prostitution legalized in Massachusetts.

January 10
send a green star

Winn A.

6:04PM PST on Jan 7, 2012

Thanks for the info.

January 7
send a green star

Gina P.

4:10PM PST on Jan 7, 2012

this article should make the closeted gay politicians in Alaska and South Dakota come out. Sad if there really aren't any.

Meta R.

9:00AM PST on Jan 6, 2012

I just read on a site that the city has asked him to step down. Will anyone support him?

January 6
send a green star

Phil S.

11:06PM PST on Jan 5, 2012

Am guessing this would mean "It's Not what they put in their mouths as much as what comes out of them.."

January 5
send a green star

3:15PM PST on Jan 5, 2012

I really don't care if politicians are gay or straight - what bothers me are those politicians who deliberatley mislead the voters (irrespective of the subject); who cheat; steal; are hypocritical or simply incapable of holding office - I would fully support 'outing' this type of person!

Andrew C.

6:58AM PST on Jan 5, 2012

Seriously, I really don't care what our elected officials do with their naughty bits, and neither should anyone else.

It's a total non-issue unless the worlds problems can be @#$!ed into non-existence, and the @#$!ing requires the involvement of specific genitalia.

Doyal D.

6:18AM PST on Jan 5, 2012

Well, I reckon Alaska and South Dakota just have great big closets.

Chad A.

2:56AM PST on Jan 5, 2012

"Libertarian" Alaska belies its true closeted status. They have had social libertarians in the legislature, why can't they elect people fomr across the spectrum. As for SD, I have family there-make them proud!