Introduction:
The United States of America has a long history of political advancements which include victories for minority groups in society. The struggle of the LGBTQ+ community is one of them. The community is fighting for its rights and acceptance for decades. As a result of trials and tribulations, many LGBTQ+ activists and politicians have emerged, and some of them have made significant political advancements. However, one question frequently arises in various forums: Who was the first LGBT President? We will answer this question in detail in this blog post.
The first LGBT person to be elected to public office:
Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist, was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in the United States. He won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. Milk’s victory during a period of extreme homophobia gave the queer community a beacon of hope. However, Milk was assassinated a short 11 months after he took office by former city supervisor Dan White.
The first transgender elected official:
In 1992, Althea Garrison became one of the first transgender elected officials in the United States. Garrison won a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, becoming the first openly transgender person to serve in a US state legislature. Garrison did not disclose that she was transgender during her campaign, and this fact only came to light after her election.
The first openly lesbian senator:
In 2012, Tammy Baldwin was elected to the US Senate, becoming the first openly gay person and the first woman from Wisconsin to hold the office. Baldwin had previously served as a member of the US House of Representatives for seven terms, where she was also the first openly gay person elected to Congress.
The first transgender state health official:
In 2015, Dr. Rachel Levine became the first openly transgender person to hold a Senate-confirmed position after being appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf as his physician general. In 2017, she became the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, becoming the first openly transgender official to be appointed to a state cabinet-level position.
The first gay presidential candidate:
Pete Buttigieg made history in 2019 when he announced his candidacy for president of the United States. Buttigieg’s candidacy was a significant moment for the queer community, as he was the first openly gay presidential candidate for a major party. Buttigieg faced discrimination during his campaign but made history nonetheless. He also made a few memorable appearances in the Democratic National Convention in August 2020, where he was a key supporter of President Biden.
Conclusion:
The queer community has come a long way from being ostracized by society to having elected members in public office. Although the United States has yet to see an openly LGBTQ+ president or vice president, Harvey Milk’s election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors was a pivotal moment that paved the way for others to follow. Hopefully, the future holds out the promise of even greater strides and more acceptance of various LGBTQ+ individuals as political representatives.
