10 Openly LGBTQ-Identifying People Sworn into Congress, Making History

Political history was made today as 10 openly LGBTQ-identifying politicians were sworn into the 116th U.S. Congress.

Thursday, Jan. 3, two LGBTQ+ people were sworn into the U.S. Senate and the other eight were sworn into the U.S. House. This is the most LGBTQ people to have ever served in either chamber. The previous record was held by the last Congress with seven LGBTQ people serving – one in the Senate and six in the House.

Half of the 10 LGBTQ members will now be women and two are people of color, up from just two LGBTQ women and one person of color. Five of the members are new to their positions.

“A historic number of LGBTQ people will serve in the new U.S. Congress and their influence will shape the debate on equality legislation and issues moving forward,” LGBTQ Victory Institute President Annise Parker said. “In the U.S. Senate, those opposed to the Equality Act will now need to look two openly LGBTQ Senators in the eyes and tell them their lives are not worth protecting. In the U.S. House, Speaker Pelosi will have eight LGBTQ Representatives to consult about how various healthcare or criminal justice reform policies uniquely affect our community. The relationships these LGBTQ lawmakers will build with their colleagues on Capitol Hill are transformative, and with an unprecedented number of women and people of color also joining the 116^th Congress, equality issues will finally receive the attention they deserve.”

Katie Hill (CA-25) won a position in the House. By winning, Hill became the first openly LGBTQ women elected to the U.S. House from California and just the second openly bisexual person ever elected to Congress. She defeated anti-LGBTQ incumbent U.S. Representative Steve Knight, who opposes marriage equality and supported legislation to allow discrimination against LGBTQ federal employees.

“Katie ran a fierce campaign and told it like it is – calling out the sexism and anti-LGBTQ sentiment that too often pervades our politics and policies,” Parker said. “Katie’s authenticity resonated with voters, who chose an out bisexual woman over an incumbent who attacked the LGBTQ community to enflame extremist voters who thrive on division. But tonight it is clear that hate is no longer a viable political strategy in any corner of California and that voters demand a values-driven agenda focused on solutions. Katie will join a historic number of LGBTQ women in the U.S. Congress next year and together these women will transform the conversation in Washington, DC.”

See below for a complete list of the other LGBTQ members of Congress recently sworn in below.