Gay politicians

Which European countries own LGBTQ+ leaders?

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

As France appoints its first openly gay prime minister, where else in Europe have Queer politicians served in top roles?

By Joanna Gill

BRUSSELS, Jan 9 (Openly) - French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Teaching Minister Gabriel Attal as his fresh prime minister, the first time an openly LGBTQ+ figure has held the role.

The 34-year-old Attal, who recent polls have shown is one of the country's most widespread politicians, also becomes the youngest prime minister in French history.

Europe leads the world in the number of openly gay political leaders in office, with three current heads of government in Ireland, Serbia and Andorra.

In Latvia, President Edgars Rinkevics became the region's first openly gay top of state in 2023.

Here's what you need to grasp about Europe's current and former Gay leaders:

Iceland

Former Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became the world's first openly gay brain of government when she took office in 2009. A gay-rights advocate, her marriage to spouse Jónín

List of Openly Queer US Politicians, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. While a 2013 Gallup Poll revealed that the majority of Americans support male lover marriage, the topic is still very controversial in the United States Congress. Several politicians are openly gay, and these trail blazers are pushing male lover rights forward in the United States.

Who is the most famous U.S. politician who is openly gay? Tammy Baldwin tops our list. The Wisconsin Senator made headlines when she became the first openly same-sex attracted person to be elected to the United States Senate in January of 2013. She previously served in the House of Representatives for 14 years. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona Congresswomen, is openly bisexual.

Perhaps the most outspoken openly gay U.S. politician is Barney Frank. The Massachusetts Congressman has been in office since 1981. In 1987, he became the first U.S. politician to voluntarily come out as gay. In 2012, Frank married his longtime significant other James Ready in Boston. Other openly gay men who served in congress include Jim Kolbe, Sean Patrick Maloney, and Jared Polis.

Are you surprised by the number of openly gay U.S. politicians? Did you think there would be more or fewer senator

We’re all aware of LGBTQ+ figures like Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk or Audre Lorde. These individuals have challenged systems of oppression, making way for progress not just in terms of queer visibility, but also substantive representation and systemic change. As we celebrate Pride month, let’s explore recent examples of such icons (or icons-in-the-making) from across Europe. Get ready for your dose of contemporary queer history! 

The first openly gay person in Poland to become an elected official.

Poland may be known as EU’s least LGBTQ+ -friendly Member State, but diamonds are made under pressure. This is certainly true for Krystian Legierski, a Polish activist, entrepreneur, political figure and attorney. Born to a Polish mother and Mauritian father, Krystian was the first openly gay person in Poland to become an elected official after winning a seat at the Warsaw City Council in 2010. He founded clubs and cultural spaces in Warsaw that would become a refuge to the community, such as subsequently seal down Le Madame. Politically, Krystian advocates for the right to civil unions and is a co-founder of Fundacja Panoptykon, which opposes state surveillance. 

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5 Openly Gay Politicians You Should Know About

Here’s a list of 5 openly gay politicians from around the world you should look out for…
 
In today’s ever-changing earth, we find joy in learning about subtle, yet progressive occurrences that create society a better place to live in. With the increasing acceptance of the LGBT community, it is no longer uncommon to see members in prominent positions like Hollywood, in recording studios, and of course, in the world of politics.
 
Here are five openly gay politicians from around the world that you should know about:
 
Ana Brnabić
The 12th Prime Minister of Serbia

In June of 2017, Ana Brnabić stormed onto Serbia’s political scene as the first female and openly gay person to contain the position of Prime Minister.
 
Despite not affiliating with a political party, nor having prior hands-on experience in Serbia’s shaky political scene, the 42-year-old was appointed by the Balkan nation’s now-President Aleksandar Vučić.
 
Against all odds, Brnabić is working vigorously to alter Serbia’s image to one day join the European Union, which poses a tough challenge due to the Southeastern European compute