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Bisexual Awareness Week: Four Bi Politicians You Should Know
Happy #BiWeek from Gender on the Ballot! Each year, GLAAD, Bisexual Resource Center and Still Bisexual bring more awareness to the bisexual+ community. It takes place between September 16- 23, all leading up to Bisexuality+ Day on September 23, 2023. In recognition of that, we’d like to highlight four openly bisexual politicians, expanding representation for this often-overlooked segment of the LGBTQ+ community.
Source: Benham for PA/Facebook
Jessica Benham made history when she was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2020. When she assumed office in January 2021, Benham became the first openly bisexual woman and autistic person to be elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Currently, Benham is one of the only openly autistic state lawmakers in the country.
Source: Anthony Pidgeon/Redferns/NBC News
Kate Brown, former Governor of Oregon, originally became governor of the state after the resignation of John Kitzhaber. In 2016, she became the first openly bisexual person elected as governor in the U.S, and the second woman ever elected governor of Oregon. Prior to that, Ms. Brown became the first openly bisexual person elected secretary of state in the U.S.
Source: CA Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
Sworn into office in 2020 at the age of 25, Alex Lee made history by becoming the California Assembly’s youngest member and the first openly bisexual member.
Source: Rick Scuteri / AP/ ABC News
Kyrsten Sinema first made history in 2012 when she became the first openly bisexual and second LGBTQ+ woman elected to Congress. She then became the first openly bisexual woman elected to the Senate in 2018. Sinema is also the first woman elected to the Senate from Arizona, and the only religiously unaffiliated member of Congress.
To learn more and understand how you can show your support for #BiWeek, visit GLAAD’s guide, and for more information about LGBTQ representation in politics, check out the LGBTQ Victory Institute’s recent research!