Toni Gayle Atkins is an American politician who served as the 51st president pro tempore of the California State Senate from 2018 to 2024. A member of the Democratic Party,she previously served as the 69th speaker of the California State Assembly from 2014 to 2016 and the California State Assembly majority leader from 2012 to 2014. She represented the 39th State Senate district from 2016 to 2024,encompassing most of San Diego.
Kenneth David Cheuvront is a Democratic politician. From 2003 to 2011 he served as Arizona state senator for District 15,which centers on Phoenix. In 2018 he was elected justice of the peace in central Phoenix. He is also owner of Cheuvront Construction Inc and Cheuvront Wine Bar.
Al McAffrey is an American politician from Oklahoma who served in the Oklahoma Senate,representing District 46. He has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives,representing District 88. McAffrey unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives in 2014.
Thomas K. Duane is an American politician from New York,who served in the New York State Senate from 1999 to 2012,and in the New York City Council from 1992 to 1998.
Robert Meza is an American politician from Phoenix,Arizona who served as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from District 30 from 2019 to 2023. He previously served in the Arizona State Senate from 2011 to 2019,and also served four prior terms in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011.
David E. Clarenbach is a Wisconsin Democratic politician and gay activist who served nine terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly and as Speaker pro tempore for ten years.
Harry B. Bronson is an attorney and politician from Rochester,New York who serves as a member of the New York State Assembly. A former member of the Monroe County legislature,he was elected to the Assembly in 2010. He is a Democrat.
Bryce Bennett is an American politician from Montana. As a Democrat,he served in the Montana Senate from 2019 to 2021,and represented the 50th senate district based in Missoula. He previously served in the Montana House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,transgender,and queer (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of North Dakota may face some legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBTQ residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in North Dakota,and same-sex couples and families headed by same-sex couples are eligible for all of the protections available to opposite-sex married couples;same-sex marriage has been legal since June 2015 as a result of Obergefell v. Hodges. State statutes do not address discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity;however,the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County established that employment discrimination against LGBTQ people is illegal under federal law.
Kelly Cassidy is an American politician from Chicago. She is a Democrat and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. She was appointed to represent the 14th district,on Chicago's North Side,in April 2011 following incumbent Harry Osterman's election to the Chicago City Council. She took office on May 16,2011. Most notably Kelly Cassidy was the chief sponsor of House Bill 1438,making Illinois the first state to legalize the Adult-Use of Cannabis through legislature as opposed to a ballot measure.
Angie Buhl O'Donnell is an American politician from Sioux Falls,South Dakota. A member of the Democratic Party,she served in the South Dakota Senate from 2011 to 2017,where she represented the Minnehaha County-based 15th district. She was the first openly LGBT member of the South Dakota Legislature.
The state of North Dakota has improved in its treatment of lesbian,gay,bisexual and transgender residents in the late 1990s and into the 21st Century,when the LGBT community began to openly establish events,organizations and outlets for fellow LGBT residents and allies,and increase in political and community awareness.
The following is a timeline of lesbian,gay,bisexual,transgender and queer (LGBTQ) history in the 21st century.
Claire Cory is an American politician serving as a member of the North Dakota Senate from the 42nd district. She assumed office on December 2,2024,succeeding Curt Kreun. Cory previously served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives for District 42 from 2019 to 2024.
The "rainbow wave" was a phrase coined in 2018 to describe the unparalleled number of openly LGBTQ+ candidates running for political office in the United States that year. The rainbow wave began during the 2018 U.S. midterm elections when over 400 LGBTQ+ candidates ran for office and a record-breaking 244 were elected.
