List of openly LGBTQ sub-national leaders

Last updated

Politicians openly identifying themselves as members of the LGBTQ community have served as sub-national leaders.

Contents

Sub-national leaders

  Denotes incumbent head of sub-national government
NamePortraitEntityCountryOfficePolitical partyMandate startMandate endTerm lengthSexual orientation/
gender identity
Don Dunstan Don Dunstan 1968 crop.jpg Flag of South Australia.svg South Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Premier Labor Party 1 June 196717 April 1968321 days Bisexual
2 June 197015 February 19798 years, 258 days
Jerónimo Saavedra [a] Jeronimo Saavedra, presidente del Gobierno de Canarias, recibido en La Moncloa por Felipe Gonzalez (cropped).jpg Flag of the Canary Islands.svg Canary Islands Flag of Spain.svg Spain President Socialist Workers' Party 29 November 19824 July 19874 years, 217 days Gay [1]
11 July 19912 April 19931 year, 265 days
Gustavo Álvarez Gardeazábal Flag of Valle del Cauca.svg Valle del Cauca Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia Governor Independent 1 January 199827 July 19991 year, 207 daysGay
Elio Di Rupo Elio Di Rupo PES-Kongress 2014.jpg Flag of Wallonia.svg Wallonia Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium Minister-President Socialist Party 15 July 19994 April 2000264 daysGay [2]
6 October 200520 July 20071 year, 287 days
13 September 201915 July 20244 years, 306 days
Jan Franssen Jan Franssen (1988).jpg Flag of Zuid-Holland.svg South Holland Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands King's Commissioner People's Party for Freedom and Democracy 3 May 20001 January 201413 years, 243 daysGay [3]
Erling Lae Erling Lae.jpg Flag of Vestfold.svg Vestfold Flag of Norway.svg Norway Governor Conservative Party 1 June 201030 June 20166 years, 29 daysGay [4]
Klaus Wowereit Klaus Wowereit Berlin-Tegel 02.jpg Flag of Berlin.svg Berlin Flag of Germany.svg Germany Governing Mayor Social Democratic Party 16 June 200111 December 201413 years, 178 daysGay [5]
Ole von Beust Ole von Beust 3289c.JPG Flag of Hamburg.svg Hamburg Flag of Germany.svg Germany First Mayor Christian Democratic Union 31 October 200125 August 20108 years, 298 daysGay [6]
Jim McGreevey Jim McGreevey 2009 Exodus 7 (cropped).jpg Flag of New Jersey.svg New Jersey Flag of the United States.svg United States Governor Democratic Party 15 January 200215 November 20042 years, 305 daysGay
Nichi Vendola Nicola Vendola daticamera.jpg Flag of Apulia.svg Apulia Flag of Italy.svg Italy President Communist Refoundation Party 4 April 20051 June 201510 years, 58 daysGay [7]
Clemens Cornielje Clemens Cornielje.jpg Flag of Gelderland.svg Gelderland Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands King's CommissionerPeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy31 August 20056 February 201913 years, 159 daysGay [8]
Bernhard Pulver  [ de ]Flag of Canton of Bern.svg Bern Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Member of the Executive Council Green Party 1 June 200631 May 201811 years, 364 daysGay [9]
Lynne Brown Lynne-Brown.jpg Flag of the Western Cape Province.png Western Cape Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Premier African National Congress 25 July 20086 May 2009315 days Lesbian [10]
Allan Bell Alan Bell 2007.jpg Flag of the Isle of Man.svg Isle of Man Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Chief Minister Independent11 October 20114 October 20164 years, 359 daysGay [11]
Martin Klöti  [ de ] Martin Kloti.jpg Flag of Canton of Sankt Gallen.svg St. Gallen Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Member of the Executive Council The Liberals 1 June 201231 May 20207 years, 365 daysGay [12]
Cian O'Callaghan Cian O'Callaghan 2020.jpg Fingal Coat of Arms.png Fingal Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Mayor Labour Party 22 June 201215 June 2013358 daysGay [13]
Rosario Crocetta Rosario Crocetta2012.jpg Flag of Sicily (revised).svg Sicily Flag of Italy.svg Italy President Democratic Party 10 November 201218 November 20175 years, 8 daysGay [14]
Kathleen Wynne Hon Kathleen Wynne MPP Premier of Ontario.jpg Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Premier Liberal Party 11 February 201329 June 20185 years, 116 daysLesbian
Fintan Warfield Fintan Warfield in 2017 (cropped).jpg South Dublin Coat of Arms.png South Dublin Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Mayor Sinn Féin 6 June 201425 June 20151 year, 19 daysGay [15]
Andrew Barr AndrewBarrportrait (cropped).jpg Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg Australian Capital Territory Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Chief Minister Labor Party 11 December 2014Incumbent10 years, 258 daysGay
Kate Brown Kate Brown in 2017.jpg Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon Flag of the United States.svg United States Governor Democratic Party 18 February 20159 January 20237 years, 325 daysBisexual
Wade MacLauchlan Wade MacLauchlan in DC (cropped).jpg Flag of Prince Edward Island.svg Prince Edward Island Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Premier Liberal Party 23 February 20159 May 20194 years, 75 daysGay
Niluka Ekanayake Central Province.png Central Province Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri Lanka Governor Independent17 March 201611 April 20182 years, 25 days Trans woman
Flag of the Sabaragamuwa Province (Sri Lanka).PNG Sabaragamuwa Province Governor 12 April 201831 December 2018263 days
Arno Brok Burgemeester-brok-1366958702 (cropped).jpg Frisian flag.svg Friesland Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands King's CommissionerPeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy1 March 2017Incumbent8 years, 178 daysGay [16]
Andy Street Andy Street Mayor.jpg West Midlands Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Mayor Conservative Party 8 May 20175 May 20246 years, 363 daysGay [17]
Thierry Apothéloz  [ fr ] 2022-05-02 CAS Politiques Sociales (Table-ronde, Uni-Mail) Thierry Apotheloz (cropped2).jpg Flag of Canton of Geneva.svg Geneva Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Member of the Council of State Social Democratic Party 1 June 2018Incumbent7 years, 86 daysGay [18]
Eduardo Leite Eduardo Leite em 3 de julho de 2017.jpg Bandeira do Rio Grande do Sul.svg Rio Grande do Sul Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Governor Social Democracy Party 1 January 201931 March 20223 years, 89 daysGay
1 January 2023Incumbent2 years, 237 days
Fátima Bezerra Senadora Fatima Bezerra (Foto oficial) (cropped).jpg Bandeira do Rio Grande do Norte.svg Rio Grande do Norte Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Governor Workers' Party 1 January 2019Incumbent6 years, 237 daysLesbian
Jared Polis Jared Polis official photo.jpg Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado Flag of the United States.svg United States Governor Democratic Party 8 January 2019Incumbent6 years, 230 daysGay
Gustavo Melella Gustavo Melella.png Bandera de la Provincia de Tierra del Fuego.svg Tierra del Fuego Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina Governor FORJA Concertation Party 17 December 2019Incumbent5 years, 252 daysGay
Claudia López Hernández Claudia Lopez.png Flag of Bogota.svg Bogotá Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia Mayor Green Alliance 1 January 202031 December 20233 years, 364 daysLesbian
Ina Adema  [ nl ] Ina Adema-wikipedia.jpg North Brabant-Flag.svg North Brabant Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands King's CommissionerPeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy1 October 2020Incumbent4 years, 329 daysLesbian [19]
Bent Høie Bent Hoie 2009.jpg Flag of Rogaland.svg Rogaland Flag of Norway.svg Norway Governor Conservative Party1 November 2021Incumbent3 years, 298 daysGay [20]
Emma Murphy South Dublin Coat of Arms.png South Dublin Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Mayor Fianna Fáil 24 June 202229 June 20231 year, 5 daysLesbian [21]
Maura Healey Maura Healey, official portrait, governor (cropped).jpg Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts Flag of the United States.svg United States Governor Democratic Party 5 January 2023Incumbent2 years, 233 daysLesbian
Tina Kotek Tina Kotek (cropped).jpg Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon Flag of the United States.svg United States Governor Democratic Party9 January 2023Incumbent2 years, 229 daysLesbian
Karl Love Flag of the Isle of Wight.svg Isle of Wight Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom ChairIndependent15 May 2024Incumbent1 year, 103 daysGay [22]
  1. Publicly came out after retirement, although while being a senator.

Footnotes

Notes

  1. Ferrera, Toni (21 November 2013). "Cuando Jerónimo Saavedra visibilizó su homosexualidad a los 64 años tras la muerte de su pareja". El Diario (in Spanish). Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
  2. Slingerland, Monic (23 May 2009). "'Ik ervoer warmte en openheid'". Trouw (in Dutch).
  3. Mo, Ida Svingen (18 June 2007). "Lae hyllet i Berlin". Dagsavisen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 10 January 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  4. Witting, Volker (9 June 2021). ""Ich bin schwul - und das ist auch gut so!"". Deutsche Welle (in German).
  5. "Ole von Beust heiratet 22-jährigen Ex-Praktikanten". Welt (in German). 25 June 2013.
  6. Boni, Frederico (19 August 2019). "Nichi Vendola: "Sono un padre innamorato, al Governo incolti e irresponsabili"". Gay.it (in Italian).
  7. "Clemens Cornielje was een 'warm mens' én een kat met negen levens" (in Dutch). Arnhem. 17 March 2022.
  8. Geister, Frank (15 October 2018). ""Es geht um die Frage, wie man liebt"". Der Bund (in German).
  9. Smith, David (26 May 2014). "South Africa appoints first lesbian to cabinet". The Guardian.
  10. "Chief Minister comes out to UK newspaper". Manx Radio. 5 October 2015.
  11. Elsener, Marcel (19 December 2014). ""Bis in jeder Familie einer schwul ist"". Tagblatt (in German).
  12. "Ireland's 'first openly gay mayor' elected". The Journal. 22 June 2012.
  13. "Rosario Crocetta: "Sono gay, ma se potessi tornare indietro non lo direi più"". il Fatto Nissèno (in Italian). Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  14. "New mayor of South Dublin says he's proud to be 'an openly LGBT mayor'". The Journal. 6 June 2014.
  15. "SGP steunt burgemeester Dordrecht". Rijnmond (in Dutch). 11 January 2010.
  16. Rowe, Nathan (14 June 2022). "Andy Street didn't realise he was gay until 30 - and talks of 'intense friendship' with MP Michael Fabricant". Express & Star.
  17. Hugo, Frédéric (1 November 2013). ""J'ai décidé de ne rien cacher"". 360.ch (in French).
  18. Meijer, Remco (18 July 2021). "'Kordaat' en 'voor niemand bang': met Ina Adema heeft Brabant een stevig bestuurder, die rust moet brengen". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  19. "Bent Høie og ektemannen går fra hverandre etter 26 år". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  20. Wilson, Jade (24 June 2022). "Fianna Fáil councillor becomes first LGBTQ+ woman elected as mayor of local authority". The Irish Times.
  21. Little, Lori (26 May 2024). "New Isle of Wight Council chair Karl Love will champion inclusivity". Isle of Wight County Press.