ABOVE: Watermark file photo by Tomas Diniz Santos.
In its annual report, the Washington D.C.-based LGBTQ Victory Institute noted that there had been an increase of 17% in the past year of LGBTQ Americans serving as elected officials.
According to the data in the Out for America 2021 report released this past week, there are 986 known out LGBTQ elected officials in the United States.
The Victory Institute reported that total included two U.S. senators, nine U.S. representatives, two governors, 189 state legislators, 56 mayors and six statewide executives. While this is considered a large increase, LGBTQ people hold just 0.19% of elected positions in the United States, despite making up at least 5.6% of the U.S. adult population.
Americans must elect 28,116 more LGBTQ people to public office for LGBTQ people to achieve equitable representation (serving in 5.6 percent of elected positions) the report went on to note.
The report found that in the past year (between June 2020 and June 2021):
- LGBTQ elected officials of color increased by 5%, with Black LGBTQ elected officials growing at the fastest pace (a 75% increase);
- Trans women elected officials increased by 71% (from 21 to 36), yet trans men saw no increase (with just five serving nationwide);
- Queer-identified elected officials increased by 83%, faster than all other sexual orientations; and
- LGBQ cisgender women state legislators surpassed the number of GBQ cisgender men state legislators for the first time.
The report also found that:
- LGBTQ elected officials are significantly more racially and ethnically diverse than the overall elected official population, but are less diverse than the U.S. population;
- Mississippi is the only state in the nation with zero known out LGBTQ elected officials serving;
- 23 states have transgender elected officials serving and 29 states have non-cisgender elected officials;
- LGBTQ people are equitably represented among mayors of top 100 cities for the first time (with six), but are underrepresented among mayors overall and in all other public positions; and that
- 84% of LGBTQ elected officials are Democrats and just 3% are Republicans.
In an emailed statement, former Houston, Texas Mayor Annise Parker, who currently serves as the President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute reflected, “While LGBTQ elected officials are growing steadily in number, at this pace it will still take decades to come anywhere close to achieving equitable representation in government.”
Parker went on to note, “This lack of representation has enormous consequences, because LGBTQ elected officials are best positioned to defend against anti-LGBTQ legislative attacks and to change the hearts and minds of colleagues in supporting inclusive policies. A moonshot effort to increase our numbers is essential to advancing equality at every level of government – and a large part of that is showing LGBTQ people that running for office is our best bet to achieve lasting social change.”
In addition to changes in representation over the last year, the report also looks at trends since the first Out for America report was released in November 2017. In that time, LGBTQ elected officials increased by 121% (from 448 to 986) overall, and LGBTQ elected officials of color increased by 201% (from 92 to 277).
Since November 2017, there is a 296% increase in Black LGBTQ elected officials (from 23 to 91), 135% increase in Latinx LGBTQ elected officials (from 51 to 120) and a 117% increase in Asian American and Pacific Islander elected officials (from 12 to 26). Trans women increased by 800% (from four to 36) and bisexual elected officials by 787% (from eight to 71).
“LGBTQ elected officials are significantly more diverse than the overall elected official population – so their impact extends beyond LGBTQ equality alone,” said Ruben Gonzales, Executive Director of LGBTQ Victory Institute. “LGBTQ elected officials are on the frontlines in legislative efforts to end police brutality, defend voting rights and secure inclusive healthcare reform. LGBTQ people are represented in every community in America and that diversity allows for more thoughtful policy changes when we are in office.”
The Out for America report is an annual analysis of LGBTQ elected representation in government based on Victory Institute’s LGBTQ elected officials database – the largest and most comprehensive listing available. The interactive Out for America map, updated daily, displays all known LGBTQ elected officials and is available at outforamerica.org.
Read the full Out for America 2021 report here.
