Following the resignation of Governor John Kitzhaber, Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown will become the nation’s first openly bisexual governor. First elected as Oregon Secretary of State in 2008, Brown is next in line to fill the vacant position on February 18, 2015.

The list of openly LGBT governor’s is a short one, including only Brown and former Governor of New Jersey, Jim McGreevey, who publicly came out as gay while he was still in office in 2004.Brown has received national support since she publicly announced her bisexuality in 2007 while running for secretary. More important than her sexuality, says Victory Fund Interim Executive Director Denis Dison, is her ability to lead the state of Oregon. “She’s a dedicated, passionate and impressive public servant who’s ready for this challenge.”

A special election will be held in 2016 to fill the remainder of Kitzhaber’s term, which ends in 2019. Brown, a Democrat like Kitzhaber, will serve until the election. No word on whether Brown will seek to keep her newly inherited position.

The Atlantic
VictoryFund.org