First Openly Bisexual in U.S. House in Arizona

The voice of the middle and working classes, Kyrsten Sinema  (D-Az) has won a U.S. House seat in Arizona. With 47.6% of votes cast, she defeated  ex-Paradise Valley Mayor, Vernon Parker to represent Arizona’s 9th congressional district. During her campaign, she knocked Republican Parker’s position on abortion, education, and his opposition to raising taxes on the wealthy.  In the August Democratic primary for Congress in Arizona’s 9th congressional district, she placed first out of three candidates and received 42% of the vote.

Arizona Legislature

Sinema, 36 years-old, is a former member of both chambers of the Arizona legislature.  She was in office from the 15th district from January 10, 2005 to January 10, 2011.  In 2004, Sinema won the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 15th District, where she won the highest margin of votes with 37%.  She was reelected three times again, with over 30% of the vote.

She was an assistant Minority Leader for the Democratic Caucus of the Arizona House of Representatives in 2009-10.  In 2010, she defeated Republican Bob Thomas for election to the Arizona Senate. In June 2011, she announced that she was considering running for U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.  Then in January 2012, she announced her bid for Congress and gave up her seat in the Senate.

Early Career

Born in 1976, in Tucson, Arizona, of Mormon parents, Sinema received a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University.  She now identifies herself as a nontheist.  She received a masters degree in social work from Arizona State University. In 2004, she earned a Juris Doctor from Arizona State University College of Law.  She was a criminal defense lawyer after being a social worker in the Washington Elementary School District.

Sinema knows what it’s like to be poor.  She once lived in an old gas station without running water and electricity.  Recently, she earned a Ph.D. in Justice Studies.

For Women’s rights, Marriage Equality, Gay Rights, and Science Education

With her television news anchor good looks, Sinema has vowed not to take a professional pay raise until the deficit is under control.  She is opposed to high-paid lobbyists with special interests.

In 2006, she sponsored a bill urging the adoption of the DREAM Act.  Four years later, she sponsored a bill to give in-state tuition to veterans.

GLBT ISSUES SHE HAS FOUGHT FOR

In 2006, she co-chaired Arizona Together, the statewide campaign that defeated Proposition 107  that would have banned the recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Arizona.

In 2008, she led the campaign against Proposition 102, a referendum that would have banned the recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Arizona.

Awards Sinema Has Received

  • Sierra Club’s Most Valuable Player in 2005 and 2006.
  • Planned Parenthood CHOICE Award 2006.
  • Legislator of the Year Award from both the Arizona Public Health Association and the National Association of Social Workers, 2006.
  • Legislative Hero Award from the Arizona League of Conservation Voters, 2006.
  • Stonewall Democrats’ Legislator of the Year Award, 2005.
  • Time Magazine’s “40 Under 40,” 2010.
  • Center for Inquiry’s Award for the Advancement of Science and Reason in Public Policy, 2011.

Tell-All Trends

While it’s wonderful that Kyrsten has accomplished so much and has fought for gay rights, why do we have to know that she’s a bisexual?  Why does the public have to be privy to a political figure’s sex life?  What entitles us to know if a movie star is gay, a singer is out?

Real progress with gay rights will come some day when a person’s sexuality won’t even be mentioned.

 

3 thoughts on “First Openly Bisexual in U.S. House in Arizona

  • November 18, 2012 at 10:19 pm
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    Nice story! I hope it makes Michele Bachmann gag.
    To Tell-all whatever:You may be right in principle,but it’s only natural for the excluded,and/or oppressed to seek heroes in their likes!

  • November 19, 2012 at 2:09 am
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    “Real progress with gay rights will come some day when a person’s sexuality won’t even be mentioned.”

    Yes, but FIRSTS are *always* mentioned.

    Now that Kyrsten is the first openly bisexual in Congress, she’s made space for the 2nd, 3rd, etc, where it won’t be mentioned.

    Good on ya, Kyrsten! [And yes, it would be good to be on ya—I’m only (a lady-lovin’) human! ;-)]