Gay Candidate To Join Frank & Baldwin in US House

History was made in the Democratic primary election in Colorado's 2nd Congressional Districton Tuesday, where Jared Polis, an openly gay candidate, is nearly certain to became the first openly gay man to win an election for the House of Representatives in November.  The district, being solidly Democratic, will almost assuredly be represented by Mr. Polis in the next Congress.

This historic election sends a clear signal to young LGBT people who might think twice about running for elected office.  The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) elected officials, hailed the election as a victory for democracy.

Clearly, the voters of the 2nd Congressional District elected Jared Polis because he was perceived as the best candidate, and they did not care about his sexual orientation.  Although the media is primarily picking up on Polis' sexual orientation in his victory, and reporting the historic nature of his win, it is also notable that Polis was regarded as the strong progressive candidate in the race.  None of the Democratic candidates were opposed to equality for LGBT people, but Fitz-Gerald was regarded as more of a fixture of the Democratic establishment in the 2nd District than Polis, who had previously been elected to the State Board of Education.

This win should not be surprising, actually, in a district like Colorado's 2nd, where Boulder is the largest city in the district.  Boulder, home to the University of Colorado, has long been known for its progressive, liberal politics, and its emphasis on environmental and education issues.

The impact to Virginians may seem somewhat remote.  However, it might be wise to see Polis as the young Congressman he is about to become, because Frank and Baldwin have both certainly become hallmarks of proficient Congressmen (and women).  Undoubtedly, they will foster Polis' role as another shining example of excellent representation for his district, as well as for LGBT people nationally, just as Frank and Baldwin have done.

Even here in Virginia, this is a huge win for us, and who knows, perhaps we will one day see a LGBT person elected at the federal level in Virginia.  Like Colorado, Virginia is an emerging swing state with a healthy LGBT population and undergoing similar demographic changes.  Let's keep our eyes open for such an opportunity!