in 1988; came out in December 1990. Rep. Evelyn Mantilla (D) – came out as America's first openly bisexual state official in 1997. Delaware: Sen. Karen E. Peterson (D) – came out 2013 Sen. Sarah McBride (D) – first openly transgender state senator Florida: Rep. David Richardson (D) and Rep. Joe Saunders (D) – first openly gay Florida state legislators, both elected in 2012 Georgia: Rep. Karla Drenner (female) (D) – elected 2000 Rep. Rashad Taylor (male) (D) – elected 2008, came out 2011 Rep. Sam Park (male) (D) – elected 2016 Hawaii: Rep. Joe Bertram (male) (D) – elected 2006 Rep. Georgette Jo Jordan (female) (Dem) – appointed January 2011; elected November 2012 Rep. Blake Oshiro (D) – first House majority leader, came out 2010 Idaho: Female: Rep. (later Sen.) Nicole LeFavour (D) – elected 2004 Male: Rep. John McCrostie (D) – elected 2014 Illinois: Rep. Larry McKeon (male) (D) – elected 1996 Rep. Deb Mell (female) (D) – elected 2009 Sen. Mike Simmons (male) (D) – appointed 2021 Indiana: Sen. J. D. Ford (male) (D) – elected 2018 Iowa: Male: Sen. Matt McCoy (D) – came out 2001 Female: Rep. Liz Bennett (D) – elected 2014 Norman Jesse and Dan Johnston, who were first elected to the state house in 1967, were not out during their careers in politics, but came out in retirement and revealed that they had been a couple. Kansas: Susan Ruiz (female) (D) – elected 2018 Brandon Woodard (male) (D) – elected 2018 Rep Stephanie Byers (D) – elected 2020; first openly transgender person to serve in the Kansas Legislature; first transgender Native American person elected to public office. Kentucky: Sen. Ernesto Scorsone (D) – came out 2003 Maine: Sen. Dale McCormick (D) – elected 1990 Maryland: Del. Maggie McIntosh (D) – came out 2001 Del. Richard Madaleno (D) – elected 2002 Massachusetts: Rep. Elaine Noble (D) – elected 1974 Rep. (later Sen.) Jarrett Barrios (D) – elected to House 1999, elected to Senate 2003 Rep. Althea Garrison (R) – elected 1993, first transgender person elected to a state legislature in the United States. Sen. Cheryl Jacques (D) – elected 1993 Michigan: Rep. Chris Kolb (D) – elected 2000 Rep. Noah Arbit (D) – elected 2022 Minnesota: Sen. Allan Spear (D) – elected 1972, came out December 1974 Rep. Erin Maye Quade (D) – elected in 2016, ran for lieutenant governor with Erin Murphy