#Pride: How are LGBT politicians cracking the glass ceiling?

Correction, 29/06/2018: An earlier version of this story said that Elio Di Rupo was the current prime minister of Belgium. This was incorrect. The prime minister of Belgium is Charles Michel. 

 

Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Luxemburg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Belgium’s former prime minister, Elio Di Rupo, and Iceland’s former prime minister, Johanna Siguroardottir, all come from different places but belong to the same club. Each of them was elected while openly gay.

LGBT politicians are slowly stepping out of the shadows and reaching their nation’s highest offices, something unfathomable until very recently. In 2017, 33 LGBT representatives were elected to the British parliament. And there are over 400 LGBT candidates running for office in this year’s midterm elections in the United States. 

This episode unpacks what it takes to be out and in the public eye. What impact does it have on all of us when influential people confidently and openly let the world know they are part of the LGBTQ community?

 

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:

 

Bisi Alimi, @bisialimi

Executive Director, Bisi Alimi Foundation

 

Sunil Pant, @BDS_nepal

First openly gay elected representative in Asia

 

Leslie Herod, @leslieherod

US State of Colorado Representative

 

Tamara Adrian, @TamaraAdrian

Member, Venezuela National Assembly

Read more:  

The LGBT political glass ceiling is cracking wide open – Quartz 
Openly Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender leaders around the world – U.S. News and World Report 

What do you think? Record a video comment or leave your thoughts in the comments below.