Krysten Sinema Becomes First Out Bi Member of Congress
Krysten Sinema was declared the winner in the House race for Arizona’s 9th Congressional District on Monday.
According to the Associated Press, Sinema, who will become the first out bisexual member of Congress, won her race against Republican Vernon Parker. The Arizona Democrat will represent a new Phoenix-area district created after the 2010 Census.
The race had been too close to call for almost a week after Election Day, Nov. 6. Although Sinema held a slight lead over Parker on election night, she now leads Parker by nearly 6,000 votes, a margin the AP predicts Parker will not be able to makeup.
After Sinema is sworn in this January, she will become only the second out woman to serve in Congress, the first being Sen.-elect Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who previously served in the House.
The number of out members of Congress will reach historic levels during the 113th Congress, with a total of seven LGB lawmakers serving in the House of Representatives and the Senate. During the last Congress, four out members served in the House. Of the eight out candidates to run for Congress this election, only Massachusetts Republican Richard Tisei was defeated.
[Photo: Kysten Sinema (Courtesy of Sinema for Congress).]
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
