The United States and LGBT history laud (rightfully so) Harvey Milk for breaking political barriers for the LGBT community in his successful bid for the San Francisco Board of Governors in 1977. However, the first openly gay or lesbian to successfully run for political office is Kathy Kozachenko, elected to the on the Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council in April 1974. [1] At the time, Kozachenko was a University Michigan law student and member of the Human Rights Party (HRP); wanting to bring distinction to the party, she agreed to run for office as openly gay. [2] Running on platforms that included lower fines for individuals arrested for possessing small quantities of marijuana and capping the amount of money landlords could charge for rent, rallied against her Democratic opponent, winning by 43 votes. [3] Kozachenko served one, two-year term before leaving politics to become an activist in Brooklyn, before settling in Pittsburgh with her spouse, MaryAnn Geiger. [4] Kozachenko is overlooked in the annals of LGBT history, perhaps, because being a lesbian was not part of her public/political agenda; however, her place in time and role in society, will always serve as a precursor and stepping stone to all who came after. [2]
To learn more about Kathy Kozachenko, visit:
https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/lgbt-rights-milestones-fast-facts/index.html
https://sdgln.com/causes/2014/10/23/lgbt-history-month-icon-kathy-kozachenko