In my role at LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, I track the more than 1,300 out LGBTQ+ people who hold elected office in the U.S. Only 56 are Asian-American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. As we reflect on our rich heritage this month, we also must acknowledge the long road ahead as we seek equitable representation in government positions.
AANHPI contributions to this country have too often been overlooked, which is why it’s so important to continue celebrating this special month despite the forces seeking to shut it down.
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At LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, where we train and support LGBTQ+ leaders to represent the queer community in government, it’s my privilege to work with inspiring leaders across the country who are our fiercest champions in their hometowns. While too few of these LGBTQ+ leaders are Asian-American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, we can be proud of those who continue to pave the way for increased visibility and representation in these politically tumultuous times.
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I invite you to learn more about six incredible LGBTQ+ AANHPI elected leaders that I hope will inspire you to consider how you, too, can serve your local community in the fight for equality.
Benjamin Cruz (D), Auditor General of Guam
It’s hard to think of an office that gay trailblazer Benjamin Cruz hasn’t held. His public service career began in the 1980s with his appointment to Guam’s Superior Court, which was controversial among the island’s conservatives. By 1997, the controversy had subsided, and he was elevated to the Guam Supreme Court with little fanfare. Cruz served on the Supreme Court until 2001, including two years as chief justice. He was elected to the Guam legislature in 2004 and served as the speaker in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, he was elected territory-wide as Guam’s public auditor.
Janani Ramachandran (D), Oakland City Council Member
As the youngest member of Oakland’s City Council, Janani Ramachandran represents the future of progressive leadership in California. As the District 4 Councilmember, Ramachandran is focused on improving public safety, expanding green space, and tackling the housing shortage. She made history with her decisive election victory in 2022, becoming the first South Asian and first out LGBTQ+ woman of color elected to the Oakland Council.
Mark Takano (D), U.S. Representative, California
A longtime educator, Mark Takano made history in 2012 with his election to Congress, becoming the first out gay Asian American elected to the House. A Japanese-American, Takano often speaks about his family’s internment during World War II to warn of the dangers when xenophobia and racism are the official policy of the U.S. In Congress, he’s the top Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee and is the chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, leading the fight for LGBTQ+ equality on Capitol Hill.
Kim Coco Iwamoto (D), Hawaii State Representative
Attorney and advocate Kim Coco Iwamoto has been one of Hawaii’s most visible trans leaders for decades and currently serves in the state House. A Japanese-American, Iwamoto’s family was placed in internment camps during World War II. After law school, Iwamoto worked for various causes before running for Hawaii’s Board of Education in 2006. Her historic victory made her the highest-ranking trans official in the country and the first transgender candidate to win a statewide election.
In 2012, Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) appointed her to the state’s Human Rights Commission, where she served for four years. Last year, Iwamoto unseated the speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives, making history again as the first out transgender legislator in Hawaii.
Sam Park (D), Georgia State Representative
In the 2016 elections, Korean-American lawyer and healthcare advocate Sam Park flipped a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives and became the first Asian-American Democrat and first out gay man elected to the state legislature. In the state House, Park is a leading voice fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and healthcare, and he serves as the minority whip for the House Democrats. As a legislator, he has sponsored civil rights bills as well as the measure to expand Medicaid access in Georgia.
Ysabel Jurado (D), Los Angeles City Council Member
Last year, tenants’ rights advocate Ysabel Jurado unseated Los Angeles City Council Member Kevin DeLeón (D), who was embroiled in a scandal related to a racist conversation he had with fellow council members. Jurado’s victory made her the LGBTQ+ community’s lone voice in city government. On the Council, she’s working to address issues in her district, chiefly street lighting, fire preparedness, and responding to mass deportation.
Pooja Prabhakaran is the director of elected and appointed officials engagement at LGBTQ+ Victory Institute.
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