Jared Polis is now officially the first gay elected governor in American history.
Polis was sworn in yesterday as the governor of Colorado, standing next to his partner Marlon Reis – Colorado’s first “first gentleman” – and their two children.
“I am very conscious of the fact that there were many brave people over the years who made it possible for someone like me to be standing here giving a speech like this,” he said in his inauguration address.
“I am grateful and forever indebted to those who came before me — who struggled for equal rights, who stepped up for public service in all its forms, who made difficult sacrifices and worked faithfully toward a brighter future for our state, our nation, and our world.”
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A quick selfie as I become Governor pic.twitter.com/Kb7vtoYurl
— Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) January 8, 2019
The @Capstone__Group had an amazing time tonight celebrating the inauguration of @GovofCO Jared Polis with clients, colleagues, and friends at the Blue Sneakers Ball! #coleg #copolitics #Coloradoforall pic.twitter.com/FUCt0CFqsc
— The Capstone Group LLC (@Capstone__Group) January 9, 2019
The sights of inauguration day for new Colorado Gov. Jared Polis #COPolitics https://t.co/ylPwcJDAOQ pic.twitter.com/ajyX3fm7Bk
— The Denver Post (@denverpost) January 9, 2019
Related: Out congressman Jared Polis’ letter to his 3 year-old daughter is everything today
The moment was celebrated by LGBTQ people.
LGBTQ activist Corky Blankenship said that he was almost cried because he was overwhelmed with happiness.
“I’ve never been happier,” he said. “It’s from one end of the spectrum to the other. From one end of the rainbow to the other.”
“This is a moment in history,” said Joschua Beres, a gay teacher who attended the inauguration. “This is Colorado getting to set an example for the entire country that someone who is gay and Jewish can be governor of a state as great as ours.”
GLAAD tweeted that the moment made history.
“This is a moment in history” @jaredpolis will make history when he's sworn in as governor of Colorado today. https://t.co/rUJkXwKGCN
— GLAAD (@glaad) January 8, 2019
LGBTQ icon Cyndi Lauper performed at the inauguration.
I am watching a monumental moment in Colorado. Gov.Elect Jared Polis is being sworn in as the first openly Gay Governor of Colorado. I am so proud to be performing at the party this evening. Here’s to a great new year! Xx
— Cyndi Lauper (@cyndilauper) January 8, 2019
Fans were excited to post pictures and video of Lauper and Polis to social media.
Cyndi Lauper, John Hickenlooper’s backside and Jared Polis. pic.twitter.com/84btcjQ9sK
— Alex Burness (@alex_burness) January 9, 2019
#Repost outboulder
🎞 https://t.co/DIy9LcBZuM
・・・#CyndiLauper at the Inaugural Ball! @cyndilauper @jaredpolis #coloradoforall #jaredpolis #firstgaygovernor #inauguralball #cyndilauper #BlueSneakerBall @AlexNolanMusic @caitlinkalafus @MattKatzbohen @weedywet @ElaineCaswell pic.twitter.com/tVMLOG6ptD— ༺✾ GᒪᗩᗪYᔕ ✾༻ (@G_L_A_D_Y_S_) January 9, 2019
In 2004, New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey became America’s first gay governor. He was outed while in office; one of his political appointees threatened to file a sexual harassment suit against McGreevey and the governor came out as “a gay American.” He said that his affair with the appointee was consensual.
In 2015, Kate Brown became the governor of Oregon when her predecessor resigned, and she won her elections in 2016 and 2018. She was America’s first bisexual governor and the first elected LGBTQ governor in the country.
Polis won on a campaign that focused on education and transportation, and his inaugural address decried “divisive politics.”
Governor Polis’ 2019 Inaugural Address
Posted by Governor Jared Polis on Tuesday, January 8, 2019
