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Connecticut Lawmaker Comes Out
From the
Web, February 20, 2008
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Danbury, Connecticut --
Connecticut state Rep. Jason Bartlett has become the country's first openly gay
African American state legislator.
The Danbury Democrat ended widespread speculation about his sexuality during an
interview with the Danbury News Times.
"For me the decision came down to why not now," Bartlett told the paper.
"To me this is about having a conversation with my larger family -- the people
of Greater Danbury who voted for me."
The 41-year old Bartlett was first elected to office two years ago.
"I've always considered my life private," he said. "But at the same time
we are also living in a digital age and I'm in the public eye. People are
always interested in you and your family."
Bartlett has owned and operated his own mortgage company for the past 13 years
and has raised two sons, now adult men. Most recently he co-chaired the
Hillary Clinton Connecticut Steering Committee.
In an interview with the National Black Justice Coalition following his
announcement to the News Times Bartlett discussed coming out to his family.
"I remember coming home one day and asking both my parents to sit down and talk
with me. I told them I was gay. Then I changed it to bisexual.
Then I changed it back to gay," he told NBJC, the nation's largest organization
for LGBT African Americans.
"It was a difficult talk because I didn't want to disappoint them. They
were both very supportive. When I told my dad it was going to be in the
paper the other day, he said, 'I love you. I've never cared what side of
the fence you played on.'"
NBJC also asked which he identifies with more heavily: African American, gay or
both equally.
"I do not give weigh more heavily to one aspect of my being than another.
We are all complex composites of many different things. I have been
politically more active on issues that affect the African American community and
volunteered my time to support a number of black candidates for office.
"Going forward, I will give voice to issues that affect either constituency.
What folks have to realize is that as an African American I represent a district
that is 96% white."
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