Out lesbian sworn in as Oregon House Speaker

Tina Kotek (D-Portland) today became the first out lesbian to lead a state legislative chamber in U.S. history when she was sworn in as speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.  Former Governor Barbara Roberts, Oregon’s only female governor, presided over the swearing-in ceremony. During her first address to the House chamber, Kotek emphasized the importance of inclusion and dialogue: “As our state continues to tackle the task of economic recovery, our focus must be on the priorities that matter most to Oregonians. Oregonians are expecting us to listen well, listen to everyone, and find solutions through challenging, but productive discussions.”