Author:

Abstract

How have openly lesbian and gay politicians feared in German and Finnish politics from the 1980s to the present day? The article follows anecdotally the careers of individual lesbian and gay political actors in two countries with either a mixed system of constituency voting and list voting, or an open list with multi-member districts by using newspaper and journal articles as its sources. The findings of the article challenge pervious understandings about the natural connection between lesbian and gay politicians, movements and voters, as well as the most advantageous timing and ways for coming out. Whereas in both countries politician’s known homosexuality has transformed from a devastating problem to a potential benefit, the article also highlights the decisive role of gender in building successful political careers as an openly homosexual politician in high-level politics, and suggests to the enduringly gendered and sexualized constructedness of politics.

Keywords: out politicians, homosexuality, gay, lesbian, Finland, Germany