Elaine Noble

Elaine Noble ran for a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1974, experiencing enormous harassment on the campaign trail because of her sexual orientation. She faced bomb threats, broken windows at her campaign headquarters, the destruction of her car and even being spit on by an 85-year-old man. Nonetheless, Noble prevailed, winning with 59 percent of the vote and becoming the first out LGBTQ+ person ever elected to a state legislature in the U.S. Her dignified perseverance inspired many closeted and potential public officials to come out.