Watch: Kate Brown’s Historic Inauguration As Governor

Kate Brown becomes nation’s first openly bisexual governor. Watch her being sworn in, promising to “restore public’s trust.”

Earlier today Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown became Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Not lost among the nation is the fact that she replaces a governor, Democrat John Kitzhaber, who resigned in disgrace amid an influence peddling investigation that includes his fiancée.

“Governor Kitzhaber dedicated most of his life to serving the people of Oregon,” Brown said in her inauguration speech (video below.) “His contributions to our state are well woven into the fabric of our public life. But now, we must restore the public’s trust.”

“It’s been a tough few months,” Brown added. “The people of Oregon have had reason to question their trust in state government. Oregon has been in the national news for all the wrong reasons.”

“That changes starting today. It’s time for use to get back to work. It’s time to move Oregon forward,” she insisted.

Brown is 54 and married to her husband Dan. In the video of her inauguration below, she referred to her husband as her “rock.”

Not lost on the nation is the fact that Brown becomes the country’s first openly bisexual governor. That is an important milestone for the LGBT community, especially the bisexual community, which suffers from invisibility, and long-debunked claims that bisexuality is just a way of easing into coming out as gay or lesbian. 

The AP reports today that Brown’s “sexuality has never been a prominent issue in Oregon, where Portland recently had an openly gay mayor in Sam Adams and where the current speaker of the House, Tina Kotek, is a lesbian. News accounts have long said Brown is married but considers herself bisexual, without saying more.”

Brown’s inauguration will help heal the state of Oregon, but also the bisexual community, and especially bisexual youth, who see far too few role models as they grow. While many Americans believe the LGBT community no longer suffers discrimination, and even some in the LGBT community claim “it doesn’t matter” that a public figure, like Brown, is bisexual, children around the world need the support and reassurance a bisexual role model brings.

We are a nation of firsts. Few complained when Barack Obama was lauded as the nation’s first Black president – why should the nation’s first bisexual governor receive no mention?

The media certainly is not immune to Brown’s sexuality. Some headlines:

Kate Brown becomes country’s first bisexual governor

Kate Brown sworn in as nation’s first openly bisexual governor

Oregon’s Kate Brown becomes first openly bisexual governor in nation

Oregon’s Kate Brown sworn-in as America’s first openly bisexual governor

Governor Kate Brown’s bisexuality draws national commentary

And via Twitter:

 

 

Image via YouTube