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Jim Kolbe
(June 28, 1942 - living) U.S.A.

Jim Kolbe

Republican congressman

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Born in Evanston, Illinois. Kolbe is the only openly gay Republican serving in Congress. He represents Arizona's fifth district and sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee. Kolbe's political career began when he served as a page for Sen. Barry Goldwater.

He then attended Northwestern University and received an MBA from Stanford. He served in Vietnam and also was a commissioned officer in the Navy, from which he retired in 1977. Seven years later he was elected to Congress for the first time.

He came out publicly in 1996 and has since been a strong advocate within the Republican party for gay rights, including co-sponsoring with Democrat Tammy Baldwin the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Kolbe was named Tucson's Man of the Year in 1997. He was re-elected in 2000.

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