Kathy Kozachenko

In January 1974, Kathy Kozachenko's successful bid for a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan city council made her the first openly gay or lesbian American to run successfully for political office.

Kozachenko ran on the ticket of the local, progressive Human Rights Party (HRP), which had already succeeded in winning two Ann Arbor council seats in 1972.

Kozachenko's HRP predecessor in the Second Ward council seat, Nancy Wechsler, had come out as a lesbian during her first and only term on city council, thus becoming the first openly lesbian public-office holder in the United States. However, Wechsler did not win office as an open lesbian; thus, Kozachenko was the first openly gay or lesbian candidate to win public office in the United States.