Nevada State Senator Kelvin Atkinson
came out gay on Monday during the course of a debate on gay marriage,
making him the chamber's third openly gay member.
The Nevada Senate approved a resolution
that starts the process of repealing the state's constitutional
amendment approved by voters in 2002 that limits marriage to
heterosexual unions.
(Related: Nevada
Senate approves resolution on gay marriage.)
Atkinson, a Democrat from North Las
Vegas and a freshman Senator, previously served for a decade in the
Nevada Assembly.
“I'm 44 years old. I have a
daughter. I'm black. I'm gay. I have dealt with a lot of what
folks are talking about. And I know some of you are first time
hearing me say that. That I am a black gay male,” Atkinson told
colleagues. (The audio is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
Also openly gay are Senators David
Parks and Patrica Spearman.