First Gay Couple in Congress Speaks Out

Democratic Representative Jared Polis of Colorado isn't the youngest member of Congress (that title goes to Illinois' Aaron Schock), but he's breaking barriers as the first openly gay freshman congressman in the House. Polis and his partner of more than six years, Marlon Reis, have been figuring out how to navigate the conservative waters of Washington, "a place steeped in traditions, some fine, others deplorable," Reis writes. In a co-authored piece for CNN.com, Polis opens with a lighthearted tribute to one of his childhood heroes, Jackie Robinson. While Polis insists that the "gender of my spouse has little to do with the overall experience of the congressional life," Reis seems to have a different take. Though he's been bestowed a "Congressional Spouse" pin, which he wears proudly on his lapel, Reis doesn't miss the sideways glances and occasional snubs on the Hill. Once, when Reis lost his "spouse" ID, Congress issued him one with the very ambiguous status of "designee." Luckily, his original ID was recovered, and Reis promises that with his, and his partner's, position in Congress, such slights will slowly be quelled. "Each time we encounter injustice is an opportunity to be uncompromising, to prove a point, to not back down, but to pave the way."