Andorran Prime Minister Xavier Espot Zamora. (photo: Andorran government)Prime Minister Xavier Espot Zamora of Andorra came out as gay in an interview with his country’s public broadcaster yesterday.
“I’m gay. I’ve never hid it,” Zamora shared during an interview with Radio and Television of Andorra, on Monday.
“Now, if I’m not asked, I don’t have to say it, in the sense that it doesn’t define the entirety of who I am and even less my personal politics. But at the same time, I think it shouldn’t be a problem to express it.”
“And if this helps many children, young people or teenagers who are going through a difficult time see that in the end, regardless of their condition or sexual orientation, you can prosper in this country and reach the highest magistracy, then I am happy to express it.”
In 2022, Andorra (located between France and Spain in the Pyrenees) became the 33rd country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage rights.
Espot, who has been prime minister since 2019, is one of a very few heads of state who are openly LGBTQ.
He joins fellow out prime ministers Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg, Ana Brnabić of Serbia, and Leo Varadkar of Ireland, as well as Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkēvičs, who took office in July.
In 2009, Iceland’s Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became the world’s first openly LGBTQ head of government.
Andorran prime minister comes out as gay https://t.co/leAZh8jKC3
— Washington Blade (@WashBlade) September 12, 2023