Connecticut Representative Jason Bartlett

About Jason Bartlett: Democrat Jason Bartlett is the highest ranking gay African-American politician in the United States as a Connecticut State Representative of the 2nd District—the same district in which he was raised. Bartlett was adopted at the age of two and raised in Redding, Connecticut by interracial parents.

Jason Bartlett and Politics: Bartlett has been eager to serve in the public arena since middle school, becoming president of his middle school student council, then president of his high school and president of Connecticut's State Student Council.

Bartlett ran unsuccessfully against Republican incumbents for the Connecticut State Assembly in both 2002 and 2004—finally securing a victory in the 2nd District in 2006. He now serves on the Education, Finance, Revenue and Bonding, and the Human Services Committees in the Connecticut State Legislature. Bartlett also recently co-chaired the Hillary Clinton Connecticut Steering Committee.

Jason Bartlett Comes Out: On February 19, 2008 Jason Bartlett came out in an interview with the Danbury News Times. "For me the decision came down to why not now," Bartlett told News Times. "To me this is about having a conversation with my larger family—the people of Greater Danbury who voted for me."

Jason Bartlett and Family Life: Bartlett is a single father of two sons, Sam and Kie, who both attend community college in Connecticut. He adopted the boys at age 9 and 11 after the death of their parents, Bartlett's aunt an uncle. "We have open communication and they are aware of my sexual orientation," Bartlett told the National Black Justice Coalition.

More About Jason Bartlett: To contact Jason Bartlett or to learn more about his voting record, visit his Connecticut State Assembly website.