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==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
One of six siblings, Fox is the son of an Irish-American father, a jewelry polisher, and a [[Cape Verde]]an mother, who worked as a maid and later at a golf ball factory.<ref name=ap>{{citation|url=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/05/18/us/AP-US-Gay-Lawmakers-Quandary.html|title=Gay RI House Speaker Takes Heat for Marriage Vote|work=[[The Associated Press]]|date=May 18, 2011}}</ref> The family lived for a time in a Providence apartment with a view of the statehouse. Fox considers himself mixed race.<ref name="projo">{{cite news |date=2007-09-03 |title=How to come out as a gay politician |periodical=[[Providence Journal]] |accessdate=2007-10-20 |url=http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/shenews/archives/2007/09/post_382.html}}</ref>
One of six siblings, Fox is the son of an Irish-American father, a jewelry polisher, and a [[Cape Verde]]an mother, who worked as a maid and later at a golf ball factory.<ref name=ap>{{citation|url=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/05/18/us/AP-US-Gay-Lawmakers-Quandary.html|title=Gay RI House Speaker Takes Heat for Marriage Vote|work=[[The Associated Press]]|date=May 18, 2011}}</ref> The family lived for a time in a Providence apartment with a view of the Statehouse. Fox considers himself mixed race.<ref name="projo">{{cite news |date=2007-09-03 |title=How to come out as a gay politician |periodical=[[Providence Journal]] |accessdate=2007-10-20 |url=http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/shenews/archives/2007/09/post_382.html}}</ref>


Fox attended [[Providence College]] but had to drop out after a year when his father died. He continued his studies at [[Rhode Island College]], where he earned a degree in history and political science.<ref name=ap /> He then graduated from [[Northeastern University|Northeastern Law School]] in Boston, paying his way by working at a Carvel ice cream shop.<ref name="high">{{cite news |date=2007-05-09 |title=How high can Gordon Fox go? |periodical=Providence Phoenix |accessdate=2007-10-20 |url=http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid39662.aspx}}</ref> He became an attorney.
Fox attended [[Providence College]] but had to drop out after a year when his father died. He continued his studies at [[Rhode Island College]], where he earned a degree in history and political science.<ref name=ap /> He then graduated from [[Northeastern University|Northeastern Law School]] in Boston, paying his way by working at a Carvel ice cream shop.<ref name="high">{{cite news |date=2007-05-09 |title=How high can Gordon Fox go? |periodical=Providence Phoenix |accessdate=2007-10-20 |url=http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid39662.aspx}}</ref> He became an attorney.

Revision as of 03:19, 19 May 2013

Gordon D. Fox
222nd Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Assumed office
February 11, 2010
Preceded byWilliam J. Murphy
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
from the 4th district
Assumed office
January 5, 1993
Preceded byK. Nicholas Tsiongas
Personal details
Born (1961-12-21) December 21, 1961 (age 62)
Political partyDemocratic
Domestic partnerMarcus LaFond
ResidenceProvidence, Rhode Island
Alma materProvidence College,
Rhode Island College,
Northeastern University
ProfessionAttorney

Gordon D. Fox (born 1961) is an American politician from Providence, Rhode Island and the Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. A Democrat, he was first elected to the legislature in 1992 and was elected speaker on February 11, 2010.[1]

Early life and career

One of six siblings, Fox is the son of an Irish-American father, a jewelry polisher, and a Cape Verdean mother, who worked as a maid and later at a golf ball factory.[2] The family lived for a time in a Providence apartment with a view of the Statehouse. Fox considers himself mixed race.[3]

Fox attended Providence College but had to drop out after a year when his father died. He continued his studies at Rhode Island College, where he earned a degree in history and political science.[2] He then graduated from Northeastern Law School in Boston, paying his way by working at a Carvel ice cream shop.[4] He became an attorney.

In the legislature

Fox represents the 4th district, which includes parts of the East Side of Providence, namely the Mount Hope, Summit and Blackstone neighborhoods. Fox was first elected a state representative in November 1992 and served for a time as chairman of the House Finance Committee. He was elected Majority Leader in late 2002 and served until February 2010, when he ascended to the speakership.[5]

Election as Speaker

As soon as William J. Murphy, first elected speaker in 2002, indicated his intention to retire from the speakership, Fox expressed interest in the position.[4] In October 2009, Murphy endorsed Fox in the race to succeed him.[6] Fox faced several more conservative opponents and, in the election held on February 11, 2010, won 51 of the 75 votes.[1] He became the 222nd House Speaker since the Rhode Island legislature's establishment in colonial times.[7]

Personal

Fox came out publicly in 2004 and is in a long-term relationship with Marcus LaFond. He is one of four openly gay members of the Rhode Island General Assembly, alongside Sen. Donna Nesselbush (D–Pawtucket) and Reps. Frank Ferri (D–Warwick) and Deb Ruggiero (D–Jamestown).

He is the first openly gay house speaker in the United States, although Assemblyman John Pérez (D–Los Angeles) was elected to the speakership of the California State Assembly several weeks before Fox. Pérez, however, was not sworn in as speaker until March 1, 2010, whereas Fox took office almost three weeks earlier on February 11.

References

  1. ^ a b "Gordon Fox elected first openly gay RI House speaker". Associated Press. Boston Herald. February 11, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Gay RI House Speaker Takes Heat for Marriage Vote", The Associated Press, May 18, 2011
  3. ^ "How to come out as a gay politician". Providence Journal. 2007-09-03. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  4. ^ a b "How high can Gordon Fox go?". Providence Phoenix. 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  5. ^ "Biography, Rep. Gordon D. Fox". Rhode Island House of Representatives. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  6. ^ "Murphy set to retire as R.I. House speaker". Providence Journal. 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  7. ^ "Update: Fox elected R.I. Speaker of the House". Providence Journal. 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2010-02-12.

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