Title
Resolution to Initiate a Statue to Honor Kathy Kozachenko
Memo
The City of Ann Arbor will be celebrating the community's Bicentennial during the entire year for 2024. As part of that effort the City wants to undertake a special recognition of former City Councilmember Kathy Kozachenko, the first openly gay or lesbian candidate in the United States of America to be elected to public office.
Staff
Reviewed by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Kathy Kozachenko made history on April 2, 1974 by successfully running for elective office as the first openly gay or lesbian candidate in the United States;
Whereas, Kathy Kozachenko stood as a beacon of courage, ahead of her time, epitomizing the essence of diversity, equity, and inclusion;
Whereas, Kathy Kozachenko, then a 21-year-old University of Michigan student, ran as a member of the Human Rights Party (HRP) representing the Second Ward of the City of Ann Arbor;
Whereas, Kozachenko was preceded on City Council by fellow Human Rights Party members Jerry DeGrieck, a gay man, and Nancy Wechsler, a lesbian, who, while not out at the time of their elections in 1972, made history in their own right by becoming the first gay and lesbian elected officials to come out while serving in elected office;
Whereas, Kathy Kozachenko, a woman of Ukrainian descent, was also an activist student at the University of Michigan;
Whereas, In her 1974 victory speech, Kozachenko acknowledged her history-making election by saying, "This is the first time in the history of the U.S. that someone has run openly as a gay person and been elected to public office. Gay liberation was not a major issue in the campaign - both candidates in this ward said they supported gay rights, but 10 years ago, or even three years ago, lesbianism would have meant automatic defeat. This year we talked about rent control. We talked about the city's budget. We talked about police priorities, and we had a record of action to run on. ...
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