Leo Varadkar is Ireland’s new prime mister. He’s also openly gay and an immigrant’s son. - Vox

Contents:

• IRELAND'S FIRST GAY PRIME MISTER LEO VARADKAR FORMALLY ELECTED
• WHO IS LEO VARADKAR? THE INDIAN-ORIG, OPENLY GAY LEAR BACK AS IRELAND PM
• LEO VARADKAR IS IRELAND’S NEW PRIME MISTER. HE’S ALSO OPENLY GAY AND AN IMMIGRANT’S SON.
• LEO VARADKAR: IRELAND SET TO HAVE FIRST GAY PM
• LEO VARADKAR ELECTED AS IRELAND'S FIRST GAY PRIME MISTER
• IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER FORMALLY TAK OFFICE
• IRELAND ELECTS FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER, LEO VARADKAR
• LEO VARADKAR, IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER, OFFICIALLY TAK OFFICEVARADKAR SAYS HE ONCE BELIEVED BEG PRIME MISTER WAS "BEYOND MY REACH, AT LEAST IF I CHOSE TO BE MYSELF."{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY DAN AVERYJUNE 15, 2017/12:20 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}FE GAEL TD FOR DUBL WT AND MISTER FOR SOCIAL PROTECTN, LEO VARADKAR (C) ARRIV AT THE NATNAL COUNT CENTRE MANSN HOE, DUBL ON JUNE 2, 2017, AHEAD OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE VARADKAR OF THE ERNG CENTRE-RIGHT FE GAEL PARTY IS SET TO BEE IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER AFTER WNG A PARTY LEARSHIP ELECTN ON FRIDAY, FE GAEL SAID ON TWTER. / AFP PHOTO / PLO NUN DOS SANTOS (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ PAULO NUNES DOS SANTOS/AFP/GETTY IMAG)BY DAN AVERYJUNE 15, 2017 / 12:20 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"LEO VARADKAR, IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER, OFFICIALLY TAK OFFICE","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-06-15T16:20:07.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-06-15T16:20:07.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","KEYWORDS":"TERNATNAL","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IRISH PRIME MISTER LEO VARADKAR WAS SWORN TO OFFICE ON WEDNDAY, BEG THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PERSON TO LEAD THE LARGELY CATHOLIC UNTRY, AS WELL AS THE YOUNGT AND THE FIRST OF INDIAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}VARADKAR, 38, TAK THE RES OF THE ERNG FE GAEL PARTY, SUCCEEDG ENDA KENNY, WHO HELPED HER MARRIAGE EQUALY IRELAND 2015. "ENDA KENNY'S LEARSHIP ENABLED ME TO BEE AN EQUAL CIZEN MY OWN UNTRY TWO SHORT YEARS AGO," SAID VARADKER, "AND TO ASPIRE TO HOLD THIS OFFICE, AN ASPIRATN I ONCE THOUGHT WAS BEYOND MY REACH, AT LEAST IF I CHOSE TO BE MYSELF."PAUL FAITH/AFP/GETTY IMAGLEO VARADKAR WAV TO LLEAGU AS HE LEAV THE PARLIAMENT DUBL AFTER BEG NFIRMED AS TAOISEACH ON JUNE 14, 2017. LEO VARADKAR PROMISED A "REPUBLIC OF OPPORTUNY" WEDNDAY AFTER HE BEME IRELAND'S YOUNGT PRIME MISTER AND THE FIRST WHO IS OPENLY GAY. THE 38-YEAR-OLD, WHO WON THE LEARSHIP OF THE LG CENTRE-RIGHT FE GAEL PARTY EARLIER THIS MONTH, WAS FORMALLY NFIRMED AS TAOISEACH BY PARLIAMENT. / AFP PHOTO / PL FAITH (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ PAUL FAITH/AFP/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE IS THE FOURTH OPENLY GAY HEAD OF ERNMENT MORN EUROPEAN HISTORY, FOLLOWG ICELAND’S JóHANNA SIGURDARDOTTIR, BELGIUM’S EL DI RUPO, AND LUXEMBOURG’S XAVIER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“WHAT DO MEAN IS THAT GAY AND LBIAN PEOPLE ARE NOW SEEN AS CREDIBLY ORDARY,” SAID ANDREW HYLAND, DIRECTOR OF IRELAND’S MARRIAGE EQUALY MPAIGN. “AS FAR AS I N SEE, HASN’T BEEN AN ISSUE AT ALL THE LEARSHIP NTT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE FORMER HEALTH MISTER IS SCRIBED AS FISLLY NSERVATIVE, LOOKG TO STRENGTHEN IRELAND'S TI TO THE EU EVEN AS THE UK PREPAR FOR BREX. HE'S PLEDGED TO VT MORE ASTCTURE AND SLE BACK PLANS FOR BT RCTN PUT FORTH BY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT REMAS TO BE SEEN IF HIS PARTNER, DOCTOR MATTHEW BARRETT, WILL SERVE A PUBLIC ROLE. WHILE IRELAND HAS AN CREASGLY DIVERSE POPULATN AND EUROPE'S FASTT-GROWG ENOMY, 'S STILL EMERGG OM A NSERVATIVE MDSET: HOMOSEXUALY WAS ONLY CRIMALIZED 1993, AND DIVORCE TWO YEARS LATER. (ABORTN IS STILL ILLEGAL THE UNTRY OF 4.6 LN.)LEO VARADKAR/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THE ERNMENT I LEAD WILL NOT BE ONE OF LEFT OR RIGHT," ASSURED VARADKAR. "THE ERNMENT I LEAD WILL BE ONE OF THE NEW EUROPEAN CENTER AS WE SEEK TO BUILD A REPUBLIC OF OPPORTUNY, THAT IS A REPUBLIC WHICH EVERY CIZEN GETS A FAIR GO AND WHICH EVERY PART OF THE UNTRY STANDS TO SHARE OUR PROSPERY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 2015, VARADKAR SAID HIS SEXUALY, LIKE HIS ETHNICY, "IS NOT SOMETHG THAT F ME."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• LATVIA BE 7TH NATN TO BE LED BY AN OPENLY GAY HEAD OF STATE
• LEO VARADKAR, SON OF AN INDIAN IMMIGRANT, TO BE IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER
• VARADKAR BE IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER

IRELAND'S FIRST GAY PRIME MISTER LEO VARADKAR FORMALLY ELECTED

The son of an Indian immigrant has ma Irish history by beg the untry’s youngt and first openly gay prime Varadkar, 38, was formally elected taoiseach at a nfirmatn ceremony the Dáil Dubl after he won the Fe Gael party learship earlier this month. Leo Varadkar, (born January 18, 1979, Dubl, Ireland), Irish polician who beme lear of the Fe Gael party and Ireland’s first openly gay taoiseach (prime mister) June 2017.

The tensely private Varadkar ma headl January 2015 when durg an appearance on Irish natnal rad (RTÉ) he announced that he was gay:.

I’m not a half-Indian polician, or a doctor polician or a gay polician for that matter.

WHO IS LEO VARADKAR? THE INDIAN-ORIG, OPENLY GAY LEAR BACK AS IRELAND PM

Varadkar explaed to listeners, the procs beg the untry’s first openly gay ernment mister. The announcement me some four months before Irish voters approved legalizatn of same-sex marriage a natnal referendum, but had been only jt over two s sce homosexualy had been crimalized Ireland. When his nomatn was approved the Dáil by a vote of 57 to 50 (wh 45 abstentns) on June 14, Varadkar, at age 38, beme the youngt taoiseach Ireland’s history as well as s first openly gay taoiseach and the first to be a member of an ethnic mory.

LEO VARADKAR IS IRELAND’S NEW PRIME MISTER. HE’S ALSO OPENLY GAY AND AN IMMIGRANT’S SON.

Leo Varadkar, an openly gay Indian-orig polician, beme the Prime Mister of Ireland on Saturday. Leo Varadkar, who was born 1979, beme the first openly gay Taoiseach June 2017. In 2017, when he beme the Irish Prime Mister for the first time, Varadkar created history by beg the first openly gay man to hold the office of Taoiseach.

"I am not a half-Indian polician or a doctor polician or a gay polician for that matter. What mak Varadkar's elevatn remarkable is that an openly gay polician has now occupied the top post of Ireland, a untry domated by stnch Catholic valu, not once, but twice.

Ireland jt elected s youngt and first openly gay prime mister.

LEO VARADKAR: IRELAND SET TO HAVE FIRST GAY PM

At one pot, was the most socially nservative untry Europe — for example, only crimalized homosexual activy 1993. Leo Varadkar, one of the hight-rankg openly gay elected officials the world, has offered his rignatn as Ireland's prime mister, although he will ntue as a "retaker" until a new ernment is party, Fe Gael, had failed to w a majory parliamentary electns Febary 8, and no other party did eher, leadg to "polil adlock" Ireland, CNN reports.

LEO VARADKAR ELECTED AS IRELAND'S FIRST GAY PRIME MISTER

When he beme prime mister 2017, he was not only the natn's first gay prime mister but s youngt one -- he was then 38 -- and the first one om an ethnic mory group; his father is Indian and his mother is Irish. He and his partner, Matthew Barrett, met wh notor homophobe Mike Pence 2019, and on the same vis he gave a speech at the Naval Observatory praisg diversy.

Leo Varadkar ma history 2017, beg Ireland's youngt prime mister and s first gay son of an Indian doctor and an Irish nurse, he and Rishi Sunak share siar herage and siar polics. Aoife Moore, polil rrponnt for the Sunday Tim Ireland, said: "Leo Varadkar is the first gay Taoiseach we've ever had and the first mory Taoiseach we've ever had, Rishi Sunak the first mory prime mister... Image source, RtersImage ptn, At 38, Leo Varadkar is set to bee Ireland's youngt ever prime misterLeo Varadkar is set to bee the Republic of Ireland's next taoiseach (prime mister) after wng the learship of the Fe Gael 38-year-old will bee the first gay taoiseach and will also be the untry's youngt ever Varadkar beat his rival, Hog Mister Simon Coveney, wh 60% of the vot to lead Fe Gael - the biggt party the aln will succeed Enda Kenny as lear of the centre-right party wh Varadkar is to ntact Mr Coveney to discs what posn he will hold ernment and the future of the is also expected to hold talks wh Fe Gael's partners ernment and wh Fianna Fáil next source, PAImage ptn, Leo Varadkar waved to supporters as he accepted the Fe Gael learship DublThe former GP is the son of an Irish nurse and a doctor om India and much of the media verage of his victory has foced on Mr Varadkar's background, age and former first mister of Northern Ireland, DUP lear Arlene Foster, has spoken on the phone to ngratulate Mr Varadkar.

IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER FORMALLY TAK OFFICE

"Mr Varadkar also paid tribute to Mr Kenny for passg on a party and untry " a much better place than he found " learship was cid an electoral llege system that gave 65% of the vote to the Fe Gael parliamentary party - ma up of 73 TDs (members of the Irish assembly), senators and party's 21, 000 rank-and-file members had 25% of the vote, and 235 lol reprentativ had ptn, Mr Varadkar said he wants to build a 'republic of opportuny'Mr Varadkar, who me out as gay the n up to the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum, has been charge of the welfare has e to personify the liberalisatn of a untry which was once regard as one of Europe's most socially nservative natns - homosexualy was illegal until 1993.

DUBLIN (Rters) - Leo Varadkar was elected Irish Prime Mister on Wednday, makg the 38-year-old son of an Indian immigrant the first gay premier of the once-stnchly Catholic untry and the youngt person to hold the Varadkar is ngratulated by lleagu as he leav Government buildgs after beg elected by parliamentary vote as the next Prime Mister of Ireland (Taoiseach) to replace Enda Kenny Dubl, Ireland June 14, 2017. “Enda Kenny’s learship enabled me to bee an equal cizen my own untry two short years ago and to aspire to hold this office, an aspiratn I once thought was beyond my reach, at least if I chose to be myself, ” Varadkar said reference to Ireland’s 2015 vote to legalize gay marriage. 6 ln people that only crimalized homosexualy 1993 and legalized divorce two years later.

IRELAND ELECTS FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER, LEO VARADKAR

He also beme the first openly gay man elected to lead the Republic of Ireland, where homosexualy was illegal until jt 24 years ago.

DUBLIN — Leo Varadkar was elected Irish Prime Mister on Wednday, makg the 38-year-old son of an Indian immigrant the once-stnchly Catholic untry's first gay premier and the youngt person to hold the office.

"Enda Kenny's learship enabled me to bee an equal cizen my own untry two short years ago and to aspire to hold this office, an aspiratn I once thought was beyond my reach, at least if I chose to be myself, " Varadkar said reference to Ireland's 2015 vote to legalize gay marriage. Irish Prime Mister Leo Varadkar was sworn to office on Wednday, beg the first openly gay person to lead the largely Catholic untry, as well as the youngt and the first of Indian scent. "He is the fourth openly gay head of ernment morn European history, followg Iceland’s Jóhanna Sigurdardottir, Belgium’s El Di Rupo, and Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel.

LEO VARADKAR, IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER, OFFICIALLY TAK OFFICEVARADKAR SAYS HE ONCE BELIEVED BEG PRIME MISTER WAS "BEYOND MY REACH, AT LEAST IF I CHOSE TO BE MYSELF."{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY DAN AVERYJUNE 15, 2017/12:20 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}FE GAEL TD FOR DUBL WT AND MISTER FOR SOCIAL PROTECTN, LEO VARADKAR (C) ARRIV AT THE NATNAL COUNT CENTRE MANSN HOE, DUBL ON JUNE 2, 2017, AHEAD OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE VARADKAR OF THE ERNG CENTRE-RIGHT FE GAEL PARTY IS SET TO BEE IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER AFTER WNG A PARTY LEARSHIP ELECTN ON FRIDAY, FE GAEL SAID ON TWTER. / AFP PHOTO / PLO NUN DOS SANTOS (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ PAULO NUNES DOS SANTOS/AFP/GETTY IMAG)BY DAN AVERYJUNE 15, 2017 / 12:20 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"LEO VARADKAR, IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER, OFFICIALLY TAK OFFICE","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-06-15T16:20:07.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-06-15T16:20:07.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","KEYWORDS":"TERNATNAL","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IRISH PRIME MISTER LEO VARADKAR WAS SWORN TO OFFICE ON WEDNDAY, BEG THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PERSON TO LEAD THE LARGELY CATHOLIC UNTRY, AS WELL AS THE YOUNGT AND THE FIRST OF INDIAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}VARADKAR, 38, TAK THE RES OF THE ERNG FE GAEL PARTY, SUCCEEDG ENDA KENNY, WHO HELPED HER MARRIAGE EQUALY IRELAND 2015. "ENDA KENNY'S LEARSHIP ENABLED ME TO BEE AN EQUAL CIZEN MY OWN UNTRY TWO SHORT YEARS AGO," SAID VARADKER, "AND TO ASPIRE TO HOLD THIS OFFICE, AN ASPIRATN I ONCE THOUGHT WAS BEYOND MY REACH, AT LEAST IF I CHOSE TO BE MYSELF."PAUL FAITH/AFP/GETTY IMAGLEO VARADKAR WAV TO LLEAGU AS HE LEAV THE PARLIAMENT DUBL AFTER BEG NFIRMED AS TAOISEACH ON JUNE 14, 2017. LEO VARADKAR PROMISED A "REPUBLIC OF OPPORTUNY" WEDNDAY AFTER HE BEME IRELAND'S YOUNGT PRIME MISTER AND THE FIRST WHO IS OPENLY GAY. THE 38-YEAR-OLD, WHO WON THE LEARSHIP OF THE LG CENTRE-RIGHT FE GAEL PARTY EARLIER THIS MONTH, WAS FORMALLY NFIRMED AS TAOISEACH BY PARLIAMENT. / AFP PHOTO / PL FAITH (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ PAUL FAITH/AFP/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE IS THE FOURTH OPENLY GAY HEAD OF ERNMENT MORN EUROPEAN HISTORY, FOLLOWG ICELAND’S JóHANNA SIGURDARDOTTIR, BELGIUM’S EL DI RUPO, AND LUXEMBOURG’S XAVIER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“WHAT DO MEAN IS THAT GAY AND LBIAN PEOPLE ARE NOW SEEN AS CREDIBLY ORDARY,” SAID ANDREW HYLAND, DIRECTOR OF IRELAND’S MARRIAGE EQUALY MPAIGN. “AS FAR AS I N SEE, HASN’T BEEN AN ISSUE AT ALL THE LEARSHIP NTT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE FORMER HEALTH MISTER IS SCRIBED AS FISLLY NSERVATIVE, LOOKG TO STRENGTHEN IRELAND'S TI TO THE EU EVEN AS THE UK PREPAR FOR BREX. HE'S PLEDGED TO VT MORE ASTCTURE AND SLE BACK PLANS FOR BT RCTN PUT FORTH BY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT REMAS TO BE SEEN IF HIS PARTNER, DOCTOR MATTHEW BARRETT, WILL SERVE A PUBLIC ROLE. WHILE IRELAND HAS AN CREASGLY DIVERSE POPULATN AND EUROPE'S FASTT-GROWG ENOMY, 'S STILL EMERGG OM A NSERVATIVE MDSET: HOMOSEXUALY WAS ONLY CRIMALIZED 1993, AND DIVORCE TWO YEARS LATER. (ABORTN IS STILL ILLEGAL THE UNTRY OF 4.6 LN.)LEO VARADKAR/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THE ERNMENT I LEAD WILL NOT BE ONE OF LEFT OR RIGHT," ASSURED VARADKAR. "THE ERNMENT I LEAD WILL BE ONE OF THE NEW EUROPEAN CENTER AS WE SEEK TO BUILD A REPUBLIC OF OPPORTUNY, THAT IS A REPUBLIC WHICH EVERY CIZEN GETS A FAIR GO AND WHICH EVERY PART OF THE UNTRY STANDS TO SHARE OUR PROSPERY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 2015, VARADKAR SAID HIS SEXUALY, LIKE HIS ETHNICY, "IS NOT SOMETHG THAT F ME."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

“What do mean is that gay and lbian people are now seen as credibly ordary, ” said Andrew Hyland, director of Ireland’s marriage equaly mpaign. While Ireland has an creasgly diverse populatn and Europe's fastt-growg enomy, 's still emergg om a nservative mdset: Homosexualy was only crimalized 1993, and divorce two years later.

Latvia swore the first openly gay print of a Baltic natn Rkēvičs, who sce 2011 was the untry’s foreign mister, was elected by Parliament May after Print Egils Levs did not seek re-electn.

LATVIA BE 7TH NATN TO BE LED BY AN OPENLY GAY HEAD OF STATE

”Rkēvičs “proudly” announced he is gay on Twter November 2014, though the untry, a former Soviet republic, is not pecially LGBTQ-clive.

LEO VARADKAR, SON OF AN INDIAN IMMIGRANT, TO BE IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER

” He said he knew there would be “mega hysteria, ” but he end wh the hashtag “#Proudtobegay. ”He is one of jt a few openly gay heads of state the world.

VARADKAR BE IRELAND'S FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MISTER

She is thought to be the first openly gay prime mister the was an active unnist her nearly 10 years workg as a flight attendant, acrdg to the Council of Women World Lears, a work of female heads of state.

After the accatn, he said, he was chased down the street by reporters, one of whom yelled, “Yet they say you’re a homosexual! ”Xavier Bettel Prime Mister of Luxembourg (2013-prent)Luxembourg Prime Mister Xavier Bettel at a news nference Belgra, Serbia, on July Vojovic / APBettel was first elected prime mister of Luxembourg 2013, and 2018 he beme the first openly gay prime mister the world to be re-elected for a send marriage beme legal Luxembourg 2015, and the same year Bettel beme the first servg European Unn lear to marry a same-sex partner, the BBC recently cricized a Hungarian law that bans school tnal materials and TV shows for people unr 18 that are emed to promote LGBTQ ntent, Rters reported. “To be natnally blamed, to be nsired as not normal, to be nsired as a danger for young people — ’s not realizg that beg gay is not a choice, ” Bettel said, acrdg to Rters.

Gay, lbian and bisexual people n serve the ary, but transgenr people nnot.