William P. Fitzpatrick

William P. Fitzpatrick
Member of the Rhode Island Senate
from the 11th district
In office
January 1993 – January 1997
Preceded by David H. Sholes
Succeeded by Elizabeth H. Roberts
Personal details
Political party Democratic
Residence Hayward, California

William P. Fitzpatrick is an American politician from Rhode Island. A Democrat, he served from 1993 to 1997 in the Rhode Island Senate.

A computer programmer by trade, Fitzpatrick ran for the Rhode Island Senate from the 11th district in 1992, comprising parts of Cranston. He defeated seven-term incumbent David H. Sholes in the Democratic primary election held on September 15, 1992 and went on to win the general election. A resident of Edgewood, he served two terms, holding office from January 1993 until January 1997. He was not a candidate for re-election to a third term in November 1996 and was succeeded by Elizabeth H. Roberts, who went on to be elected Lieutenant Governor.[1]

Fitzpatrick is gay; he confirmed his sexuality to the media just weeks after his election in November 1992.[2] He was the first ever openly gay member of the Rhode Island Legislature.[3][4] Since Fitzpatrick came out in 1992, seven additional openly gay legislators have held office, all but one serving in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Four of them hold office currently: Speaker Gordon D. Fox (D–Providence), Rep. Deb Ruggiero (D–Jamestown), Rep. Frank Ferri (D–Warwick) and Sen. Donna Nesselbush (D–Pawtucket). The three former members are Mike Pisaturo (D–Cranston), Nancy Hetherington (D–Cranston) and David Cicilline (D–Providence), who came out publicly during his time as a state representative and was subsequently elected to the mayoralty of Providence and to the U.S. House of Representatives.

References

  1. ↑ Providence Journal: Sen. Fitzpatrick's attendance sags: The lawmaker, away in Texas on personal business, says he won't be back until next Monday.
  2. ↑ Providence Journal: Senator-elect says he's a homosexual: District 11's Will Fitzpatrick says he's never made it a secret
  3. ↑ New York Times: David W. Dunlap, "Rhode Island is moving to protect homosexuals," April 3, 1995, accessed December 8, 2010
  4. ↑ New York Times: David W. Dunlap, "Rhode Island's Senate Sends Gay-Rights Bill to Governor," May 20, 1995, accessed December 8, 2010
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