Kyrsten Sinema

Kyrsten Sinema (born July 12, 1976) is an American politician and the U.S. Representative from Arizona's 9th congressional district, first elected in 2012. A member of the Democratic Party, prior to being elected she served in both chambers of the Arizona legislature, being elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2005, and the Arizona Senate in 2011.

Sinema has worked for the adoption of the DREAM Act and has campaigned against Propositions 107 and 102, two voter referendums to ban the recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Arizona. Initially noted for her "liberal record," she has since moved towards the center and "carved a more bipartisan path."

She is the first openly bisexual person elected to the U.S. Congress. Although some sources have reported her to be an atheist, she does not identify as one, preferring instead to eschew religious labels altogether.

Early life, education, early career

Sinema was born in Tucson, Arizona, in 1976. Her parents divorced when she was a child. When her stepfather lost his job, the family lived for two years in an abandoned gas station with no running water or electricity.