Who was Jim Kolbe? Former Republican state representative from Arizona passed away at age of 80

Jim Kolbe, a Republican representative who advocated for gay rights and served a district in Arizona with many Democrats for more than two decades, has died. He was 80. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey stated in a statement that Kolbe died on Saturday. Flags will be down until sunset on Sunday, according to Ducey.

Before being elected to the House in 1984, Kolbe served in the Arizona legislature until 1982. He frequently differed from other House Republicans because he advocated free trade and a foreign worker program for foreigners.

He hesitantly came out as homosexual in 1996 after discovering that a major media was about to expose him for voting against federal recognition of same-gender marriage.


In his inaugural speech to a national meeting of gay and lesbian Republicans in 1997, he also stated that he did not want to be the face of the LGBT rights movement. He remarked that being homosexual was not and still is not his distinguishing characteristic.

What has his partner said?

Kolbe married his partner, Hector Alfonso. The Arizona Daily Star cited Alfonso stating Saturday that Kolbe belongs to numerous people. Kolbe, he added, dedicated his life to his hometown. He adored Tucson and Arizona.

Some may have criticized Kolbe's political judgments, but "no one could doubt his sincerity or his affection for Arizona," according to Alfonso.

FAQs:

1. How did Kolbe get involved in politics?
   Kolbe began his political career as a page in DC for the deceased U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater when he was 15 years old. Later, he worked on the circuit that controls the page program.
2. Kolbe served in the Senate for how long?
   Kolbe was elected to the Arizona State Senate in 1976 and served until 1982.