Xavier Espot Zamora, the Prime Minister of Andorra, has come out as gay in a recent interview with the country’s public broadcaster.
Speaking with Radio and Television of Andorra on 11 September, the politician said: “I’m gay. I’ve never hid it.
“Now, if I’m not asked I don’t have to say it, in the sense that it doesn’t define the entirety of who I am and even less my personal politics, but at the same time I think it shouldn’t be a problem to express it.
“And if this helps many children, young people or teenagers who are going through a difficult time see that in the end, regardless of their condition or sexual orientation, you can prosper in this country and reach the highest magistracy, then I am happy to express it.”
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Espot, who has been Prime Minister since 2019, is now the country’s first openly LGBTQIA+ head of government.
He joins a small group of openly gay or lesbian heads of state, the most recent to take office being President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, in July.
In 2022, Andorra’s government approved a bill that would legalise same-sex marriage in 2023, as well as converting all civil unions into civil marriage.
The country has had full adoption rights since 2014, with sexual orientation and gender identity being protected from discrimination by law.