Bisexual Howard County Board of Education member loses reelection bid
Serving on Howard County’s Board of Education since 2016, Kirsten Coombs decided last May to come out as bisexual.
Coombs said despite not winning reelection in the June 2 primary for District 4, the community has been accepting of her. She said she does not attribute her loss to coming out.
“I think that the district in which I live is pretty progressive. And people care more about your involvement — and engagement — and intelligence,” she said. “And, it didn’t really matter being in a same-sex relationship or not. They want to know that you’re a hard worker and that you share their values.”
Coombs said being LGBTQ has given her an advantage while serving on the board.
“I think it’s made me more supportive — just in general — of all under-represented groups,” she said. Before she formally came out, she had been an active ally for LGBTQ people, she said.