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Jon Hinson First elected in 1978, this young Mississippi Congressman almost didn't make it back for a second term. It was amazing luck on his part that he was reelected in 1980. Who would ever think a guy could win in Mississippi after admitting he'd been to a gay movie house? Plus, he had been arrested at the Iwo Jima Memorial, a popular D.C. gay cruising site, and charged with creating a public nuisance. But Jon was a newlywed, and his wife stuck by him. And he especially lucked out when a third candidate jumped into the race and split the Democratic vote. Jon slipped back into office with only 39% of the vote. But old habits die hard. Just a few months later, in 1981, he was arrested in a House office building men's room and charged with attempted oral sodomy. He resigned from the House a month later. Jon didn't move back to Mississippi. He stayed in Washington and became active in gay rights causes. He died in 1995 of complications from AIDS. |
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