Andorra's Prime Minister Comes Out as Gay with Encouraging Message for LGBTQ+ Youth: 'You Can Prosper'

Andorran Prime Minister Xavier Espot Zamora clarified his sexual orientation in an interview with Andorra Radio and Television on Monday, saying plainly, "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," Espot continued. "But at the same time I think it shouldn’t be a problem to express it."

Espot used the moment to send a message that sexual orientation should not determine whether someone is embraced or successful, and that he hopes his premiership makes that abundantly clear to Andorrans.

“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," he said.

With his coming out, Espot — a Democrat who assumed the office of prime minister in 2019 — is now one of just five sitting heads of state or government who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. (The remaining four are Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.)

He is also Andorra's first openly LGBTQ+ premier.

Earlier this year, Andorra legalized same-sex marriage, and converted all same-sex civil unions to civil marriages.