On Friday – the second day of Rosh Hashanah – United States Representative Jared Polis (D-CO) announced the birth of his first child: a son, weighing in at a healthy 8 lbs. and 12 oz. According to a short notice posted on the Boulder Weekly, Polis joked that the boy – named Caspian Julius – “has learned to cry already.” What may take Caspian longer to understand is that he represents the first of a new generation, born at the advent of 5772. He is the first child born to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) member of Congress. He is also a Jew. As the son of double-minority parents, Caspian inherits a legacy of struggling against the odds at a time when the balance is finally tipping in favor of equality.
Although still relatively early in his political career, Polis is used to breaking down barriers. In 2008 he became the first openly gay man to be elected to the United States Congress as a freshman, representing Colorado’s 2nd District – a heavily Democratic region that includes the northwestern suburbs of Denver and the city of Boulder. At 36 years old, Polis is one of the youngest politicians in the House; surprisingly – despite his youth and his liberal politics – Polis is also among the wealthiest members of Congress. According to the Washington Post, he made over $160 million through the sale of greeting card and flower businesses while in his twenties. In an interview with The Jewish Federation of North America, Polis explained that it was his Jewish heritage that inspired him to run for political office. “The principles of tikkun olam, of living to repair the world, are always forefront in [my] thoughts,” he said. “My decision to retire from my business activities and to redirect my energies into serving the community stems from my beliefs.” Before his election to Congress, Polis served on the Colorado Board of Education from 2001 to 2007 establishing charter schools for at-risk children. He carried this interest with him to Capitol Hill, where he advocated for the reauthorization of “No Child Left Behind.”
His most recent initiative – the Fearless Campaign – reflects both his passion for tikkun olam and a bit of the chutzpah that has made him a congressional iconoclast. By providing timely information to voters on six key issues – immigration, LGBT rights, education, marijuana legalization, food policy, and Internet neutrality – Polis hopes that congressmen will be encouraged to take a positive stand on politically charged issues, “regardless of the perceived political risks.” If anything, Polis thrives on surmounting the seemingly impossible: a characteristic that motived his decision to run for political office side-by-side with his partner, Jewish author Marlon Reis. His ability to face down challenges has paid off as he enters his second congressional term as one of four LGBT members of the House along with Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI). An interesting aside: the latter two congressmen are also Jewish.
It goes without saying that his liberal politics and outspoken nature have caused Polis to step on a few toes during his two congressional terms. He caused waves last year when in an interview with Politico, Polis compared Arizona – with its draconian immigration laws – to Nazi Germany. “It is absolutely reminiscent of second class status of Jews in Germany prior to World War II when they had to have their papers with them at all times and were subject to routine inspections at the suspicion of being Jewish,” he explained. “I fear that Arizona is headed for a police state and it really underscores the need for immigration reform at the Federal level to fix our system.” Polis was careful to underscore that his allegory was between Arizona’s immigration policy and the laws passed by the Nazi party during the rise of the Third Reich – not with the Holocaust itself. Nevertheless, his statements raised ire among proponents of the legislation.
Although parenthood can cause some individuals to become more staid, it would behoove the public not to expect such a change in Polis. Speaking to the Denver Post about his political style, he quipped, “I think being stuffy undercuts the authority of a member of Congress.” Now more than ever Polis represents the face of a more affirming America: a successful politician, a family man, gay, and Jewish. With his partner Marlon and his son Caspian, he has become a symbol of reassurance that 5772 will truly be – in some respects – a shanah tovah.
Steven Philp is a graduate student at the University of Chicago, studying for a Master of Divinity in Jewish Studies and a Master of Social Work. When not in the classroom he works for spiritual life, promoting dialogue and cooperation between different student-run faith-based organizations. Steven also volunteers with Mishkan, a progressive, spirited Jewish community in Chicago. His column, Klal Yisrael, appears here on alternating Sundays.
