Breadon Makes History as Boston's First Openly LGBTQ+ City Council President

And the chamber's first immigrant president

In a stunning upset Monday, District 9 Councilor Liz Breadon secured the Boston City Council presidency with a 7-6 vote, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold the position.

Breadon, who in 2020 became the first openly gay woman to serve on the council, emerged as a last-minute compromise candidate. The physical therapist, who immigrated from Northern Ireland in 1995 and lives in Brighton with her wife, defeated District 4 Councilor Brian Worrell in the closely contested race.

"I didn't know I'd be standing here this time yesterday, but that said, I'm ready to lead," Breadon told her colleagues during Monday's contentious meeting.

The path to victory came after Councilor Gigi Coletta Zapata withdrew from the race Sunday evening, having previously claimed she had secured the votes. Councilors Enrique Pepén and Sharon Durkan made a late-night visit to Breadon's Brighton home to ask her to "consider being a compromise candidate."

In her floor speech, Breadon said, "In this context, cities matter more than ever, Boston must continue to lead by protecting immigrants, by advancing racial and economic justice, by investing in public education, by treating housing as a human right, and by standing firmly by our LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive freedom, and the dignity of all people."

"What I have to offer this body as the next elected city council president, if I am so lucky to be elected, is to be fair," she said.

Breadon succeeds Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune and has served on the council since 2020, now beginning her fourth term.