LGBT Visibility on the Hill

Lauren Gedney ’21 landed their first job on Capitol Hill the fall after graduation.

They were eager to get established professionally, yet it was daunting.

“When you arrive, I think figuring out how you fit in that space—with so many intelligent and career-driven people—can be very intimidating,” Lauren says. “In a way, it actually reminds me of my first year at Wellesley.”

They found their place amid the 10,000 or more congressional staffers within the LGBT Congressional Staff Association. In February, they were elected to a one-year term as its president.

“The CSA was one of the first places where I was able to make deep friendships in the workplace,” they say. As president, they hope to continue that legacy of inclusion and belonging.

Currently, Lauren is director of operations for Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat.

The LGBT CSA began in the 1990s, Lauren says, when most people who joined were not out at work. The undercover nature proved untenable. In 2010, a new group relaunched it and “their mission was true visibility.” There were more legal protections and fewer people stayed in the closet, but discrimination persisted—and still does.

The CSA welcomes fellows, interns, and staffers at every level, and offers a robust calendar of professional and social programming for members. Since January 2025, Lauren says, it’s been an especially welcome respite.

“We’re confronted with the harsh realities of what politicians want to do to our community every single day at work,” they say. “While we are surviving through these dark and confusing times, the CSA provides a joyful space to exist in.”

In a sense, the support and connections formed within the CSA are reminiscent of Wellesley. From the education, to the confidence it instilled, to the alum community, Lauren says, “I really feel like I owe everything to the College.”