Candace Gingrich
Candace Gingrich-Jones (born June 2, 1966) is an American author, speaker, and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality, most notably recognized as the half-sister of Newt Gingrich, who served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999.[1] Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Robert and Kathleen Gingrich, she entered public prominence in 1995 amid her brother's rise to power, serving as the spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign's National Coming Out Project and authoring works detailing her experiences as an openly lesbian woman in a politically conservative family.[2][3] Her advocacy has focused on combating discrimination, preserving HIV/AIDS funding, and promoting acceptance within diverse political contexts, often highlighting ideological tensions with her sibling's positions on issues like same-sex marriage.[4][5] In later years, Gingrich-Jones transitioned into business development roles, including a position as vice president at a Florida-based cannabis operator in 2019, while maintaining commitments to humanist principles, earning the American Humanist Association's Humanist Pride award for equality efforts.[6][1]