Gordon Fox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gordon Fox
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| 222nd Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives | |
| In office February 11, 2010 – March 22, 2014 |
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| Deputy | Charlene Lima |
| Preceded by | William J. Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas Mattiello |
| Majority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives | |
| In office January 2003 – February 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Gerard Martineau |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas Mattiello |
| Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from the 4th district |
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| In office January 5, 1993 – January 2015 |
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| Preceded by | K. Nicholas Tsiongas |
| Succeeded by | J. Aaron Regunberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gordon Dennis Fox
December 21, 1961 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Marcus LaFond (2013–present) |
| Residence | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Alma mater | Rhode Island College (BA) Northeastern University (JD) |
| Profession | Attorney Nightclub owner Politician |
Gordon Dennis Fox (born December 21, 1961) is an American attorney and politician from Providence, Rhode Island. He served as the Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. He later stepped down from this important role.
A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the state legislature in 1992. Gordon Fox was elected Speaker on February 11, 2010. He was the first person from Rhode Island to hold that office who was openly part of the LGBTQ+ community. He stepped down from his Speaker role in March 2014 after investigations began. He completed his legal obligations and was released in February 2018.
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Early Life and Education
Gordon Dennis Fox was born on December 21, 1961, in Providence, Rhode Island. He was one of six children in his family. His mother, Mary Fox, had Cape Verdean heritage, and his father was of Irish-American descent.
His father worked as a jewelry polisher, and his mother worked in private homes and later at a golf ball factory. Gordon's parents met in Providence after his father returned from serving in the Korean War. His father passed away when Gordon was eighteen years old.
During his childhood, Gordon and his family lived in a Providence home. From there, they could see the Statehouse. Gordon graduated from Classical High School in Providence. He then earned a degree in history and political science from Rhode Island College. Later, he earned his law degree from Northeastern University School of Law. While studying, he also worked at a Carvel ice cream shop. After finishing his studies, he became an attorney.
Political Career
Gordon Fox first ran for the Providence City Council in the mid-1980s, but he was not elected. After that, he helped with the campaigns of other state representatives. These included Ray Rickman and Patrick J. Kennedy from the famous Kennedy family.
Providence Board of Licenses
In 2001, Mayor Buddy Cianci appointed Gordon Fox to the Providence Board of Licenses. This board handles permits for businesses. In 2006, he became the vice-chairman of the board. Fox resigned from this board in December 2009.
Rhode Island House of Representatives
Gordon Fox was first elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in November 1992. He represented the 4th district. This district included parts of the East Side of Providence. These areas were the Mount Hope, Summit, and Blackstone neighborhoods.
In 1993, Fox supported John B. Harwood for Speaker of the House. He said he supported Harwood because he was different from past leaders. Also, his mentor, George Caruolo, supported Harwood.
In October 2001, Fox became the chairman of the House Finance Committee. This committee handles money matters for the state. A year later, in late 2002, Fox was elected Majority Leader. This meant he was a key leader for his political party in the House.
On March 30, 2004, Fox publicly shared that he was gay at a rally. The rally was held at the State House to support marriage equality. At that time, he was the only openly gay member of the Rhode Island General Assembly.
During his time in the House, Fox worked on several important laws. He helped pass a statewide smoking ban. He also supported a program for historic tax credits. Other laws he worked on included an affordable housing fund and a mental health parity law. He also helped create protections for victims of domestic violence. In 2004, he sponsored a law about how lobbyists must share information.
Becoming Speaker of the House
When William J. Murphy decided to step down as Speaker, Gordon Fox showed interest in the job. In October 2009, Murphy supported Fox to take his place. Fox ran against Gregory Schadone and Robert A. Watson. The election was held on February 11, 2010. Fox won with 51 votes.
He became the state's first African-American Speaker of the House. He was also the first openly gay House Speaker in the United States. He took office on February 11, 2010.
During Fox's time as Speaker, the General Assembly made big changes. They voted to legalize marriage equality in the state. They also updated the state's pension law. This greatly reduced the state's future payment responsibilities. The Assembly also voted to give a loan to a video-game company called 38 Studios. The company later could not pay back this loan.
Support for LGBTQ+ Rights
Speaker Fox played a very important role in bringing marriage equality laws to a vote in the House. Unlike some other leaders, he strongly supported marriage equality in Rhode Island. He was a key person in making it happen.
Stepping Down as Speaker
On March 21, 2014, investigations began into Gordon Fox. Soon after, he stepped down from his role as Speaker. Nicholas Mattiello became his successor. Fox remained a member of the House, but he did not run for reelection.
Investigation and Outcome
On March 21, 2014, officials from the U.S. Attorney's office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other agencies began investigations. These investigations involved Fox's office and his home.
On March 3, 2015, Fox accepted responsibility for certain actions. He admitted to using funds from his campaign account for personal expenses. He also admitted to accepting money related to a liquor license. Additionally, he admitted to not reporting these funds on his tax returns.
Fox accepted responsibility, and in June 2015, he was given a three-year federal prison sentence. He completed his sentence and was released in February 2018.
Personal Life
Gordon Fox married Marcus LaFond on November 12, 2013. The ceremony took place in Fox's state house office. The couple had a private commitment ceremony in 1998. After Rhode Island passed its Marriage Equality Act, they had an official ceremony. William Guglietta, a Chief Magistrate, performed the ceremony. Their friend Steven M. Costantino was a witness. Their marriage was officially recorded by the state.
Mr. LaFond-Fox works as a hair stylist in Providence.
