“As a child of the Bronx who grew up in the projects, I was often too scared to come out of the closet, too blinded to see clearly my own value, my own equality.”

American politician, U.S. representative from 2021

Ritchie Torres is an American politician serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021. A Democrat, he represents New York’s 15th congressional district and previously served on the New York City Council from 2014 to 2020. He is known for his work in city and national politics, first in local government and then in Congress. His public profile is tied to representative politics and policy, with his name appearing in connection with the issues he addresses as a member of the Democratic Party.