US Marshal Sharon Lubinski, who became the first openly lesbian marshal in United States history late last year, talks about her new position and her coming out.

Q You came out in 1993 when you were a sergeant. Why?

A There had been a couple of gay men who had been murdered in Minneapolis. And I could see that Minneapolis police and the gay community were struggling with how to work together. And I, frankly, felt bad that I didn’t step forward to help because I could have been a bridge at that time.

I just got tired of not being who I really am, of living a lie. It’s something that has been a great benefit to me in the sense of, if you are hiding something, you put a lot of energy into that.