Elaine Noble (born January 22, 1944) is an American politician and the first openly lesbian candidate to run for a state legislature position. She attained her BA degree in fine arts at Boston University and later studied at Emerson College and Harvard University. Prior to her involvement in politics, Noble was involved in LGBT activism in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1974 Noble ran for office representing the 6th Suffolk District Massachusetts House of Representatives. Although her campaign was subject to public scrutiny and harassment, her efforts were successful. On New Year's Day 1975 Noble was sworn into office by governor Michael Dukakis making her the first openly LGBT candidate elected to state-level office in the United States. She served two terms as representative for the Fenway-Kenmore and Blackbay neighborhoods in Boston, MA. Noble was among the first delegation of gays and lesbians invited to the White House to discuss issues related to the LGBT community on a national level. In 1978 she ran for United States Senate, but came in fifth in the primary race. In 1986 Noble was instrumental in the opening of the Pride Institute, a LGBT drug and alcohol treatment center in Minneapolis, MN. In 1990 she lost a campaign for Cambridge, MS City Council. More recently she has worked in real estate and healthcare administration. Noble currently resides in Florida.