Anthony “Tony” Christopher Woods (born July 20, 1980) an American military veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, who was discharged from the United States Army in 2008 for violating the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. In 2009, Woods ran for U.S. Congress in California's 10th congressional district to fill a vacant seat, in a bid to become the first openly gay African American in Congress. He placed 4th, receiving 8% of a special election vote on September 1, 2009, behind John Garamendi, Mark DeSaulnier, and Joan Buchanan. He was part of the 2011-2012 Class of White House Fellows.