Alberto de Belaunde, who was one of two openly gay congressmen in Peru, stepped down late Monday night after Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra dissolved the South American country’s Congress. De Belaunde is one of six nominees for this year’s LGBTQ Victory Institute Tammy Baldwin Breakthrough Award, the organization announced September 26. “Thank you so much for allowing me to serve my country and all of you,” de Belaunde tweeted September 30. “I apologize for what I could not do and if at any time I was not up to your expectations, know that I left my heart and soul, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity and support.” Carlos Bruce, who represents Lima, Peru’s capital city, is the country’s other gay congressman. In a message to the Bay Area Reporter, Bruce wrote, “For President Vizcarra, I’m not a congressman anymore. For us [members of Congress], we are still congressmen and the true president of Peru is our vice president Mercedes Araoz.”