Across the US, queer and trans politicians are lighting the way for representation
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGES BY FLICKR AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Election night (5 November) was hectic for many as everyone waited to see if Donald Trump or Kamala Harris would be the next leader of the United States of America. While most eyes were on the presidential election, there have been many other seats, from the US Congress to individual state legislatures that changed hands as the votes were counted.
Many of these newly elected politicians represent historic firsts for queer women and non-binary people. These people, along with a few re-elected LGBTQIA candidates, are a voice for their constituents both at the national and state level. They have the power to help implement impactful policies that could make life better for everyone in their state. It’s important to remember that, no matter what policies the Trump Administration campaigned on, the queer community has people advocating for them.
Who are the new politicians that have made history for LGBTQIA women and non-binary people?
Sarah McBride – first out trans member in Congress
The state of Delaware has voted Sarah McBride to the House of Representatives. She is the first out trans member of the US Congress, the body made up of the House and Senate, which creates federal legislation. This is the state’s only seat in the House, so she represents the entire state.
McBride has been breaking through barriers her entire career. When she was first elected to office as a Delaware State Senator in 2020, she became the highest ranking trans elected official in the US, even though her jurisdiction was only within Delaware’s state lines. Even earlier, she was the first trans American to speak at a majority party convention, when she addressed the Democratic Party in 2016.
After winning the seat, McBride went to X to say: “Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress.”
Emily Randall – first LGBTQIA Latina in Congress
Elected to one of Washington’s seats in the House of Representatives, Emily Randall is the first out LGBTQIA Latina to become a member of Congress. Randall, a lesbian, was elected on behalf of the Sixth Congressional District, an area which covers Seattle.
She is not only the first LGBTQIA Latina in Congress but the first openly queer person, first woman and first person of colour to represent the state of Washington at the federal level. In a statement to the press, Randall said: “Together, we shattered three glass ceilings.”
Keturah Herron – first out LGBTQIA person of colour in the Kentucky State Senate
Moving to state politics, the first LGBTQIA member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, Keturah Herron, is now the first LGBTQIA person of colour to be elected to its State Senate. Throughout their career, both as a politician and activist, Herron has pushed through vital legislation for marginalised communities. These include Breonna’s Law, which banned no-knock warrants in Louisville.
Gabby Salinas – first out LGBTQIA woman in Tennessee State legislature
Gabby Salinas was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives back in August, when she won the Democratic primary, while no Republican or Independent was able to qualify for the ballot. She is the first queer woman to be elected to an official post in the state of Tennessee’s legislature.
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