Some Really Good Transgender News from the American Election
The American election has, unfortunately, shown us all that the country is deeply divided and that prejudices and shortsighted self-interest have a deep hold on many Americans. I am afraid that this will not be of help to transgender and nonbinary people.
But there is another side to this story and that is that a lot of Americans are now ready to embrace trans people and elect them as their representatives.
Here is some good news for you:
Sarah McBride becomes state senator
Sarah McBride of Delaware becomes first transgender state senator in U.S. history. She is the national press secretary at the Human Rights Campaign (Photo above from AP).
The New York Times reports that Ms. McBride, 30, a Democrat, handily defeated Steve Washington, a Republican, in the Delaware First State Senate Districtt.
In a brief interview with the New York Times on Tuesday night, Ms. McBride said she was “incredibly grateful” to the residents of her district and would keep her focus on serving them.
But she also said she hoped that Tuesday’s results would send a “message to a young person struggling with where they fit and how they fit into this world: that our democracy is big enough for them too and their voices matter.”
Taylor Small wins in Vermont
LGBTQ Nation reports that Taylor Small has officially made history as the first out trans person elected to the Vermont State Legislature.
“Being the first means being that representation,” she said, “and being that guiding light. In a lot of ways I don’t see it as a historical moment for myself, but more of a historical moment for the community.”
Small is currently the Director of the Health & Wellness program at the Pride Center of Vermont.
Taylor Small, Photo James Buck
Mauree Turner, first nonbinary state lawmaker
Mauree Turner has become the first non-binary state lawmaker in US history, after winning election to the Oklahoma state House, Pink News reports.
Turner, who uses they/she pronouns, said of their win: “Y’all I can honestly say I never expected this when we started out.
“Before this election, I only cried when I talked about my family and how much they mean to me. Now I cry when I talk about the Little family, the Jovanna’s, the Community food-based systems, the Activist, the Organizers. I can’t help but cry when I talk about House District 88 all that it holds and all that we are getting ready to do. And it’s really easy to talk about all that we’re getting ready to do because we’ve been doing it.”
Mauree Turner, Photo Mauree
Stephanie Byers becomes Kansas’s first trans elected official
Advocate reports that a recently retired teacher from Wichita, Stephanie Byers made history twice on election night becoming Kansas’s first transgender elected official after winning her bid for the Kansas House of Representatives 86th District.
She is also the first Native American trans person elected to any state legislature. Byers is a member of the Chickasaw Nation and has lived in Wichita for 30 years.
Stephanie Byers, Photo Byers
Regarding her historic run, Byers told TV station KAKE:
“For me, being transgender is just another aspect of who I am. I’m also a member of the Chickasaw Nation. I ride a motorcycle. I’m a musician. I have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. These are all just things that make a part of who I am. It’s not what totally defines me.”
The Wichita Eagle writes that Byers applauded the fact that her gender identity was left out of the race completely:
“I’m incredibly grateful being a transgender woman running for office with the fact that my opponent made a point of saying she was not going to make that an issue, and she ran an incredibly clean campaign,” Byers said.
These are not the only openly transgender U.S. state legislators: We should also mention Virginia state delegate Danica Roem; Colorado state representative Brianna Titone; and New Hampshire state representatives Lisa Bunker and Gerri Cannon.
Brianna Titone, Photo Getty Images.
As Pink News points out, Brianna Titone won re-election in Colorado with an increased majority, despite Republicans launching transphobic ads in a bid to unseat her.
“Tonight’s wins for LGBTQ people of color and transgender Americans across the country are historic and long overdue,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said. “Their victories represent a leap forward for LGBTQ acceptance and a demand for more of the progress and equality that their very presence demonstrates. We can’t wait to see them shine in their new roles.”
By the way: Keep in mind that the US has probably had a lot of transgender and nonbinary representatives throughout history. Let us keep in mind those who never came out as themselves, but who nevertheless decided to serve their communities.
