Human Rights Campaign activist and transgender rights champion Sarah McBride has made history with her election as the first trans woman in a US state senate.
McBride claimed a swift victory in her race for the Delaware senate after the elections on Tuesday (November 3), becoming the first trans person to ever hold office in any state’s upper chamber.
McBride, who serves as National Press Secretary of Human Rights Campaign, played a pivotal role in both the fight for LGBT+ discrimination protections in Delaware and lobbying for US Equality Act to extend protections nationwide.
Preliminary results from the race show her claiming a comfortable victory in the safely Democratic 1st state senate district, leading Republican Steve Washingtonby a considerable margin.
As the race was called, Annise Parker of LGBTQ Victory Fund said: “Sarah’s overwhelming victory is a powerful testament to the growing influence of transgender leaders in our politics and gives hope to countless trans people looking toward a brighter future.
“Throughout this election cycle, Donald Trump and other cynical politicians attempted to use trans people as a political weapon, believing they could gain popularity by stoking fear and hate.
“For Sarah to shatter a lavender ceiling in such a polarizing year is a powerful reminder that voters are increasingly rejecting the politics of bigotry in favour of candidates who stand for fairness and equality.
“Her victory will inspire more trans people to follow in her footsteps and run for public office.”
The candidate, a former Obama White House staffer, was thrust into the national spotlight in 2016 when she became the first transgender person to give a speech at the Democratic National Convention. Her campaign had endorsements from figures including Joe Biden, who had strongly supported her move into politics and penned the foreword for her 2018 memoir.
Several Temple students in Pennsylvania said this is real victory for US politics.
Tonja Butler, a Junior Advertising Major, 20, said: “This is amazing! It feels great seeing hearts opening across the country and more acceptance!”
It was only three years ago that another pioneering candidate, Danica Roem, became the first out transgender person ever elected to a state legislature, when she was elected to Virginia’s House of Delegates. Like McBride, Roem largely nosed her campaign on local issues.
By Olimpia Zagnat
Feature image: Ted Eytan