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Sarah McBride has made history after being the first transgender woman to be elected as a state senator.
The Democrat, who is an advocate for LGBT + rights and human rights, held the seat in the Delaware state senate in the 2020 US elections.
Although there are some transgender politicians who sit in state legislatures, there are currently no overtly transgender politicians in a state’s upper house.
‘I’m not running to make history or headlines’
Before the election, McBride told People: ‘I am not running to make history or to be news.
“I am running to make a difference in this community and represent this community to the best of my ability by bringing the full range of experiences and perspectives that I have with such a long history in this community.
“I am aware of the responsibility that I have.
I am aware of how powerful it would have been for me as a child to see the story of a transgender person who was elected to a state Senate appear online and the message he would have sent to someone like me growing up I was worried there was no room for someone like me in this world.
“That is a powerful message and it is a powerful opportunity to bring a little hope and a little comfort to a young man here in Delaware or somewhere else in this country, that our democracy is big enough for them too.”
McBride scored a quick victory in the safe Democratic seat, beating Republican opponent Steve Washington by a wide margin.
She is the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign and has fought for protections against LGBT + discrimination in Delaware.
The former Obama White House staff member became the first transgender person to speak at the Democratic National Convention in 2016.
It has been endorsed by Joe Biden, who wrote the foreword to his memoir in 2018.
Annise Parker of the LGBTQ Victory Fund told Pink News: ‘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 who look to a better 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 hatred.
‘Sarah breaking a lavender roof in such a polarized year is a powerful reminder that voters are increasingly rejecting the politics of bigotry in favor of candidates who defend justice and equality.
“His victory will inspire more trans people to follow in his footsteps and run for public office.”
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