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“Pioneer” Sarah McBride becomes first openly trans member of Congress | US News
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“Pioneer” Sarah McBride becomes first openly trans member of Congress | US News

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Sarah McBride became the first openly trans member of the WE Congress – one among many historic moments during an exciting election day.

McBride, 34, is used to making history at this point. In 2012, she was the first openly trans woman to intern at the White House; in 2016, the first to speak at the Democratic National Convention; and in 2020, the first elected to a State Senate.

Now she’s in the history books again for being bagged. Delaware House of Representatives at-large wins landslide victory.

With 90% of votes counted, some 282,000 Delawareans voted for McBridewinning 57.7% compared to Republican John Whalen’s 207,300 votes (42.26%).

She will succeed fellow Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester, after campaigning on a platform focused on access to health care, eradicating economic insecurity and universal child care.

“Thank you, Delaware!” Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next Congressman,” McBride wrote on X.

“Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all of our families, that ensures that housing and child care health are accessible to all and this is a democracy it is big enough for all of us.

The Delaware native’s victory comes at a time when Republican-led states have pushed trans rights to the limits. Just this year, 45 anti-trans bills passedlimiting trans people’s access to healthcare, education and legal recognition.

Many have banned gender-affirming health care for trans youth or banned trans women and girls from playing on women’s teams. Of the 1.6 million trans Americans, around 300,000 are under 18 years old.

McBride says she hopes to be a voice not only for LGBTQ+ people but for all communities (Photo: AP)
With ballots still being counted, McBride apparently won by tens of thousands of votes (Photo: Reuters)

Some of the The Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen trans rights have been dogged by Republican state legal challenges, such as trans rights in schools and federal health programs.

So, for Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD, McBride’s arrival in the House is not only revolutionary for the trans community but for “our entire country.”

“And that’s no surprise,” Ellis said on X. “Sarah is a spectacular public servant who works wholeheartedly to improve people’s lives.

“Sarah’s victory is a victory for transgender visibility and should serve as a reminder that trans people should of course be free to be themselves and contribute their talents as they wish.”

HRC, the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights group in the United States, agrees. “PIONEER!” » said the organization on X.

“We are so proud, MP-elect, Sarah McBride! Your story will help LGBTQ+ youth dream bigger, reach higher, and change the world.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check out our news page.

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