In a groundbreaking moment for American politics, the Nation made history by electing its first out transgender representative to the United States Congress.
On Nov. 6, Democrat Sarah McBride became Delaware’s sole congressional representative, winning her election against Republican candidate John Whalen III with 57.9% of the vote. McBride previously became the first out transgender person to be elected to a state senate, winning one of 21 senate seats in Delaware in 2020. Her most recent victory marks another significant milestone in LGBTQ+ history, as McBride is now the highest government official to publicly identify as transgender.
In an interview with NPR, McBride said that even though she’s the first openly transgender representative, she won’t be the last. McBride said she wants to work toward a “world where it’s no longer noteworthy when a trans candidate runs and wins.”
During her campaign, McBride raised over $3 million from contributions around the country and received a lengthy list of endorsements from various organizations, including Planned Parenthood, Defend the Vote, Energy Conservation Specialists and Emily’s List. She was endorsed by many political figures, such as U.S. Senator Tom Carper, U.S. Senator Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester. After receiving a whopping 287,783 votes, the Associated Press called the race, declaring McBride the winner.
To many students at Grand Valley State University, McBride’s triumph at the polls is an important milestone that redefines the ceiling of success for the LGBTQ+ community.
GVSU student Claire Huntley highlighted that McBride’s victory may usher in a new perspective for voters, especially those of the cisgender male demographic that has historically dominated the political sphere.
“(McBride’s election) is a great example of true representation of the American people, and a huge inspiration to anyone that has been told they weren’t enough,” Huntley said. “It brings in a new perspective that cisgender people, specifically men, don’t have.”
According to her campaign website, McBride aims to expand healthcare access, invest in economic policies, reform the criminal justice system, advocate for women’s and worker’s rights and work to tackle climate change. Throughout her political career, McBride has been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
“None of us know how long we have, but we do have a choice in whether we love or hate,” McBride said in her memoir “Tomorrow Will Be Different,” the foreword of which was written by President Joe Biden. “Every day that we rob people of the ability to live their lives to the fullest, we are undermining the most precious gift we are given as humans.”
McBride began her career in politics by serving as the student body president at American University in Washington, D.C. During her time as student body president, she established gender-neutral housing for first-year students and advocated for the addition of an LGBTQ+ and queer studies minor to the schools’ curriculum. A week before her term finished, McBride made international news by coming out as a transgender woman in the University’s newspaper, The Eagle.
“I told about 115 people (about my identity), most of them peers, some of them former teachers, professors and administrators at AU,” McBride said in an interview with AU Radio. “Everyone met my news with excitement, happiness, relief and acceptance.”
McBride has worked for former Delaware Governor Jack Markell and late Attorney General Beau Biden, as well as an intern in the Obama administration. According to the Delaware State Democrats, McBride’s accomplishments have included expanding healthcare access, requiring mental health and media literacy education in public schools, promoting green technology, and protecting workers and families. McBride created landmark legislation known as the “Healthy Delaware Families Act,” which provided workers with paid family and medical leave, and expanded Delaware’s social safety net. She most recently became a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest LGBTQ+ rights organization.
While many GVSU students are celebrating McBride’s accomplishments, some feel the path to acceptance for transgender individuals is a winding road.
Rowan Armour, a graduate assistant in the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center, said the election of the “first (out) trans person to Congress signals progress, but also serves as a reminder of how far society still has to come.”
“(McBride’s victory) is a major stepping stone for the trans community to see representation in Congress, but it’s important we remember the trans community at large experiences things like poverty and discrimination at alarming rates,” Armour said. “We celebrate the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community while recognizing the barriers that limit them.”
