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John,
Today is Delaware state Senator Sarah McBride’s birthday. We’re asking our best supporters to sign on to Sarah’s card ( you can sign it here! [[link removed]] ), but we also want to tell you a little more about how Sarah inspires us…
Even before she became America’s first out trans state senator in 2020, Sarah was known for shattering rainbow ceilings. She came out when she was student body president at American University, gaining international attention and praise from the Biden family, whom she had worked for previously.
As Sarah said in her 2016 speech at the Democratic National Convention, where she became the first out trans person to address the body: “At the time, I was scared. I worried that my dreams and my identity were mutually exclusive.”
But her fears didn’t come true – Sarah would later intern at the White House, the first out trans woman to work there, and join the board of directors of Equality Delaware. Her family led the lobbying effort to protect LGBTQ Delawareans from discrimination based on gender expression. Sarah also attended Victory Institute’s Candidate & Campaign Training, where she learned the ins-and-outs of running for public office.
Now, she’s serving as the first out trans state senator ever elected in the United States. During the first half of the General Assembly session, Sarah got to work, serving as a key sponsor on legislation that protects LGBTQ people and others from religious-based discrimination in public spaces, expands retirement pensions for first responders and their families, and boosts home health services to the most vulnerable. All told, Sarah is set to pass seven pieces of legislation. And when the body reconvenes, she’ll be pushing to pass five more bills, including legislation to add sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability non-discrimination protections to the Delaware constitution and create a statewide family and medical leave insurance program.
As Sarah herself said in 2016, “Despite our progress, so much work remains. Will we be a nation where there’s only one way to love, one way to look, one way to live? Or, will we be a nation where everyone has the freedom to live openly and equally?”
As multiple states pass or consider legislation targeting trans lives and kids, we must remember Sarah’s prophetic words. While bigots are doing their best to spread hate, more and more out trans people like Sarah are stepping up to run. And, like Sarah, when they win it is transformative.
After all, dreams and their identity should not be mutually exclusive. Join us in celebrating Sarah’s many notable achievements – and wish her a very happy birthday. [[link removed]]
Here’s to more historic firsts,
LGBTQ Victory Institute
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LGBTQ Victory Institute is a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 52-1835268.
Victory Institute is ONLY national organization dedicated to elevating openly LGBTQ leaders who can further equality at all levels of government. Through our trainings [[link removed]] , professional development programs [[link removed]] and yearly conferences [[link removed]] , Victory Institute prepares hundreds of out individuals to launch an influential careers in politics, government, business and advocacy. Many of our trainees join the more than 1,000 openly LGBTQ elected and appointed officials [[link removed]] now serving around the world.
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