John,

Andrea Jenkins has made history once again! On Monday, she was elected by her peers to serve as Minneapolis City Council President -- the first out transgender official in the United States to hold a council president position! Join us in wishing Council President Jenkins congratulations on this groundbreaking accomplishment - add your name here!

An accomplished poet, writer and transgender rights activist, Andrea worked as an oral historian at the University of Minnesota, documenting the stories of transgender and gender non-conforming Midwesterners, and as a City Council staffer. Then, she jumped onto the campaign trail herself in 2017, shattering a rainbow ceiling as the first out Black transgender woman to win elected office in the U.S. and the first time an out transgender woman was elected to a major city’s council. She won her first election with over 70% of the vote - and immediately began fulfilling her campaign promises of creating greater equity, transparency in government and increasing public safety.

But in May 2020, tragedy struck her district. Horrific video emerged of a police office kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, who begged for relief and for air. His cries went unheard by police -- and George died.

As the representative of the district, Andrea elegantly stepped into a spotlight she did not ask for. When opening the first press conference on George's death, Andrea sang "Amazing Grace" before a still crowd of reporters. When interviewed by PBS Newshour, Andrea stated: "It was not only a crime against George Floyd, although he suffered the most deep injustice. But in my mind, it felt like it was a symbol for a knee on the neck of Black America".

In another interview with CNN, Councilmember Jenkins expanded her remarks, saying: "Not only do I see these images on social media of Black and Brown men and women being killed by state violence, but also have to see trans identified - mostly Black women - who have been brutalized and murdered by the state. It has been sanctioned by the state. So the trauma that is in our communities is devastating. And it's brought on by this really horrible disease that is racism".

Since that tragic day, Andrea has continued to advocate for police reform, justice for trans lives and more. At a time when so many politicians seek to bully trans people with legislative attacks and Black and brown communities remain targeted by state violence and systemic racism, we need more leaders like Andrea. We need more leaders with the lived experience to address these issues and combat hatred in all forms.

Andrea has more than earned her historic titles, and we're confident she’ll continue to advocate for the disenfranchised as President of the Minneapolis City Council. We are grateful, today and everyday, to Black LGBTQ leaders like Councilmember Jenkins, who use their platforms and presence to fight America's most horrible disease.

We know Andrea well through her time as a Candidate & Campaign Training participant, a Victory Empowerment Fellow and a David Bohnett Leaders Fellow, and our nation is fortunate to have her leading right now. Join us in wishing her congratulations on her latest groundbreaking accomplishment by adding your name to our card today.

Thank you for standing with amazing elected officials like Andrea,

LGBTQ Victory Institute

LGBTQ Victory Institute is a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 52-1835268.

LGBTQ Victory Institute is a global organization dedicated to elevating openly LGBTQ leaders who can further equality at all levels of government. Through our international and domestic training programs, professional development programs and yearly conferences, 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 now serving around the world. You can power our work and the next Rainbow Wave with a donation today!

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