SIX LGBTQ STORIES WORTH KNOWING
1. HISTORIC SWEARING-IN CEREMONIES, OVER 1,000 LGBTQ ELECTEDS SERVING!
A new year means one thing: a new class of LGBTQ elected officials have officially been sworn into office! And for the first time in American history, over 1,000 out LGBTQ people will be serving across the country. Here are just some of the new leaders serving…
In Atlanta, Liliana Bakhtiari was sworn-into the City Council, officially making history as the first out Muslim elected official in Georgia history! Liliana celebrated her swearing-in with the other out members of the Council: Alex Wan, who was the first out Asian-American member of the Atlanta City Council when first elected in 2009, Matt Westmoreland, who came out earlier this month, and longtime public servant Keisha Sean Waites, who is the first Black out LGBTQ woman elected to the council!
In Minneapolis, Andrea Jenkins 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! Council President Jenkins has been serving on the city council since 2017, when she became the first out Black transgender woman to win elected office in the U.S. and the first out transgender woman elected to a major city’s council. In December 2021, Andrea was inducted into the 2021 class of Victory Institute's LGBTQ Victory Hall of Fame.
Christopher Coburn also continues to serve on the Bozeman City Council, after making history as the first Black out LGBTQ person elected in the state of Montana. He was first appointed to the position. In Massachusetts, Thu Nguyen was sworn-in to the Worcester City Council as the state’s first out non-binary elected official. Dion Manley was sworn-in as the first out trans elected official in Ohio when he officially joined the Gahanna Jefferson School Board, while New Jersey welcomed Daniella Mendez as the first out trans board of education member in the state.
Congratulations and good luck to all our new elected officials!
2. HAWAII’S FIRST LGBTQ CAUCUS
History in Hawaii: out state Representative Adrian Tam formed the state’s first LGBTQ-focused caucus! Together with state Senator Chris Lee, the new Caucus will address all issues facing Hawaii’s LGBTQ population. Watch Representative Tam discuss the new caucus and his new legislative agenda with KITV Island Television.
3. ONE YEAR LATER: BIDEN’S PRO-EQUALITY ADMINISTRATION
We’re one year into the Biden Administration – how are Biden’s campaign promises coming along? Take a deep dive with The 19th to see what’s been completed – and what promises still must be fulfilled.
We can, however, check off two more accomplishments! Congratulations to Rufus Gifford, who was finally sworn-in as Chief of Protocol earlier this month. And congratulations to Sam Brinton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Energy Department’s Office of Nuclear Energy. Sam makes history as one of the of the highest-ranking non-binary persons to join a presidential administration in U.S. history!
Next: the U.S. Senate must confirm Gigi Sohn to Be FCC Commissioner. We’re pleased to hear the U.S. Senate will finally be holding a vote to confirm Gigi, who would be the first out LGBTQ FCC Commissioner to serve in U.S. history.
And we have the chance to fulfill another of our goals: adding our first LGBTQ U.S. Supreme Court Justice to the bench. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has announced his retirement, and President Biden has reaffirmed his commitment to appointing a Black woman– a historic first long overdue! We’re urging President Biden to consider nominating one of the many Black LGBTQ women currently serving on benches around the country. Read our full statement here!
4. PRIDE AROUND THE WORLD
Victory Institute hosted a new training with Councilor Erika Hilton, the first out trans councilor elected to the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo, and #VoteLGBT in December. We were joined by 35 amazing out leaders for a three-day training focusing on how to run safely for public office. Learn more about our work in Brazil here!
5. SPOTLIGHT: SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ERIC-JOHN SZCZEPANIAK
Kenowa Hills (MI) School Board Member Eric-John Szczepaniak received the President's Award of Recognition from the Michigan Association of School Boards earlier this month. This is the highest honor a school board member in Michigan can achieve!
Eric-John is the youngest person to ever receive this prestigious award – but he’s no stranger to making history. In 2016, he made history as the first out LGBTQ person and the youngest to join the Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education, jumping onto the campaign trail just one year after he graduated high school.
During his tenure, the Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education passed several pieces of pro-equality legislation, including ensuring public funding spent by the schools would not support anti-LGBTQ businesses, as well as pushing to add language protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination at the state level.
As more state legislatures seek to legislate LGBTQ lives out of classrooms, out school board members like Eric-John are essential. Not only are they pushing for greater equality, but they’re also showing the next generation of LGBTQ youth that they can create positive change – and live as an out and proud LGBTQ leader.
6. REST IN POWER
Victory Institute was deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Hyattsville, Maryland Mayor Kevin Ward. A longtime LGBTQ advocate and leader, Mayor Ward was known for his inclusive solutions, community-based initiatives and his dedicated fight to move equality forward. His voice and presence will be deeply missed.
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