It’s no secret that 2017 was a rough year in politics for the LGBTQ+ community. Thankfully, there’s a lot of hope to come for the years ahead, no matter how tough it seems right now. Transwomen across the nation are finally winning a seat at the political table and this guide will get you up to date on the politicians you need to know about.
Danica Roem – Virginia
At the end of 2017, Danica Roem became the first openly transgender elected official to win and serve office in the nation. (Other transgender candidates have won, but they either ended up not serving or were not out yet.) She beat out conservative state lawmaker Robert G. Marshall who introduced the controversial “bathroom bill”. Marshall was a 13-term incumbent in Virginia, so the win came as a shock and a wave of hope for most of us.
Andrea Jenkins -Minnesota
The good news in the 2017 election cycle continued when Andrea Jenkins was elected to the Minneapolis City Council. She was the first openly transgender black woman elected to public office across the nation. She won 73% of the vote.
Lisa Middleton – California
Lisa Middleton, from California, became the first transgender person elected to a non-judicial office in the state of California.
Stephe Koontz – Georgia
Winning by 6 votes, Stephe Koontz won her race for city council in Doraville, Georgia. Currently, she’s the only openly transgender elected official in Georgia.
Chelsea Manning – Maryland (fingers crossed)
So far in the 2018 election cycle, Chelsea Manning has already announced she’s running for the U.S. Senate seat in Maryland, and we’re hoping even more members of the LGBTQ+ community step forward and take a seat at the political table.
