As the San Francisco Bay Times goes to press, the presidential race remains undecided, but there are numerous undisputed victories for LGBTQ candidates nationwide. We highlight three on our cover: Sarah McBride, Mondaire Jones, and Ritchie Torres. All three made history on November 3, 2020.
McBride easily won her Delaware state Senate race, such that she is set to become the first and only openly transgender state senator in the nation. Her influence and U.S. presence have been prominent since at least 2012, when McBride made headlines for coming out as transgender in an article for American University’s school newspaper—a bold and brave act that led to her stepping down as the university’s student body president. She became a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, and in that role had speaking engagements nationwide, including here in the Bay Area.
Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres won their races as well. They are poised to become the first openly gay Black members of Congress. Both are from New York, and will represent the 17th and 15th districts respectively.
On November 4, Jones wrote via social media: “Growing up, I never imagined someone like me could run for Congress, let alone get elected. To grow up poor, Black, and gay is to not see yourself anywhere. Now, I am humbled by the trust voters in Westchester and Rockland have placed in me, and grateful for the opportunity to serve the community that raised me in the United States Congress.”
Torres previously made political history by becoming the first openly gay elected official from the Bronx when he was elected to the New York City Council in 2013. Since he also has Latin heritage, he is additionally the first openly gay Afro Latinx member of Congress.
Because there are currently nine openly LGBTQ members of Congress, the election wins of Jones and Torres will mean that, for the first time, over 10 members of Congress will be LGBTQ. The San Francisco Bay Times congratulates McBride, Jones, and Torres, and will present further election results and related analysis in our next issue.
Published on November 5, 2020
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