POLITICS
Key Wins for LGBTQ Candidates Across the Country
Queer candidates succeed in Virginia, Montana, Ohio, and elsewhere
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
In addition to victories for LGBTQ City
Council candidates in New York City,
several other queer candidates garnered
victories across the country on election
night, bringing more queer candidates to leadership
roles in state and local offi ces.
Virginia, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, and
Pennsylvania are among the states where voters
elected LGBTQ offi cials. Danica Roem, an
out transgender woman, won a third re-election
to the Virginia House of Delegates, making her
the longest-serving trans state legislator in US
history. Roem pulled in 15,276 votes, or 54.32
percent of the votes, defeating anti-LGBTQ candidate
Chris Stone, according to election data
from the Virginia Department of Elections.
In a written statement, Annise Parker, the
Victory Fund’s out lesbian president and CEO,
applauded Roem’s reelection as an inspiration
for other trans candidates running for public
offi ce.
“Danica’s voters again chose a qualifi ed trans
leader over an anti-LGBTQ opponent — rejecting
the so-called ‘culture wars’ that aim to divide,
not improve people’s lives,” Parker said in
a written statement to Gay City News. “While
Danica’s energies are focused on her district,
the impact of her leadership resonates across
the country. Danica exemplifi es the winning
recipe for trans candidates: exemplary constituent
services and a hyper-focus on the issues
that matter.”
In Michigan, Gabriela Santiago-Romero became
the fi rst out LGBTQ Latinx woman to win
a seat in the Detroit City Council or to be elected
to public offi ce statewide. Santiago-Romero
defeated Latinx candidate Hector Santiago after
receiving 5,921 votes, according to election
results in City Council District Six.
History was also made in Montana, where
out LGBTQ candidate Christopher Coburn was
elected to the Bozeman City Commission and
became the fi rst Black queer candidate elected
in the state. Coburn’s win puts him in line to become
one of seven out LGBTQ offi cials in Montana,
according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund.
Coburn took to Instagram to celebrate the
historic victory and applaud the community for
their support.
“It’s hard to fi nd the right words. I’ll start with
thank you! Bozeman, I love you and I’m grateful
for your support and trust,” Coburn wrote in a
post. “Y’all helped make history. With this win, I
become the fi rst out queer Black elected offi cial
in Montana history. It feels incredibly meaningful
to bring representation and visibility to folks
like me who don’t usually see themselves in local
Danica Roem won reelection to the Virginia House of Delegates, making her the longest-serving out trans state legislator in US history.
government. It’s an honor and it’s exciting,
and something that I don’t take lightly.”
In Cleveland, out bisexual candidate Rebecca
Maurer became the fi rst LGBTQ woman elected
to the Cleveland City Council after beating
longtime incumbent Anthony Brancatelli. Maurer,
who garnered 51.18 percent or 1,558 votes,
according to local election results, praised the
public in a tweet for helping her win the election.
“Thank you, Ward 12. Together, we did it!”
she tweeted. “More to come about next steps,
but for this evening, my heart is full with gratitude
for all who voted and all who contributed
to this hard-fought election.”
Similarly, Dion Manley became the fi rst trans
person designated to Gahanna Jefferson School
Board in Ohio, making him the fi rst trans person
elected to public offi ce in the state. According
to data from the Victory Institute, Manley
REUTERS/JONATHAN DRAKE
joins fi ve other trans men elected to public offi
ce in the US.
Non-binary candidates Thu Nguyen and Xander
Orenstein also grabbed wins in local races.
Nguyen became the fi rst non-binary person
elected to public offi ce in Massachusetts after
winning a seat on the Worcester City Council.
Orenstein prevailed in the race for the Allegheny
County Magisterial District Court in Pennsylvania
and is now the fi rst non-binary person
elected to a judicial position in the US. After the
polls closed, Orenstein issued a statement of
gratitude to voters.
“There is so much to be said about the way
our community responded to this campaigns’
radical, transformative visions of justice, but
for now, I must just say thank you,” Orenstein
wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to every volunteer,
neighbor, and friend who knocked doors and
made calls.”
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