First openly Transgender State lawmaker elected In Virginia

Voters in Virginia elected the state’s first openly transgender candidate to the Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday.

When Democratic candidate, Danica Roeam takes office, she’s going to be the first openly transgender candidate to be elected and serve in a state legislative body.

Althea Garrison, elected in Massachusetts in 1992, was the first openly transgender person to serve in a state legislative assembly, but did not campaign as an openly transgender person during her race.

Roem beat incumbent delegate, Bob Marshall. in line with Mashall’s website, he has been elected 13 times over twenty six years.

Roem had 54.59% of the votes to Marshall’s 45.36%, with 19 of 20 precincts coverage, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

“Tonight, voters chose a sensible, solutions-oriented trans leader over a dissentious anti-LGBTQ public speaker — causing a strong message to anti-trans legislators all across the nation,” aforementioned Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, president, and chief executive officer of triumph Fund.

Planned parentage president Cecile Richards tweeted: “Couldn’t be a lot of thrilled for Danica Roem. And smart riddance to Bob Marshall, one among the most anti-choice, and anti-LGBTQ members of the VA House.”

“The message that I will succeed because of my gender, not despite it, because of who i’m while not being afraid of who i’m may be a human message,” Roem said in the September interview with Cosmopolitan.