There was a big Rainbow Wave during Election Night!
We may not know just quite yet who the next president of the United States is, but so many LGBTQ+ politicians had history-making wins all over the country, and this new Rainbow Wave is definitely something worth celebrating!
Here a few of those LGBTQ+ policymakers who are helping make the country a more inclusive place to live!
Sarah McBride (Delaware State Senate)
Democrat Sarah McBride, the former national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, made history as the first out transgender state senator in the U.S., beating Republican Steve Washington in Delaware’s senate race, making her the highest-ranking out transgender lawmaker in the nation.
Kim Jackson (Georgia State Senate)
Out lesbian and Episcopal priest Kim Jackson will represent District 41 as the first out member of Georgia's State Senate.
Jabari Brisport (New York State Senate)
The first Black queer member of the New York State legislature, Jabari will be will representing the state's 25th district!
Shevrin Jones (Florida State Senate)
Representing District 35, Shevrin became Florida's first out LGBTQ+ state senator on Election Night, becoming one of the only out Black men to serve in U.S. state senates.
Mondaire Jones (New York's 17th Congressional District)
Alongside Ritchie Torres, Mondaire Jones has been elected one of the first Black LGBTQ+ members of Congress, representing New York's 17th congressional district.
Ritchie Torres (New York's 15th Congressional District)
Alongside Mondaire Jones, Ritchie Torres has been elected one of the first Black LGBTQ+ members of Congress, representing New York's 15th congressional district. He is also notably the first out gay elected official in the Bronx.
Michele Raynor (Florida's House of Representatives)
Representing District 70 in Florida's State House, Michele Rayner is the first Black, queer woman to win a seat in the Florida legislature.
Sam Park (Georgia's House of Representatives)
The first out gay man and Asian-American Democrat to be elected to the Georgia State Legislature in 2016, Sam Park was reelected in 2020 to represent District 101 in Georgia's House of Representatives. (He was also previously reelected in 2018.)
Stephanie Byers (Kansas' House of Representatives)
Stephanie Byers made major history on Election Night, becoming Kansas’s first trans elected official in the state's House of Representatives, representing the 68th District. She is also the first Indigenous trans person elected to any state legislature.
Taylor Small (Vermont's House of Representatives)
Taylor made history on Election Night as Vermont's first transgender legislator, winning a seat in the state's House of Representatives!
