The Virginia lawmaker who introduced a controversial ‘bathroom bill’ that attempted to block trans people from using their preferred public bathrooms has lost his seat to a trans woman.
Heavy metal singer and journalist Danica Roem will become the United States’ first openly trans state lawmaker, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported.
Despite the ugly campaign, preliminary results show Roem has won the vote by almost 10 percentage points.
Roem said her campaign was about more than gender.
“Transgender people have really good public policy ideas that span the gamut of transportation policy to health care policy to education policy, and yes, to civil rights as well,” she said.
“We shouldn’t just be pigeonholed into the idea that we’re just going to be fighting about bathrooms.”
Roem will be the first openly trans person to sit in a US state legislature.
On the same day as Roem’s win, openly trans black woman Andrea Jenkins was elected to Minneapolis City Council.
Trans people and allies worldwide are thrilled with both victories, seeing them as progress for trans representation.
“Proud of progress!” tweeted Miley Cyrus.
“A huge step forward,” posted another person.
Others are just pleased to see an alternative musician elected as legislator, with one Twitter user calling Roem’s win “metal as fuck”.
Proud of progress! @happyhippiefdn #DanicaRoem Congress = Progress pic.twitter.com/wpgirElAso
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) November 8, 2017
really hoping Danica Roem, the trans woman who unseated Bob "Trans Bathroom Bill" Marshall, introduces a bill that bans specifically bob marshall from pooping. no more pooping for bob. if bob poops – straight to jail.
— KRANG T. NELSON (@KrangTNelson) November 8, 2017
Congratulations, Danica Roem and Andrea Jenkins, on becoming America's first transgender state legislators. A huge step forward!
— Amir (@AmirAminiMD) November 8, 2017
When asked about Bob Marshall, Danica Roem said “I don't attack my constituents. Bob is my constituent now.”
She has more grace and composure than I will ever have. #virginia #DanicaRoem
— Nicholas Trevino (@BlyTarbell) November 8, 2017
Trans metalhead shredder Danica Roem just became Virgina State Legislator. That is metal as fuck. pic.twitter.com/5xMk4mtP5T
— Brendon Small (@_Brendonsmall) November 8, 2017
Both openly transgender. Both won their races. Congratulations to both #AndreaJenkins of #Minneapolis & #DanicaRoem of #Virginia How amazing pic.twitter.com/KuLqQnGm7q
— Laureen (@laureenm01) November 8, 2017
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