LGBT: a rainbow wave at the US midterm elections
Rights — di Andrea Barolini
More than 240 members of the LGBT community won their races, at national or local level, in the United States midterm elections.
LGBT: a rainbow wave at the US midterm elections
More than 240 members of the LGBT community won their races, at national or local level, in the United States midterm elections.
At the midterm elections in the United States, the number of candidates officially belonging to the LGBT community reached a record level. More than 400 ran for seats as representatives, senators, governors or at local level. A challenge that turned into a success, given that – according to what was reported by the American Huffington Post – "more than 240 of them were elected".
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Jared Polis is the first gay governor in United States history
The most striking case is certainly that of Democrat Jared Polis, who triumphed in Colorado and will be the first openly gay governor in United States history (the second overall from the LGBT community, after Kate Brown, who is bisexual and has led Oregon since 2015). The American press, however, does not include in this count former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey, who resigned in 2004 after a same-sex extramarital affair was revealed.
History has been made. huffp.st/FPe5mOL
At 43, Jared Polis – who after his victory thanked his partner Marlon Reis – is the true champion of the rainbow wave that swept the nation (in place of the "blue", i.e. Democratic, wave that had been expected at the midterm elections but which never actually materialised). Jewish by faith and in politics for about twenty years, he was elected in 2009 as Colorado's representative in the House: on that occasion too, he did not conceal his sexual orientation. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Forbes ranks him as the third wealthiest man in Congress: he invested 20 million dollars of his own money in his campaign.
Such a substantial fortune was built through family business activities linked to e-commerce and media. Among other things, his programme includes a transition to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2040 and the creation of nurseries and gardens for children across the state. But Polis has also declared himself in favour of the legalisation of marijuana and a reform of immigration policy.
Sharice Davids is the first LGBT person elected to Congress from Kansas
Another particularly significant election is that of Sharice Davids, who became the first LGBT and Native American person to represent Kansas in Congress. A Democrat, she defeated Republican Kevin Yoder. The 38-year-old identifies as a lesbian and previously worked with then-President Barack Obama https://www.lifegate.it/persone/news/la-dottrina-obama at the White House.
In New Hampshire, too, an openly gay representative was elected to Congress for the first time: he is Democrat Chris Pappas: "The voters of my state sent a clear message: when America faces a challenge, it does not give up. And we do not surrender to fear and anger. We will persevere."
New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas (@ChrisPappasNH) is projected to win election to the U.S. House, according to the @AP. He will be the first openly gay person to represent New Hampshire in Congress.
More: pbs.org/newshour #Midterms2018
More: pbs.org/newshour #Midterms2018
In Minnesota, the man who compared gay people to rapists was defeated
In Minnesota, meanwhile, Angie Craig, openly lesbian, defeated Republican Jason Lewis. This too is the first time an openly gay person has been elected to Congress from this state. And the contest was particularly significant, given that the conservative candidate had on several occasions spoken out against the LGBT community, going so far as to compare its members to "rapists".
Two transgender women were also elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives. They are Democrats Gerri Cannon and Lisa Bunker. The same victory was achieved by Susan Ruiz and Brand Woodard in Kansas: they too are the first openly LGBT individuals to have been elected there. The list also includes Zach Wahls (elected in Iowa), Malcom Kenyatta (Pennsylvania, the first openly gay person of colour), and Teri Johnston (the first lesbian mayor of Key West, Florida).
Furthermore, bisexual Oregon governor Kate Brown and gay Democratic senator Tammy Baldwin were both re-elected. Finally, in Massachusetts, voters rejected a measure to repeal the law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity in public places or places open to the public.