Sarah E. McBride (born August 9, 1990) is an American activist and politician who has been a Democratic member of the Delaware Senate since January 2021. She was previously the National Press Secretary of the Human Rights Campaign.[1][2][3] She won in the November 2020 election in the safely Democratic 1st Delaware State Senate district. As the first openly transgender state senator in the country, she is the highest-ranking transgender elected official in United States history.[4][5]
McBride worked as a staffer on several campaigns in Delaware, including that of Governor Jack Markell's in 2008 and of Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden's in 2010. In 2011 McBride was still in college, and was elected student body president at American University. During her last week as student body president in 2012, McBride gained international attention when she came out as a transgender woman in her college's student newspaper, The Eagle.[16]
McBride's coming out was featured on NPR, The Huffington Post, and by Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation.[17][18][19] After coming out, McBride received a call from Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, saying, "Sarah, I just wanted you to know, I'm so proud of you. I love you, and you're still a part of the Biden family."[citation needed] Vice President Joe Biden expressed similar sentiments, sharing that he was proud of her and happy for her. In 2012, McBride interned at the White House, becoming the first openly transgender woman to work there in any capacity. McBride worked in the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, where she worked on LGBT issues.[20][21] In a speech in May 2015, Second Lady Jill Biden told McBride's story. She added, "we believe young people should be valued for who they are, no matter what they look like, where they're from, the gender with which they identify, or who they love."[22]
McBride in 2018
In January 2013, McBride joined the board of directors of Equality Delaware and quickly became the state's leading advocate for legal protections and hate crimes legislation for transgender Delawareans. McBride and her family led the lobbying effort for legislation protecting Delawareans from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression in employment, housing, insurance, and public accommodations.[23][24] In addition to serving as the primary spokesperson for the legislation, McBride built on her close relationship with Governor Jack Markell and Attorney General Beau Biden to gain the vocal support of both officials behind the bill. The legislation passed the state senate by a margin of one vote and the state house by a vote of 24–17. An amended bill was re-passed by the state senate and immediately signed into law by Markell in June 2013.[25]
I especially want to thank my friend Sarah McBride, an intelligent and talented Delawarean who happens to be transgender. She courageously stood before the General Assembly to describe her personal struggles with gender identity and communicate her desire to return home after her college graduation without fear. Her tireless advocacy for passage of this legislation has made a real difference for all transgender people in Delaware.
In April 2016, McBride delivered a TED Talk titled, "Gender assigned to us at birth should not dictate who we are."[36] She also served on the steering committee of Trans United for Hillary, an effort to educate and mobilize transgender people and their allies in support of Hillary Clinton.[37]
On July 28, 2016, McBride became the first openly transgender person to speak at a national party convention when she spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. In her speech, which lasted less than four minutes, McBride paid tribute to her late husband Andrew Cray and his commitment to LGBT rights.[38]
Political electoral career
On July 9, 2019, McBride formally announced her candidacy for the Delaware Senate.[39] She stated that her focus would be health care and paid family and medical leave.[40]
Elected in November 2020, McBride was sworn in as a member of the Delaware Senate in January 2021. She is the first transgender state senator in United States history. She replaced fellow Democrat Harris McDowell III, who retired at the end of his term.[41]
McBride is the Chair of the Delaware General Assembly Health & Social Services committee. She is also a member of the Corrections & Public Safety, Housing, Judiciary, and Veterans Affairs committees.[12]
McBride sponsored Senate Bill 1, the Healthy Delaware Families Act,[43] a bill to allow families to take a paid 12-week family or medical leave. If passed, workers will be eligible to receive up to 80% of their current wages or a maximum of $900 per week. The paid family and medical leave program would be paid for through automatic payroll contributions of less than 1%. The weekly payroll deduction would be split between an employer and the employee. Businesses with less than 20 employees would not have to pay the employer share; however, their workers would still benefit from the program if and when they need it. The bill has a fiscal note attached to it of over $21,000,000 for the first year; mostly for start-up costs. Annual costs are estimated to be over $7,000,000.[44][45] Senate Bill 1 was passed by the General Assembly on April 14, 2022.
Personal life
In August 2014, McBride married Andrew Cray, who had received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson presided at their ceremony. Four days after their wedding, Cray died from cancer.[46]
Reynolds, Andrew (October 15, 2018). The children of Harvey Milk : how LGBTQ politicians changed the world. Oxford University Press. pp. 149–167. ISBN9780190460952.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sarah McBride.
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