Sarah McBride

American politician and transgender rights activist (born 1990)

Sarah McBride
A portrait of Sarah McBride taken in 2016. She is wearing a fuschia-colored sweater and is smiling.
McBride, c. 2016
Member of the Delaware Senate
from the 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 4, 2020
Preceded byHarris McDowell III
Personal details
Born (1990-08-09) August 9, 1990 (age 34)
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Andrew Cray
​
​
(m. 2014; died 2014)​
EducationAmerican University (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website
State Assembly website

Sarah Elizabeth 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] 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.[2][3]

Prior to her election, McBride lobbied for the successful passage of legislation in Delaware banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity in employment, housing, insurance, and public accommodations.[4] In July 2016, she was a speaker at the Democratic National Convention, becoming the first openly transgender person to address a major party convention in American history.[5][6][7][8] In 2018, McBride published her book Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality, with a foreword by Joe Biden. McBride has been credited with shaping President Biden's personal views and political evolution on transgender issues.[9]

McBride is a candidate for Delaware's at-large congressional district in the 2024 election to succeed Lisa Blunt Rochester. If elected, she would be the first openly transgender member of Congress.[10]

Early life

Sarah McBride was born in Wilmington, Delaware, to David and Sally McBride on August 9, 1990. Her father was a lawyer for Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor and her mother was a guidance counselor and a founder of the Cab Calloway School of the Arts. McBride graduated from Cab Calloway in 2009 and earned a bachelor's degree from American University in 2013.[11] During this time she had already begun political advocacy.[12][13][14]

Early career

McBride says that she has been interested in politics since she was a child.[15] She worked as a staffer on several campaigns in Delaware, including that of Governor Jack Markell in 2008 and of Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden in 2010. In 2011, McBride 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."[20] 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.[21][20] 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]

Upon signing the legislation, Markell stated:[26]

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.

After passage of this legislation, McBride worked on the LGBT Progress team at the Center for American Progress.[27] McBride has spoken at a number of colleges and LGBT events, including the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner,[20] the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles Dinner,[28] the Victory Fund National Brunch,[29] the University of Pennsylvania,[30] and Gettysburg College.[31] McBride was ranked the Most Valuable Progressive in Delaware by DelawareLiberal.net[32] listed in the 2014 list of the Trans 100,[33] and named one of the fifty upcoming millennials poised to make a difference in the coming years by MIC.com.[34] A 2015 article in the New Statesman on transgender representation in elective office predicted McBride would be the first transgender American elected to high public office.[35] McBride was a panelist at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's "GLOBE Pride 2016" on youth and workplace bullying. McBride has been featured in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Al Jazeera, PBS NewsHour, Teen Vogue, North Carolina Public Radio, The New Yorker, MSNBC, ThinkProgress, BuzzFeed, and NPR.

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]

McBride won her election in November 2020, becoming 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] During her first term, she succssfully sponsored the Healthy Delaware Families Act, which would allow families to take a paid 12-week family or medical leave.[42] The law provides for workers to receive up to 80% of their current wages or a maximum of $900 per week, with the program paid for through automatic payroll contributions.[43][44]

In June 2023, McBride announced her candidacy to represent Delaware's at-large congressional district in the 2024 election to replace Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, who had announced she was running for the U.S. Senate seat left by retiring Senator Tom Carper.[45] If elected in 2024, McBride would become the first openly transgender member of Congress.[10] McBride was endorsed by Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is vacating the seat to run for Senate.[46]

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.[47]

Electoral history

2020 Delaware Senate election, District 1[48][49]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sarah McBride 7,902 91.3
Democratic Joseph McCole 752 8.7
Total votes 8,654 100.0
General election
Democratic Sarah McBride 16,865 73.3
Republican Steve Washington 6,144 26.7
Total votes 23,009 100.0
2022 Delaware Senate election, District 1
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sarah McBride (incumbent) 13,204 100.0
Total votes 13,204 100.0

References

  1. ^ Acosta, Lucas (September 16, 2020). "Human Rights Campaign on Sarah McBride's History-Making Campaign". Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Epstein, Reid J. (September 15, 2020). "Sarah McBride Is Set to Be the Nation's Highest-Ranking Transgender Official". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Johnson, Chris (November 3, 2020). "Sarah McBride Is Set to Be the Nation's Highest-Ranking Transgender Official". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  4. ^ Karlan, Sarah (June 20, 2013). "Delaware Passes Trans Protections, With Help From A Young Advocate". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  5. ^ Lorenz, Brandon (July 24, 2016). "HRC's Sarah McBride, Chad Griffin to Speak at DNC". Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  6. ^ Badash, David (July 24, 2016). "At This Week's DNC Sarah McBride Will Become First Openly-Transgender Speaker to Address Major Party". New Civil Rights Movement. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  7. ^ Savransky, Rebecca (July 24, 2016). "Dems add first transgender speaker to convention lineup". The Hill. Archived from the original on July 26, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  8. ^ "HRC's Sarah McBride to become first openly trans person to speak at a major party convention". Gay Times. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  9. ^ Ward, Myah (July 4, 2023). "The Delaware senator who transformed Joe Biden's view of transgender rights". Politico. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Sarah McBride announces run for US House seat to become first trans member of Congress". The News Journal. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  11. ^ "Senator Sarah McBride (D)". Delaware General Assembly. Dover DE. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  12. ^ Blakely, Rhys (March 17, 2018). "Sarah McBride: is she the transgender woman to change American politics?". The Times. London, UK. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  13. ^ Cohen, Celia (June 13, 2013). "Only in Delaware (Excerpt)". Delaware Grapevine. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  14. ^ Zawadi, Lucy (November 11, 2020). "Sarah McBride biography: parents, transition, marriage, platform". Legit.ng. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  15. ^ Saksa, Jim (August 15, 2024). "On track to be first trans member, Sarah McBride has hope for Congress". Roll Call. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  16. ^ McBride, Sarah (May 1, 2012). "Op-Ed: The Real Me". The Eagle. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  17. ^ Landau, Lauren (June 8, 2012). "From Tim To Sarah: AU Student Body President Unveils Big News". WAMU 88.5. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  18. ^ McBride, Sarah (May 9, 2012). "The Real Me". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  19. ^ "Coming Out Ok". Born This Way Foundation. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  20. ^ a b c Landau, Lauren (December 20, 2013). "One Woman's Life After Coming Out As Transgender". WAMU 88.5. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  21. ^ "Transgender White House intern reflects on Obama's historic LGBT legacy". The Washington Post. December 1, 2015. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  22. ^ "Jill Biden on LGBT Rights at Human Rights Campaign Dinner". U.S. Embassy. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  23. ^ "The McBride Family Talks About Gender Identity Protections". YouTube. February 11, 2013. Archived from the original on December 7, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  24. ^ Lavers, Michael (June 25, 2013). "AU graduate credited with securing passage of Del. transgender rights bill". The Washington Blade. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  25. ^ Rini, Jen (June 19, 2013). "Delaware Senate OKs transgender bill; Markell signs into law". Delaware State News. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  26. ^ "Governor Signs Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act". State of Delaware News. June 19, 2013. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  27. ^ "Sarah McBride". Center for American Progress. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  28. ^ "Sarah McBride in Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles Gala 2015". Zimbio. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  29. ^ "Victory Fund National Campaign Brunch, Washington, D.C." VICTORY Magazine. 1 (2): 44. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
  30. ^ "Statewide LGBT Youth Conference on Transgender Justice to be Held at the University of Pennsylvania February 14-16, 2014". Erie Gay News. February 6, 2014. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  31. ^ "Sarah McBride: Being Trans* and a Leader". WHP CBS 21 News. March 4, 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  32. ^ "Honoring the 2013 MVP's (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause)". Delaware Liberal. December 31, 2013. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  33. ^ Simon, Carolyn (March 31, 2014). "Trans 100 List Honors Transgender Visibility". Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  34. ^ "Meet the Mic 50: Sarah McBride". Mic. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  35. ^ "The invisibility of transgender people in electoral politics around the world". www.newstatesman.com. The New Statesman. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  36. ^ McBride, Sarah (April 2016). "Gender assigned to us at birth should not dictate who we are". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  37. ^ "Green Gard in USA: what is it? What kind of Benefits of Green Card you can get?". GreenCardinUSA.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  38. ^ "Who is Sarah McBride? A transgender activist who broke barriers at the White House". Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  39. ^ Avery, Daniel (July 9, 2019). "Who Is Sarah McBride? Transgender Activist Announces Run for Delaware Senate." Archived March 13, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Newsweek. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  40. ^ Mueller, Sarah (July 9, 2019). "Activist Sarah McBride launches bid for Delaware State Senate seat". Delaware Public Media. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  41. ^ Chase, Randall (November 4, 2020). "Delaware elects country's first transgender state senator". The Peterborough Examiner. Peterborough ON. The Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  42. ^ "Bill Detail - Delaware General Assembly". legis.delaware.gov. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  43. ^ Cherry, Amy (May 5, 2021). "Lawmakers introduce paid family, medical leave program for Delaware workers". WDEL 101.7FM. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  44. ^ "Fiscal Note for SS2 to SB1". Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  45. ^ Huynh, Anjali (June 26, 2023). "Delaware Lawmaker Aims to Be First Openly Transgender House Member". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  46. ^ "Del. State Sen. Sarah McBride could become the first trans person in Congress". WHYY-TV. June 13, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  47. ^ "Forever And Ever: Losing My Husband At 24". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  48. ^ "2020 State Primary Election Report". Dleware Department of Elections. Archived from the original on February 18, 2024.
  49. ^ "2020 State General Election Report". Dleware Department of Elections. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024.

Further reading

  • Reynolds, Andrew (October 15, 2018). The children of Harvey Milk : how LGBTQ politicians changed the world. Oxford University Press. pp. 149–167. ISBN 9780190460952.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sarah McBride.
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Delaware Senate
Preceded by Member of the Delaware Senate
from the 1st district
2021–Present 		Incumbent
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Members of the Delaware Senate
152nd General Assembly (2023–2025)
President of the Senate
Bethany Hall-Long (D)
President pro tempore
David Sokola (D)
Majority Leader
Bryan Townsend (D)
Minority Leader
Gerald Hocker (R)
  1. ▌Sarah McBride (D)
  2. ▌Darius J. Brown (D)
  3. ▌Elizabeth Lockman (D)
  4. ▌Laura Sturgeon (D)
  5. ▌Kyle Evans Gay (D)
  6. ▌Russ Huxtable (D)
  7. ▌Spiros Mantzavinos (D)
  8. ▌David Sokola (D)
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  10. ▌Stephanie Hansen (D)
  11. ▌Bryan Townsend (D)
  12. ▌Nicole Poore (D)
  13. ▌Marie Pinkney (D)
  14. ▌Kyra Hoffner (D)
  15. ▌David G. Lawson (R)
  16. ▌Eric Buckson (R)
  17. ▌W. Charles Paradee (D)
  18. ▌David L. Wilson (R)
  19. ▌Brian G. Pettyjohn (R)
  20. ▌Gerald Hocker (R)
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