It has always been difficult for the African-American, LGBTQIA+ Community, Muslims and the Women all over the world to receive a social recognition.
People belonging to Black population and the LGBTQIA+ Community have been faced much more discrimination compared to the 'Whites' due to their sexuality. Hence they have had to combat racism and homophobia.
Yet, United States elections has seen to brought in equality by providing an equal opportunity to the people belonging to various 'not-so-recognised' Community.
Kamala Devi Harris: Vice–President Elect of United States
Kamala Harris, 56-year old California senator since 2017, is the first female, first black, the first Asian, and also the first Indian – American Vice – President elect of the United States. She’s the first ever Indian – American and one of the only three Asian Americans to serve in the chamber.
Previously, she had been the 27th district attorney for San Francisco – the first woman, and the first African – American and Indian-origin to be elected in the position. She has also served as the 32nd Attorney General of California and also ran for the democratic nomination president last year.
Harris is a Multiracial American. While she was nominated in August, various discussions regarding her background and biracial identity as a daughter of a Jamaican immigrant father and an Indian immigrant mother was made.
For years, she has been seen and identified as a Black Women in the eye of the public. Also, along with her South Asian identity, in spite of her previous achievements, she was rarely mentioned in the media coverage until recently.
Mauree Turner: Member-Elect of Oklahoma’s House of Representatives
Mauree Turner, a 27-year old American Politician and Community organizer is the first publicly non-binary US State lawmaker, the first Muslim member of the Oklahoma Legislature, a member-elect of Oklahoma's House of Representatives from the 88th District, winning about 71% of votes.
She had previously served as a board member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and led the 'Campaigning for Smart Justice' criminal justice reform initiatives with the American Civil Liberties Union.
Turner had spent most of her life fighting for issues like racial injustice, criminal justice and immigration rights.
Living in Oklahoma as a Black American Muslim Queer, she had not been seen or heard by lawmakers and her campaign ran on platform seeking to drive conversations regarding what inclusive representative looks like.
Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones: First Two Gay Black Men Elected to Congress
Ritchie John Torres, a 32-year old American politician from New York, and a member of the Democratic party, is the New York City council member for the 15th district. Torres was raised by a single mother on minimum wage and had to struggle with depression and substance abuse.
Along with Richie Torres, Mondaire Jones, a 33 year old American attorney politician from New York, has won the Democratic US Representative elect for New York’s 17th district.
Growing up poor, gay and black, Jones had never imagined someone like him running for Congress. Also, Jones also mentioned that, “Indeed, in the 244-year history of the United States, there has never been an openly gay, black member of Congress”
Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones have become the first two openly gay Black men Elected to Congress!
Wilton Gregory: America’s First Black Cardinal
Wilton Daniel Gregory, a 72-year old Chicago born American, was appointed by Pope Francis as an American cardinal of the Catholic Church, Archbishop of Washington in 2019. Previously, Gregory was the president of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 2001 to 2004.
Gregory was the face of the American church's response to the sexual abuse. The bishops' conference adopted a binding national policy whose aim was to remove from the ministry, any priest who was known to have abused a minor and to report child sexual abuse to the civil authorities.
Raised by Pope Francis, he is the first African American Catholic Cardinal.
Sarah McBride: America's First Openly Transgender State Senator
Sarah McBride, a 30-year old American activist and a politician is now a Member-Elect of the Delaware Senate from the 1st district. She will become the first Transgender State Senator in the Country, which makes her the highest-ranking Transgender official in the history of United States.
From 'unwavering aches' to 'advocacy', Sarah’s journal breaks barriers as an transgender women. “I would go into my bathroom, look into the mirror and say out loud, 'I'm transgender'. And then instantly, I would feel a ton of shame and say, 'No, I'm not. No, I'm not”, says McBride.
Over the years, Sarah’s passion towards politics grew but then, she has felt that her identity would stop her from reaching her dreams. Sarah hoped that she would eventually feel complete if she spent her life working towards equality.
Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids: First Native American Women Elected to Congress
Debra Anne Haaland, a 59-year old American politician, had been elected as a Member of the United States House of Representatives from New Mexico’s First District in 2018, winning the re-election in November 2020.
Deb, who grew up in a military family, had struggled as a single mom and being homeless.
Sharice Lynnette Davids, a 40 year old American attorney, a politician and a former mixed martial artist has been serving as the United States Representative from Kansas's 3rd Congressional district since 2019.
Davids was being raised by a single mother, being the first in the family to attend University, starting out at Community college and having to work while she was in school, as a carhop or a bartender.
Davids is the first Openly Gay person to claim a seat in Capitol's Chambers and to represent Kansas in federal office.
Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids are the First two Native American Women Elected to the United States Congress.
All Four Congresswomen: 'The Squad' Win Re-Election
‘The Squad' represents the group of 4 women elected in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections. ‘The Squad' includes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashiba Tlaib of Michigan.
United States 2020 election has brought victory to all 4 Congresswomen. 'The Squad’ are women of Colour under 50 and the group has been said to represent the demographic diversity of a younger political generation and the advocacy of progressive policies such as the Green New Deal.
Mighty Power of the African-Americans, LGBTQIA+, Muslims and Women
The African-American, LGBTQIA+, Muslims and Women issues have played a role in elections, direct democracy, discrimination and many more. Over time, the issues evolved and things started to change.
Over time, large subsets of electorate, including Democrats, progressives, non religious voters, and people with LGBTQIA+ friends no longer penalised gay and Lesbian candidates.
Today, the United States elections has seen a diversity in nominations and Candidate winners. The representatives have been chosen not based on their race or ethnicity, but based on their strengths and victories of previous struggles faced by them.
A lot of people belonging to the Blacks, Muslims or even Women in general have been faced discrimination on a daily basis and yet, have managed to prove their place in the society.
It is very important for us to give an opportunity to and appreciate each one of them for ‘who they are' and 'what can they do for the society' rather than judging them based on their ‘gender’ or ‘where do they belong' or ‘who they are sexually attracted to'.
Equality is all that they deserve and the United States elections have proved it!
Written by – Sandhya R
Edited by – Adrija Saha
Written by – Sandhya R
Edited by – Adrija Saha
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