Today is the day! At around 2PM I will be officially sworn in as the Senator from the First Senate District. I’m excited!
I’ll take my oath today on my childhood bible, given to me when I was 8 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where I still attend today.
You get to pick whatever you’d like to swear in on and this is what I’ve chosen!
I have had my outfit laid out for a few days. These are the moments you plan for!
Like every day, I’m wearing my wedding ring. When I swear in with my left hand on the bible, it will be like Andy is right there with me. I know he is proud of me.
When I swear in, I’ll be reciting Delaware’s oath of office.
The Delaware oath focuses on power from the people and public interest… naturally, I, a statriot, think it is perfect.
Getting ready to go!
Rebekah and Trinity, two young trans advocates, are with me today. I asked them to hold the Bible while I take the oath. They inspire me every day.
I’m at the Claymont Community Center, which was once the Claymont High School. It was the first high school in a segregated state to be legally integrated.
The story of this building represents two enduring truths: that we can change and that we share a neighborly duty to care.
That change only occurred because Delawareans like the Claymont 12 and other young people dared to challenge the injustice of the status quo and to dream of a different world.
Some friends and family were able to join. Of course my mom, Sal, is here.
And here is my speech. Each legislator got three minutes, so I wanted to make it count.
Thanks for coming along with me today!
There is so much work to do, and I want you to join me on this journey. actionnetwork.org/forms/join-sar…
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Question for #lawtwitter. My family and I are having a discussion: a family member (and others on this website) has put forward that Congress could pass legislation deeming Trump not qualified to serve as president under section 3 of 14th Amdt. My sense is that for that section
to apply, it would require some legal determination of guilt of insurrection or rebellion by an article iii body. Short of that, legislation applying to Donald Trump would be, in effect, a bill of attainder.
Of course the constitution creates an all legislative mechanism for disqualification from federal office in the impeachment and removal process, but that requires a 2/3rds majority in the senate.
Seven years ago, my parents and I drove down to Legislative Hall to testify before the Delaware State Senate and to urge them to pass the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act. (1/9)
Standing on the floor of the Delaware State Senate and with tears in our eyes, my parents and I shared our family’s story and asked for something simple: the equal protection of our laws. (2/9)
Fighting for your basic rights can be a demoralizing and dehumanizing experience. When there is no one like you in government, it can be lonely and scary. (3/9)
Donald Trump's roll back of health care protections for LGBTQ people puts millions at risk.
These protections were my late husband Andy's life’s work - an advancement he didn't see before he passed away from cancer. (Thread)
I know the fear of discrimination in health care. I’ve felt it myself. And I saw it in Andy’s eyes as he battled cancer as a transgender man -- the creeping fear that his disease might meet discrimination that could be deadly.
Despite Andy’s cancer eventually taking his life, we were still both lucky -- lucky not to have faced discrimination, lucky to have care, and lucky that his care bought us time to live and love as much as possible. Many aren’t nearly as lucky.
This happened to me earlier today. We had just concluded a really powerful meeting with parents of transgender youth and members of Congress and I won't let this incident diminish the love, pride and solidarity that filled that room just moments before. gaystarnews.com/article/video-…
The sad truth is that this kind of harassment is the reality for far too many transgender people, particularly trans women of color, across the country and around the world.
Throughout the incident, I thought about the trans youth who have to experience their hostility and bullying day-in and day-out in the United Kingdom.