Openly Trans Person Addresses Convention for 1st Time Ever

Sarah McBride just made history
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 28, 2016 5:54 PM CDT
Openly Trans Person Addresses Convention for 1st Time Ever
LGBT rights activist Sarah McBride takes the stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Thursday.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

A historic first just happened at the Democratic National Convention—and this time we're not talking about the nomination of Hillary Clinton. When Sarah McBride took the stage to speak Thursday she became the first openly transgender person to address a national party convention, Vox reports. Introducing herself as a "proud transgender American," McBride told the convention: “Today in America, LGBTQ people are targeted by hate that lives in both laws and hearts...But I believe tomorrow can be different. Tomorrow, we can be respected and protected.” According to Haaretz, McBride went on to criticize Donald Trump as "an enemy of LGBTQ rights."

Firsts are nothing new for McBride, the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign. She was the first openly transgender White House intern, according to People. She says she agreed to speak Thursday so that "any young girl" will know "they can be respected as the equal humans that we all are." The 25-year-old McBride also talked about the death of her husband from cancer shortly after their wedding, Slate reports. "His passing taught me that every day matters when it comes to building a world where every person can live their life to the fullest," she said. With more than two-dozen openly transgender delegates, Slate says the convention is likely the "most trans-inclusive official political event in American history." (More transgender stories.)

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