REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - On November 3rd, history was made in Delaware and the nation. Three LGBTQ candidates were elected to the state legislature, in what some call a “rainbow wave.”
The rainbow wave refers to nearly 850 LGBTQ+ candidates that ran for public elected offices in the nation.
One of the candidates, Sarah McBride (D- DE, Senate District 1) is the first transgender state senator in the nation. Marie Pinkney, (D - DE, Senate District 13) is Delaware’s first openly Black lesbian elected to State Senate. In Delaware’s House of Representatives, Eric Morrison (D - DE, 27th District) is the first openly gay man to serve in the state’s legislatures.
"This is historic for us. This is the first time we had 3 openly LGBTQ folks run and win and it's exciting!” said Camp Rehoboth Executive Director, David Mariner.
The organization is celebrating this momentous occasion.
"Sarah and Eric, and Marie, they all grew up in Delaware and they didn't have role models that looked like them in the Delaware State Legislature. They didn't have LGBTQ folks to look up to, and young people today they have that,” said Mariner.
Camp Rehoboth held a Facebook live discussion on Wednesday with Sarah McBride and Eric Morrison.
"A trans teenager sent me an email that said this is the first time he felt hopeful since he came out as trans. And to know that we are collectively sending that message to LGBTQ young people in Delaware and elsewhere it's a privilege,” said McBride.
The impact of these wins up north trickle down to lower Delaware.
"I chatted with Sarah after her primary. She told me I was going to become the dean of LGBTQ elected officials since I was elected 20 years ago,” said political analyst John Brady, who was also the first openly gay elected official in Delaware.
Morrison, a Bridgeville native, plans to speak to students at his high school and junior high school in the near future.
"I am well aware on a deeply personal level how different things can be when you're talking about being LGBTQ in Southern Delaware … I really want to work with them across the state, especially down in Southern Delaware,” said Morrison.
On the Facebook live, McBride says she plans to address many issues that affect the LGBTQ community, that include bullying and violence against gay and transgender individuals.