Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones, two Democrats running for New York
City-area U.S. House districts, claimed victory on Tuesday.
Torres
becomes the first LGBTQ+ Afro-Latinx person elected to Congress, and Jones
joins Torres as one of the two first LGBTQ+ Black candidates elected to the the
body. Both are gay men.
Jones, who won
in New York's 17th Congressional District, just north of NYC, is an attorney
who most recently worked in Westchester County's Law Department.
Torres will
represent New York's 15th Congressional District in the Bronx; he defeated
Rubén Díaz Sr, a notorious homophobe in the primary. Torres currently
serves on the New York City Council.
The LGBTQ
Victory Fund, which works to elect out candidates, released statements on both
men's wins.
“Most would
have thought New York City’s first LGBTQ member of Congress would be from
Chelsea or Greenwich Village or Hell’s Kitchen, but the Bronx beat them to it,”
said Victory Fund President CEO Annise Parker. “As our nation attempts to
tackle systemic racism, police reform and healthcare disparities, Ritchie’s
lived experience as an out LGBTQ Afro-Latinx man will bring an essential
perspective to Capitol Hill. Ritchie’s election gives hope at a time when many
Americans desperately need it. He will become a role model for LGBTQ youth in
the Bronx and beyond.”
Of Jones, she
said, “Mondaire’s victory is a milestone moment in our nation’s politics and
his victory will inspire more people of color and LGBTQ people to run for
office in their communities. Mondaire has been witness to the injustices faced
by Black people, LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities and he ran for
Congress to be in a position to address them. He will be a powerful voice for
change and his impact will extend well beyond a single vote in the U.S. House.”
SOURCE: ADVOCATE
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