US Democrats Feature First Transgender Speaker at Party Convention

Americans will see the first openly transgender person address a national convention of either major political party when activist Sarah McBride takes the stage Thursday ahead of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

 

“I’m honored for this opportunity to share my story,” McBride, a spokeswoman for the Washington-based Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement on the organization’s website.

 

“People must understand that even as we face daily harassment, tragic violence and an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning) political attacks across the country, we are real people merely seeking to be treated with the dignity and respect every person deserves,” she added.

 

But McBride’s convention speech in Philadelphia won’t be the only milestone for the LGBT community in this year’s election cycle.

 

Last week, Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential nominee to speak inclusively of sexual minorities in his acceptance speech before thousands of party delegates more accustomed to hearing denunciations of gays and lesbians.

 

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