I am a very proud Northern Virginian today as I report that on Tuesday November 7, 2017, Virginia’s voters elected the first openly transgender person into the Virginia House of Delegates. Danica Roem (Democrat) received 54.59% of the vote in order to unseat incumbent delegate Bob Marshall (Republican and self-proclaimed “chief-homophobe”) who won 45.36% of the vote. Marshall was elected to office thirteen times over the past 26 years, according to his website. This is a pretty big win for Roem.
Roem has been a Northern Virginian local, living in Manassas, for the majority of her life. Since her sex change, she is living the life of a super cool woman. She worked as an award winning reporter and editor for Virginia’s Gainesville Times and Prince William Times for nine years, covering education policy and local politics. Roem has a boyfriend of two years with whom she helps raise his 9-year old girl. According to her interview with Cosmopolitan, Danica Roem is also the co-founder and leader singer of the thrash metal band Cab Ride Home. In summary, she’s the coolest trans-metal head-step-mom legislator ever.
Danica Roem won the election on a platform that surprisingly had very little to do with her sex change. She focused on issues such as the horrible traffic on Route 28 (Thank goodness someone is finally addressing this!), jobs, schools, and equality. Overall, Danica Roem’s campaign website notes her commitment to “work to make Virginia a more inclusive commonwealth for all, no matter where you come from, what you look like, how you worship or who you love.”
When asked about her win over Marshall, Roem replied, with more composure and class than I will ever have, “I don’t attack my constituents. Bob is my constituent now.” I couldn’t be prouder to call Northern Virginia my home and I am looking forward to being represented by such a strong and confident woman.
Note: The views presented in this article are those of the author and do not reflect on Her Campus as a whole.