It was a long night, and we still don't know all of the election results, but here's what we do know: the LGBTQ+ community showed up at the polls and on the ballots!
According to a recent report by the Human Rights Campaign, in the 2022 Midterm election, LGBTQ+ identified people accounted for one-in ten (11.3%) people in the voting eligible population in the United States. By 2030 approximately one-in-seven voters will identify as LGBTQ+.
For the first time in the nation's history, Americans from all 50 states and the District of Columbia had the opportunity to elect an LGBTQ+ person to public office during the 2022 elections. Some noteworthy statistics:
- According to early exit polling, LGBTQ+ voters turned out in larger numbers than in previous midterm elections and supported pro-equality candidates in high numbers.
- Voters in Massachusetts elected their first openly lesbian governor - Maura Healey.
- In Vermont, Becca Balint is the first woman and the first lesbian from the state to head to Congress.
- Jared Polis claimed victory in Colorado, becoming the first openly gay man to be elected then re-elected to a governorship in the US.
- Maryland elected Wes More as their first Black governor. He is also a strong LGBTQ+ ally.
- Numerous transgender and non-binary people were elected to public office, including Sarah McBride as a state senator in Delaware, and James Rosener, who became the first trans man elected to any state legislature. He now represents New Hampshire’s 22nd state House District, Ward 8.
- In a special election earlier this year, Keturah Herron became the first out LGBTQ+ person ever elected to the Kentucky State House. In the midterms, Herron ran for reelection unopposed.
- Christian Manuel-Hayes and Venton Jones have become the first out Black LGBTQ+ men ever elected to the Texas state legislature.
- Jason Hoskins has the distinction of being the first out LGBTQ+ person of color elected to Michigan’s state legislature.
We know that state legislatures will continue to try to pass anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. But your votes for representatives who support equality for ALL Americans is a strong reminder that LGBTQ+ people exist everywhere, and we will continue to work toward nondiscrimination protections in every aspect of our lives.