The 2024 elections proved to be historic on many levels. For only the second time, a presidential candidate will serve a non-consecutive four-year term in The White House. Voters also paved the way for the first openly transgender member of Congress.

“I think that it’s absolutely incredible that Sarah McBride has been able to shatter that glass ceiling,” said NEW Pride Agenda Executive Director Elisa Crespo.

McBride made history three years ago when she became the first openly transgender state senator in her home state of Delaware. Now she’s off to the nation’s capital representing Delaware’s at-large congressional district in the House of Representatives, energizing the LQBTQ+ community far and wide.

“I think it remains to be seen how Sarah chooses to govern and what issues she chooses to prioritize,” Crespo said.

Crespo believes having a voice like McBride’s in the halls of power gives hope to the LGBTQ+ community.

“The Equality Act. We absolutely have to move that forward,” she said. “Especially during these hyper-polarized, divisive times that we live in.”

Crespo said a Trump win is disconcerting.

“I think that we, as queer and trans people, have been here before,” she said. “We have the blueprint.”

She points to several actions taken by Trump’s former administration, including the removal of trans people from the military which Trump argued was implemented due to transgender drug use.

“A lot of communities have been on the receiving end of very devise rhetoric and misinformation,” Crespo said.

Crespo also pointed to a Trump-era rule that reversed some gender-based discrimination protections.

“I have faith that we’ll be able to organize, to strategize, to come together as a community and support each other when systems are failing us,” Crespo said.

Systems Crespo hopes McBride’s victory in Delaware inspires more trans people to become a part of.

“This role is for them too, and this arena is for them too. And they don’t necessarily have to wait their turn or be given permission,” she said.