DOVER — Delawarean Sarah McBride will become the first openly transgender person to speak at a major political party’s convention when she takes the stage at the Democratic National Convention Thursday.
The Human Rights Campaign announced Sunday Ms. McBride, a Wilmington native, will speak on the final day of the convention.
“I’m honored for this opportunity to share my story and to be the first transgender person to speak at a major party convention,” Ms. McBride, the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement. “People must understand that even as we face daily harassment, tragic violence and an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ political attacks across the country, we are real people merely seeking to be treated with the dignity and respect every person deserves. I’m so proud to stand with the LGBT Caucus and speak out in support of Hillary Clinton, because we know she stands with us.”
Ms. McBride has been involved in Delaware politics helping Democratic candidates, including current Gov. Jack Markell and former Attorney General Beau Biden. She advocated for the 2013 passage of legislation in the Delaware General Assembly that bars discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
Gov. Markell in a statement said he and his wife “are incredibly proud of not only her personal courage but also her leadership in working to fight for the civil rights and fair treatment of all people. Sarah has an inspiring story to tell and I’m thrilled that her speech provides a national platform to increase awareness and support for all our people and to advance the cause of equality.”