Meet Virginia's First Openly Transgender State Lawmaker

Danica Roem made history Tuesday night when she was elected to become Virginia’s first openly transgender state lawmaker—one of a spate of historic victories on Election Day 2017.

The win was made a little sweeter by the fact that Roem defeated incumbent Republican Bob Marshall, a 26-year veteran of Virginia’s state legislature who introduced an anti-trans bathroom bill earlier this year.

“I want to make a point here that no matter what you look like, where you come from, how you worship, who you love, how you identify…We are stronger together,” Roem said in a passionate victory speech on Tuesday night.