Jaelynn Scott has made history as the first openly transgender Black woman elected to a state legislature in the United States.
Scott, a Democrat, won a seat in Washington's House of Representatives, defeating independent candidate Evon McCorkle in the states’s 37th Legislative District, which includes parts of Seattle and Renton, WUSA9 reported.
In an interview with KING 5 News, Scott said she recognizes the significance of her election but does not want the historic milestone to overshadow the work ahead.
“I'm not here for myself,” Scott told KING 5.
Scott also told the station that she feels a responsibility to young transgender people, LGBTQ+ youth and young girls of color who see themselves represented in her.
“Young trans girls, young LGBTQ folk, young girls of color look at me with a brightness and a hope in their eyes,” Scott told KING 5. “And that is responsibility that I take on to honor them, to honor myself and to do my best.”
Scott serves as executive director of the Lavender Rights Project, where she works to expand social safety nets and advance justice for Black gender-diverse communities. She also holds a Master of Divinity from Naropa University and has served as an ordained minister and community leader, according to her website.
As she prepares to take office, Scott said she intends to challenge Initiative 638, a measure Washington voters approved in the November election that restricts transgender girls from competing on girls' school sports teams.
“Look at 638 and know that we're going to fight, and we're going to fight hard, to undo it,” Scott told KING 5.
Scott added that her legislative priorities include expanding affordable housing, addressing child care costs, improving health care access and strengthening social safety nets. She also said one of her first proposed bills would establish a mid-sentence review process for juveniles held in detention facilities.
Scott is expected to take office when Washington Legislature convenes in January 2027.
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