This year's midterm elections were a huge victory for historically marginalized groups, including the Black LGBTQ community.
Althea Garrison, a Black trans woman, is now slated to serve on the Boston City Council seat that has cleared after Ayanna Presley won a congressional seat in the House of Representatives. Pressley made history by becoming the first Black woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress as the future representative for Boston’s 7th Congressional District.
Now that Presley is no longer holding the title, Garrison will be the second Black woman to serve as a state rep for Massachusetts' 5th Suffolk District. However, this is not the first title Garrison has held; she is also the first openly trans state legislator.
The 78-year-old has been entrenched in politics for over 30 years, with her first major position as a state representative for Massachusetts where she served from 1993 to 1995. In an interview with WBUR News, Garrison described herself as a “Black conservative” who also has some “liberal” and independent” ideas.
"I'm basically a conservative, but I also have some liberal ideas," she stated. "I am a conservative; I am independent also," Garrison continued. "A Black conservative.”
Garrison also shared with the Dorchester Reporter that she would like to tackle housing, public transportation and issues plaguing senior citizens including plastic bag use.
Now, check these out:
New Report Puts The Spotlight On The Black Transgender Experience
