Two New Yorkers became the first gay black men to be elected to the US Congress
Two New Yorkers this week became the first gay black man elected to the US Congress, making strides in the field of LGBTQ rights.
Democrats Ritchie Torres, a gay black man from the Bronx in New York City, and Moonder Jones, a gay black man from a suburb of New York City, won seats in the US House of Representatives.
“A wise person once said: If you don’t have a seat at the table, you are probably on the list,” Torres told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “With Mondere Jones and me, LGBT people of color will have a seat at one of the strongest tables, the United States Congress.”
Their election came in the form of a liberal “blue wave” that some critics had expected, but it did not materialize, and the Republicans seemed ready to retain control of the US Senate and get rid of the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.
“In general, it’s a disappointment,” said Torres, who said he hoped the Democrats would sweep the presidency, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Instead, we are likely to have a divided government that may lead to more stalemate. “
Jones said he found support among progressive voters who said they were less enthusiastic about the centrist opinions of the Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, who was running against Republican President Donald Trump.
Jones said, “I met many people … who told me that voting for me was the first time they were excited to vote for any candidate.”
