Everyone has been breathing some sighs of relief this past few days, so here's another reason to do so. Democrat Mondaire Jones defeated Republican Maureen McArdle Schulman in New York's 17th Congressional District, becoming the first openly gay Black man to be elected to Congress.
On his website Jones makes his background clear, stating he was not immune to the harsh reality of life growing up, in fact, he says he "saw firsthand how working families like his have been shut out of the American Dream by the failure of members of Congress to fight for the people they represent."
Mondaire has the background of a lawyer, nonprofit leader, activist, and many other elements that make him not only a great man, but a great representative. He was raised by his single mother in Rockland County where he was born into a poor and working class lifestyle.
Mondaire lived in New York's 17th congressional district for the majority of his life. While still in high school, he resurrected the Spring Valley NAACP Youth Council, and at age nineteen he was elected chair of the NAACP's National Board of Directors.
Jones also served in the Obama Administration. He was in the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice working on judicial nominations for the White House.
After graduating from Harvard University, he was honored by the Legal Aid Society for his pro bono legal work. The work he did mostly focused on discriminative laws, both local and federal.
The progress that the LGBTQ+ community has made during this election is more than most could have dreamed of. Having a representative in congress that knows not only class and racial issues first hand, but also knows about the struggles of his community will allow us as a group to become more seen and heard as time moves on.
Everyone, breathe a sigh of relief as for America is taking steps forward into a new age of acceptance and love.
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