DNC LGBT: Record-breaking 28 transgender delegates
by Robin Dorner
Editor in Chief
“About one-third of our delegation is transgender!” said Laura Calvo, the former co-chair of the Southern Oregon LGBT Political Caucus. She was referring to the 2016 delegation to the Democratic National Convention. She added that this year there are an astounding 28 transgender members of the Democratic LGBT caucus.
According to the Democratic Party of Oregon’s website, Calvo has many LGBT and political accolades to her resume’: regional director on the board of National Stonewall Democrats, Hillary Clinton National LGBT Steering Committee and member of the Obama National Policy and Finance Committee [once Senator Obama won the nomination].
There are also several all-gender restrooms at the Wells Fargo Center.
During yesterday’s LGBT caucus meeting, it was announced that there are 516 delegates who’ve self-identified as LGBT which includes a record-breaking 28 transgender delegates. That’s 11.5 percent of all delegates.
“We have 28 transgender delegates at this convention, the largest of any convention,” said Melissa Sklarz, former Stonewall Democrat NYC President and 2016 delegate to the Democratic Party. “In the past, ‘the T’ was silent.”
Further, now there are 28 [transgender] delegates, and even more transgender people attending the Convention and there are about all-gender restrooms at the Wells Fargo Center.
On July 22, Sklarz wrote this on her FB page: “It is official. I have confirmed both numbers. There will be more trans delegates at the Democratic National Convention than African American delegates at the Republican National Convention [RNC]. The tally is 26-18.”
The RNC has one transgender delegate.
The LGBT caucus will meet once more before the end of convention. The convening is tomorrow at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from 12-2 p.m.
Copyright The Gayly 7/27/2016 @ 4:49 p.m. E.D.T.