OUT ON THE HILL is the official blog of the Victory Congressional Interns. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. Learn more about the internship at victoryinstitute.org/vci.
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When I showed up on my first day of work on the Hill, I had no clue what was going on or what I was going to do, but that happens a lot when you’re one of the first or one of the only. As one of the only trans* people on the Hill, I expected to face challenges, but what I didn’t know was that there would be so many amazing possibilities for me as the first summer intern for the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC).
Working for the Progressive Caucus has given me the best opportunities I could ask for. Our team is small, but mighty, and because of this, I was given tasks I could never have dreamed of. On Day 1, I was already assisting in creating the weekly breakdown of bills sent to hundreds of staffers. With the feedback from our policy advisor, by the end of the second week, I was doing the same work with minimal help. This early trust and confidence in my work was an honor and a privilege I took seriously; there was no room for me to just sit by and observe. I chose to step up wherever I was able to, taking advantage of every opportunity within my reach.
The best opportunity I was entrusted with this internship was my capstone policy briefing project on voting rights and barriers. With the guidance of my supervisor, I was able to take my passion and enthusiasm for civic engagement and voting rights and use it to make a real difference on the Hill by bringing in experts that could educate staffers through my briefing. The opportunity to research and contribute my personal experience with civic engagement and voting barriers as a trans person from a rural area in the purplest of purple states was an honor I took seriously. Civic engagement work has been a huge part of my university experience. During the lead-up to the 2024 election, I spent hundreds of hours talking with students about why their vote mattered even when the media was ignoring the voices of young people. That experience opened my eyes to the compounding barriers that different marginalized groups face not only at the polls but also on the journey there. Since then, I’ve been passionate about removing these barriers and continuing to organize at a grassroots level, working to ensure everyone’s voices are heard and represented.
While I was initially nervous about executing a briefing and presenting to such important people, I knew that my team trusted me and were cheering me on. Over 30 different CPC member offices attended my briefing the final week, tuning in to my lived experience with voting barriers, and eagerly listening to our panelists share their knowledge. I am so grateful that my supervisor and the CPC team trusted me to plan and moderate this briefing. Their encouragement this summer has helped me grow into a better leader by entrusting me with important projects, knowing they don’t need to worry about it getting done and done well, all while expanding my knowledge and worldview. I am honored and humbled to consider myself a part of the Progressive Caucus.
