Minneapolis city councilmembers have elected fellow Councilmember Andrea Jenkins to serve as the city council president – the first out trans person to ever serve as president of a city council in the United States. Jenkins – who was serving as city council vice president until her election yesterday – was the first out Black trans woman ever elected to a major city council in 2017. Jenkins is an alum of many of LGBTQ Victory Institute’s candidate and leadership programs, including its Candidate & Campaign Training, Victory Empowerment Fellowship and David Bohnett Leaders Fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute, released the following statement about the election:
“As major cities face unprecedented challenges wrought by the pandemic and incidents of police brutality, Andrea leads her constituents and our country with the calm but steely determination the moment calls for. The unanimous vote from her colleagues is a recognition of that leadership. Andrea is an elected official who serves all, but relentlessly champions those most marginalized, bringing an unmatched ability to spark empathy across divisions and communities. Minneapolis will be a better city with her as president and her history-making election will inspire more trans people to run and lead.”
In 2020, Jenkins became a national figure and leader as protests erupted over the murder of George Floyd, who was killed in her council district. She called his murder “a symbol for a knee on the neck of Black America” and demanded racism be treated as a public health crisis.
About Victory Institute
LGBTQ Victory Institute works to achieve and sustain global equality through leadership development, training, and convening to increase the number, expand the diversity, and ensure the success of openly LGBTQ elected and appointed officials at all levels of government.
