> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Texas elects first gay officeholder
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/texas-elects-first-gay-officeholder/
- Published: 2021-06-08T08:30:06.000Z
- Updated: 2021-06-08T08:30:06.000Z
- Description: Texas has elected its first out gay black officeholder in history.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Queer Corner, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Victory Fund, Texas, US

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/jalen_mckee-600-400.jpg)

Photo: votejalen.com

Texas has elected its first out gay black officeholder in history after former teacher **Jalen McKee-Rodriguez** was voted in to join the **San Antonio** city council on **June 5** **.** According to *[Texas News Today](https://texasnewstoday.com/jalen-mckee-rodriguez-announces-to-san-antonio-city-council-member-that-he-is-the-first-gay/301569/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)*, 25-year-old McKee-Rodriguez won with 63% of the vote, while his opponent, **Andrew Sullivan**, got 37% – a difference of 1,230 votes. Following his victory, he swore to be a *“hard-working leader every day.”*

He added: *“What we have proved, and what the community has proved, is everyone worthy of representation. And if you have the right motives, the right passion…people will trust it.”* President of the **LGBTQ Victory Fund** and former Houston mayor, **Annise Parker**, congratulated McKee-Rodriguez, telling the *[Los Angeles Blade](https://www.losangelesblade.com/2021/06/05/first-gay-black-man-elected-in-texas-beats-anti-lgbtq-incumbent/?%5F%5Fcf%5Fchl%5Fjschl%5Ftk%5F%5F=a5d6002e30d4125d5302f701c94c984cbc7fbfa9-1623053161-0-AVgqI99WieKCfg3Ze0X6qrWqwY7qCR%5FKQDMluOcNiQAaAcElcuouN0pqDinQ2z3YcjhLlG1z5qGjfOjj5W6eM2i2Dj5TRBWW8NkoaC8CftTQu%5FTOUzdzGklSD5EDQerAo%5FgcELvLhKj2ovGQY3iirqOrw%5FaphPB3tR66SK0nEzCGLN5TXq1BEvQ4tnzxRDvNSO2ujI0zqdce6qBFpZ75S2qVw7XDyU4loECjaJiEcCB1eCLIHYns5%5FdXW7BEuwGk0VPr3PPHk%5F8RNoEpTXYmApH-bzwq94kMVykMB-FX%5FuQm%5FbVyy5B%5F9P23yIpw8WAENSqgFOuds5pFpXqiUqxqveBKIA7tDOZZorCgHatQqFaJbgBO2%5FNurVPk6kIGOEk3AaQeGMxj3E6iny1ZioySIBOAxl2NYawwHwcfpVeYiZWLbQVR7zMFME8lZ3l1upV7a5T8S3ci%5FkQ7Boqyp7gUu-qbUbTHzUtM6Vu65e6ALECJlqMvRxUePaO525A0DZeHxlbkbXEemcmeUoS3eCRET5%5FabztqmVS42GwhWx6J4JoDrjoYAq347kgpZrZbIYgZBQ&ref=scenemag.co.uk)*: *“Jalen shattered a lavender ceiling in Texas”.*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/jalen_mckee_rodriguez-600-400.jpg)

She pointed out that his victory *“came as right-wing state legislators target LGBTQ+ people and people of color with bigoted policies aimed at rallying their extremist political base”,* and said: *“We need more people of colour, young people and LGBTQ+ people in state and local government who will ensure politicians look to improve the lives of Texans, not further marginalise them.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/rainbow-flag-pride-lgbt-600-400.jpg)