In a historic win for visibility and inclusion, a small Pennsylvania town has just elected the state’s first-ever out transgender mayor. Erica Deuso, a Democrat and trans woman, will now lead Downingtown, a town of about 8,000 residents, located 30 miles west of Philadelphia. Final results show Deuso earning 64 percent of the vote against Republican Rich Bryant’s 35 percent. After the victory, Deuso said that the win “shows what we can accomplish when we come together with respect, hope, and purpose.
Being elected as Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor is deeply meaningful… I hope it reminds anyone who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or underestimated that your voice matters.” Deuso, who moved to Downingtown in 2007, lives with her husband, Michael, their dog, and three cats. She’s served on several equality-focused boards and was endorsed by the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. The group’s president, Evan Low, said, “With Erica Deuso’s election, Downingtown has made history — and sent a message far beyond Pennsylvania….Her leadership will inspire trans youth across the country who are looking for hope in a time of relentless attacks.”
