House Democrat Hangs 'Trans Pride' Flag Outside Capitol office
Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton claims she received an outpouring of support for hanging fla
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Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton claims she received an outpouring of support after she hung a transgender pride flag outside her Capitol office.
Wexton, who was elected last November, hung the flag representing the transgender community in the Longworth House Office Building alongside an American flag and the Virginia state flag.
Traditionally, lawmakers display the American and state flags but can opt to choose what flags they want.
Wexton’s chief of staff, Abby Carter, said that the flag was a statement about trans inclusion, according to NBC News.
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"This is personal for me. We're talking about my family and friends,” said Wexton, the aunt of a transgender child, in a statement.
"I want everyone in the trans community to know that they are welcome and loved even in the face of this administration and its attacks on who they are."
“I didn’t think to put it up would be a big deal, but I've received a huge outpouring of support and appreciation from the LGBT community in the past two days," she said.
The trans flag is proudly & openly displayed next to the Virginia flag outside @RepWexton’s new office! She said to me, “Did you see the flag?! I think we’re the only office on the Hill with one.” To all her volunteers: the flag is there because of you & for you! Change is here! pic.twitter.com/s0iGgoxOgH
— Narissa Rahaman (@MayorBrown) January 3, 2019
According to Washingtonian Wexton has been a consistent proponent of equal rights while serving in the Virginia Senate.
While she was there, the state Senate passed two pro-LGBT pieces of legislation that protect gay and transgender residents from housing and public employment discrimination.
The Human Rights Campaign endorsed her both for state Senate and for her current office, which she won by defeating Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock. (Comstock, notably, voted against a GOP amendment that would ban transgender people from serving in the military.)
