On June 5, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez was elected to represent District 2 for the San Antonio City Council—making him the first openly gay Black man elected to any office in Texas history, KEN5.com reported.
McKee-Rodriguez, 26, defeated the incumbent, City Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan, 63 percent to 37 percent.
An LGBTQ Victory Fund press release stated that McKee-Rodriguez once worked for Andrews-Sullivan, but left her office in 2019 after facing retaliation for reporting anti-gay discrimination and harassment. Recently, poll watchers heard two pastors who endorsed Andrews-Sullivan tell congregants voting for McKee-Rodriguez would be a "sin."
LGBTQ Victory Fund President & CEO Annise Parker said, "Jalen shattered a lavender ceiling in Texas, and it came as right-wing state legislators target LGBTQ people and people of color with bigoted policies aimed at rallying their extremist political base.
"We need more people of color, young people and LGBTQ people in state and local government who will ensure politicians look to improve the lives of Texans, not further marginalize them. Jalen's victory is a rejection of the homophobic and racist politicking so fashionable in Austin and it will inspire more LGBTQ Black leaders to run and win."
According to KEN5.com, the math teacher said the first thing he plans to do while in office is create a more equitable budget.
