Sabrina Sojourner

Sabrina Sojourner (born October 23, 1952)[2] was the District of Columbia's Shadow Representative for the at-large district from January 1997 until 1999.[3][4] Serving as the third individual in the position, preceded by John Capozzi. She served a single term as Shadow Representative, not seeking reelection in 1999.[5] Sojourner is a member of the Democratic Party.

Sabrina Sojourner
Shadow Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from the District of Columbia's At-large district
In office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 1999
Preceded byJohn Capozzi
Succeeded byTom Bryant Jr.
Personal details
Born (1952-10-23) October 23, 1952
Political partyDemocratic
EducationU.C. Santa Barbara[1]

Sojourner was the first lesbian African-American elected to Congress, along with being the first open lesbian elected to Congress.[2][6][7]

Unlike the non-voting delegate seat, held by representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, the position was created on behalf of the District of Columbia's government and thus is not recognized by the United States Congress. Sojourner was elected to the seat in 1997 at 83% of the vote.[1]

Political History

Prior to her election as D.C. Shadow Representative Sojourner formerly served as an aide to Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Sojourner had also held leadership positions within the National Organization for Women, serving as a lobbyist promoting women's issues.[8]

Sojourner's congressional history primarily focused on gay and lesbian participation in the military, substance abuse, civil rights, police brutality, education, and domestic violence. She also focused on HIV/AIDS support for affected individuals in the D.C area.[9][10] Sojourner's main duty as D.C.'s sole Shadow Representative was to lobby congress in passing full federal representation for the District, citing the Tennessee Plan as evidence to elevate the status of D.C.'s citizens.[11]

Personal Life

Sojourner is an open member of the LGBT community, who came out in 1976.[1] Previously married when she was 18, and having a single son, Sojourner was subject to physical abuse by her former husband before they separated two years later.[1] She currently lives with her domestic partner Letitia Gomez.[12] Sojourner also served as an author and poet, writing a poetry collection titled Psychic Scars and Other Mad Thoughts.[13]

Electoral History
D.C. Shadow Representative Election (1996)[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sabrina Sojourner 111,413 83
Republican Gloria R. Corn 20,240 15
No party Write-ins 1,984 1
Total votes 133,637 100.00
Turnout  
Democratic hold

See also

References
  1. Yeager, Kenneth S. (2019). Trailblazers : profiles of America's gay and lesbian elected officials. Routledge. ISBN 9781317712305. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  2. "Sabrina Sojourner, Washington, D.C., 1994 · Out and Elected in the USA: 1974-2004 · OutHistory: It's About Time". outhistory.org. Out History.org. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  3. Benning, Victoria (22 March 1999). "Calling for Equality to Begin at Home". Washington Post Archive. The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  4. District of Columbia appropriations for 1998 : hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, first session. United States Government Printing Office. 1998. ISBN 9780160570261.
  5. "WashingtonPost.com: D.C. Voters' Guide '98". www.washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. The representative is an advocate for District statehood. Sabrina Sojourner is the incumbent, but she is not seeking reelection.
  6. "Out in Politics Brother Outsider". POV American Documentary Inc. Public Broadcasting Service. 17 January 2003. Retrieved 10 May 2020. Sabrina Sojourner, former Congresswoman, was the first open lesbian to be elected to the United States Congress.
  7. Alvarez, Fredo (Dec 5, 2007). "D.C. Marriage Equality Forum to be Held Tomorrow". DCist. Retrieved 10 May 2020. Yesterday, DC for Marriage announced Sabrina Sojourner, the first open lesbian elected to Congress, will moderate the event.
  8. Komaysky, Andrej; Komaysky, Matt. "Famous GLTB - Sabrina Sojourner". andrejkoymasky.com. Matt & Andrej Komaysky.
  9. Scientific Workshop on Lesbian Health 2000: Steps for Implementing the IOM Report. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. 2000. p. A-27. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  10. "Sabrina Sojourner". www.ourcampaigns.com. Our Campaigns. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  11. Successes in Urban Problem-solving, Mayoral Perspectives: Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittees on the District of Columbia of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives ... One Hundred Fifth Congress, First Session, March 11, 1997. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1997. ISBN 978-0-16-055347-9. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  12. Hamilton, Martha. "Washingtonpost.com: Retirement". www.washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  13. "Psychic Scars, and Other Mad Thoughts: Poems... | LGBTQ+ Library | TinyCat". IUB LGBTQ+ Library. TinyCat. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  14. "District of Columbia Board of Elections - November 15 General Election". www.dcboe.org. DC Board of Elections.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.