This election season has been widely dominated by the presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The back-and-forth rhetoric between the two candidates has captivated and struck fear in audiences across the globe. Though the attention placed on the presidential election has not been without good reason, it makes it extremely difficult for any other elections down the ballot to be given the coverage they warrant.
One particularly important election that has not received the coverage it so deserves is the Oregon gubernatorial race. Democratic incumbent governor Kate Brown faces off against Republican challenger Bud Pierce. At face value this election seems to be getting coverage apropos of a regular gubernatorial race.
But keeping with the likes of Clinton and Trump, this election is deviating from the United States norm.
Seven openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual held office out of the 535 positions in the 114th Congress of the United States. That’s just greater than one percent (1.3%) of the entire Senate and House of Representatives. And out of these seven congressmen and congresswomen, only one (Tammy Baldwin D-WI) is a member of the Senate. These statistics are in comparison to the 2.3% of people in the United States that identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. The lack of LGBTQ+ representation in the government, specifically in our lawmakers is clear when looking at the clear-cut evidence.
The resignation of former Oregon governor John Kitzhaber in 2015 allowed Kate Brown to become the first openly bisexual United States governor. This appointment was and still is a monumental moment for the LGBTQ+ community in the United States. Representation in the government is a cornerstone of receiving equal rights in the United States. After all, public opinion won’t do the job. According to the Pew Research Center, 37% of people in the United States oppose marriage equality.
Governor Brown’s appointment to her governors chair was a huge moment for representation in government. But it was just that: an appointment.
On November 8, Oregon will attempt to make history by electing the first openly bisexual governor in United State’s history. If Brown is elected it is a message from the state of Oregon that Oregonians believe in her to run their state in a progressive manner, bisexuality and all.
But a vote for Brown wouldn’t just be a vote for representation. Since her appointment in 2015, Brown has radicalized Oregon’s automatic voter registry so that all Department of Motor Vehicle information is automatically converted into a voter registration. Brown has placed stricter gun control laws onto Oregon, requiring in depth criminal background checks for all gun purchases, as well as gun sales. Brown opened Oregon fully to all refugees during the climax of the Syrian refugee crisis in late-2015.
It is clear that Kate Brown deserves more than just to be the United States’ token LGBTQ+ representation governor. Brown’s record has proven that she is beyond capable of providing Oregon with successful Liberal leadership. Contrary to what many may think, sexuality does not define a politician’s success. Though this may seem obvious, many cannot seem to understand it, or simply refuse to accept it. Maybe this is a product of bisexuality erasure in our society, or maybe it is a product of ignorance in the United States’ general population. No matter the case, Governor Brown has proven her worth and deserves another term as elected governor of Oregon.
