After a hard-fought race in a newly formed Arizona congressional district, Democrat Kyrsten Sinema was declared the winner today, becoming the first openly bisexual member of Congress.
Sinema, a former state senator, joins at least five openly gay Democrats who were elected to House seats, and Tammy Baldwin, who became the first openly gay candidate elected to the Senate.
When asked by ABCNews.com how it felt to be the first openly bisexual member of Congress, Sinema said, “We’ve made history, and we’re proud of that, but what I am interested in is making history by making things better for the people of Arizona’s 9th Congressional District.”
Sinema, 36, had a razor-thin lead on Election Night against her opponent, Tea Party candidate Vernon Parker, but she ultimately pulled ahead, finishing with a 6,000-vote edge over the Republican, the Associated Press reported today.
Wow, just wow!
Not only did this woman win this seat in Arizona, she also had to fight like hell against another one of those teabagging dipshits, WHILE being openly bisexual, AND an atheist.
If IM had Congressional mascots, SHE would be it.
I am going to pay very close attention to Ms. Sinema because I think she is going to be a never ending source of awesomeness.
Update: It appears that Sinema is not terribly comfortable wearing the label Atheist. Here is more from The Friendly Atheist:
“Kyrsten believes the terms ‘nontheist,’ ‘atheist’ or ‘nonbeliever’ are not befitting of her life’s work or personal character,” the spokesman, Justin Unga, said Thursday in an e-mail. “Though Sinema was raised in a religious household, she draws her policy-making decisions from her experience as a social worker who worked with diverse communities and as a lawmaker who represented hundreds of thousands.”
Furthermore, Ms. Sinema “is a student of all cultures in her community,” Mr. Unga said, and she “believes that a secular approach is the best way to achieve this in good government.”
Okay well Arizona's new Congresswoman may not want to be encumbered with the baggage that accompanies the title "Atheist" (After all in politics there not much worse you can be called in America), however I am almost as pleased with her courage in embracing the "secular approach."
It is still a victory for logical thinkers, and those who want their leaders to make decisions based on reality and not fantasy.
