Jennifer Wexton, the newly appointed Virginia representative, showed solidarity with the trans community by hanging a trans pride flag outside of her new office on Capitol Hill, reported the Washingtonian.
“The trans community has been under attack,” Wexton told the Washingtonian.
For the Democrat, the move was deeply personal, as she is the aunt of a transgender child.
“I wanted to show solidarity because we are talking about my friends and family,” she said.
The flag was tweeted by Narissa Rahaman of the Human Rights Campaign. “[Wexton] said to me, ‘Did you see the flag?! I think we’re the only office on the Hill with one,’” Rahaman wrote.
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
Before being elected to Congress, Wexton fought for LGBTQ rights while serving in the Virginia Senate. During her term, the state senate passed two pieces of legislature to protect gay and transgender Virginians from discrimination.
Advocates, like Charlotte Clymer of the Human Rights Campaign, say this symbol of solidarity is especially important with the Trump administration’s anti-trans streak.
“From the military to schools to hospitals, the Trump-Pence White House is working overtime in an attempt to erase trans people from the public square,” Clymer told the Washingtonian. “The trans flag proudly on display in the Halls of Congress is a sign to out community that we will not be erased.”