The progress personified. Danica Roem became this Tuesday in the first openly transgender person to be elected to occupy a political post in the United States. Roem, who will be Virginia state representative, dethroned his opposite pole, the state's most conservative politician: a Republican who had been in the Chamber for 25 years and has defined himself as the "homophobic leader." "Discrimination is a disqualification." The people of District 13 do not want tactics of fear or phobias, here we celebrate for who you are not apart from it, "said Roem after knowing the results in reference to his electorate in northern Virginia. The 33-year-old ex-journalist defeated Robert Marshall, 73, with 54% of the vote. Roem began her gender change four years ago. Among other laws, Marshall has promoted proposals such as the "bathing law" so that transgender people would have to use the services allocated to the sex they had at birth and not to the sex they were identified with. His Republican colleagues, however, did not approve it. In his speech of proclamation, far from criticizing the rival who campaigned criticizing his gender change, Roem said that Marshall is for her a member of his district and will work to serve him as others. "I don't attack my electorate, Bob (Robert Marshall) is now one of the citizens I serve," he said. Through videos on social networks, acts and speeches, Roem was able to raise $500,000, up to three times as much as his rival. Supported by LGBT groups across the country, the new state Representative pledged to work to improve gender equality, social inclusion as well as infrastructure, traffic and education. "No matter your appearance, where you come from, what you believe, who you love, how you guys." If you have good ideas about public policy, if you are qualified to be politicians, bring your ideas because this is also your America, said Roem. Since the election of Republican Donald Trump, who has spread hostile rhetoric against minorities — including transgender, whom he has banned from entering the military — progressive policies have stagnated at the national level. But his victory and that of the Democratic candidates in the post of governor in new Jersey and Virginia on Tuesday, are a sign of hope for the American progressive electorate.