(Photo Credits: Screengrab from Jessica Benham’s Instagram Account)
Jessica Benham made history in Pennsylvania for becoming the first out bisexual autistic woman to ever be elected to the state legislature. She defeated Republican A.J. Doyle and secured a seat for State House District 36, joining the few out autistic legislators who served as a state lawmaker nationwide.
Benham took to Twitter to thank her supporters, volunteers, and staff for their “overwhelming support” and to say that, “It will be my absolute honor to represent you in Harrisburg.” She added, “I’m ready to get to work!”
Thank you to the voters of the 36th district for your overwhelming support of our campaign, and to my incredible volunteers and staff for all of your help and encouragement. It will be my absolute honor to represent you in Harrisburg. I’m ready to get to work! pic.twitter.com/I3YiCzMkpH
— Jessica Benham (@jessicalbenham) November 4, 2020
Meanwhile, her opponent, A.J. Doyle, took to Facebook to graciously accept his defeat and to congratulate Benham:
Benham, who has three degrees under her belt, is the co-founder and Director of Development for the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy (PCAA). PCAA is a “grassroots self-advocacy project run by Autistic people for Autistic people.”
Benham is also an active community volunteer who “advocated strongly” for Paul’s Law—a bill signed into law in Pennsylvania in 2018 prohibiting discrimination against disabled people In need of organ transplants.
When asked by Pittsburgh Current about “What’s at Stake” in this election, Benham wrote an essay for them way back in October titled: People With Disabilities Deserve A Leader Who Actually Cares Whether They Live Or Die. She said:
I have a pre-existing condition. I’m a disabled, bisexual woman. In many ways, my life is on the ballot this fall. Following the lead of President Trump, many Republicans in the Pennsylvania State House have refused to wear masks and blame pre-existing conditions, rather than COVID, for the deaths of people like me. I’m sorry, if I get hit and killed by a bus, it wasn’t the pre-existing condition that killed me, it was the bus. People like me are dying, and many people, including our president and many of my potential future colleagues in the PA house, don’t seem to care. And let’s not forget: Black and brown people with disabilities are dying at even higher rates than white disabled people like me. Do you care?
Benham will focus her work on affordable and dignified healthcare for all, COVID-19 response, workers’ rights, LGBTQ rights, disability rights, climate change and clean environment, education, to name a few. Check here for the complete list.
Jessica Benham is only the third openly autistic lawmaker to ever serve in a state’s legislature in US history. The two others are Yuh-Line Niou, a member of the New York State Assembly; and Briscoe Cain, a member of the Texas House of Representatives.
Was she elected because she is a “bisexual autistic woman”? Or was she elected because she’s incredibly hard working, is very well educated, has been a great community volunteer, has a personality that makes her well-liked, and is a great citizen? With that long list of great attributes her sexual status and the manner in which she interacts with society apparently wasn’t a question.
yeah I knew you would come up with this, only you…
Actually Dave, I was wondering the same thing as Hunter0500.
Does everyone have to indulge identity politics to further some contrived virtuous agenda? So if I run as a gay man on the spectrum then I should be able to win any congressional run but if I ran as a white male for civil liberties and freedom I’d lose based on semantics of identity. Such a disgusting point in history.
She’s a prime example of what hard work and dedication can do. When our parents told us that we can be anything we want to be. She proved them right!!!!! Keep reaching Jessica.
Great inspirational mesage!!!
[…] forget the 2020 election in November where a record number of LGBTQ candidates won? There’s Jessica Benham, for example, who made history in Pennsylvania for becoming the first out bisexual autistic woman […]