This woman could be the first openly trans governor in the U.S.

2018 has certainly been the year of increased diversity and women breaking the rules and according to TeenVogue.com, the U.S. could have its first openly transgender governor.

In the article, Seamus Kirst reports that Christine Hallquist transitioned in 2015 and that she feared rejection afterwards. "She thought that everyone was going to turn against her," Seamus reports; but instead she was voted in and became the first openly transgender woman to ever be nominated by a major party as their candidate for governor in any state. 

According to Seamus, Christine will get the chance to make history again if she wins the general election in her state. If that happens, she will become the first openly trans governor in the U.S.

READ MORE: How is it that we're still celebrating first blacks in 2018? 

Although the narrative of the 'first' person to achieve and accomplish something is a constant reminder of the work that needs to be done in the name of diversity, it is always a cause for celebration when we see another big, inclusive step in the right direction. We've rounded up a few other women in important leadership positions who contribute to improving the representation of minorities and those marginalised. 

Rashida Tlaib

Rashida Tlaib is set to become the first Muslim woman elected to Congress after winning the Democratic primary for a House seat in the state, according to a post in The Guardian. She initially made waves in 2008 when she became the first Muslim woman to serve in Michigan's state legislature, and she could now be the first Muslim woman to serve in Congress. 

Lynn Brown

Lynne Brown became South Africa's first openly gay minister in 2014. Former public enterprises minister, she was reportedly "very comfortable in her skin, and not ashamed of, or shy to talk about, her sexuality but would prefer to talk hard politics rather than being referred to as 'the first lesbian… '." 

READ MORE: The Croatian president is an attractive woman, but why should that be the focus? 

Claudia Gordon

Claudia is the first deaf black woman to become a lawyer in the U.S. She was born in Jamaica and when she was eight years old, she lost her hearing and says that the discrimination she experienced in Jamaica motivated her to study law, according to an article in BBC.com. She works at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and has held a previous post as a policy adviser for the Department of Homeland Security. 

READ MORE: Tanzanian female MPs banned from wearing false lashes, fake nails or excessive makeup in parliament 

Haben Girma

Haben is a lawyer and disability rights activist, and she made waves after she became the first deaf-blind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. As stated in her website, Haben was named a White House Champion of Change by former president Barack Obama; has received the Helen Keller Achievement Award; and has her name on the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. 

The presence of diverse women in political and legal spaces is something we'll always stan; and with Rihanna as the new appointed ambassador of Barbados, we're looking forward to more fierce and wonderful women gracing the politics of every corner of the globe. 

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