Danica Roem, Attempting to Make History

If elected, Roem would be the first transgender woman politician in Virginia

Danica Roem being honored by Andrea Jenkins at Capital Trans Pride.

This November, Danica Roem is hoping to make history as the first openly transgender politician in Virginia. Roem is an American journalist and politician from Northern Virginia. She was born in Prince William County where she is running for Virginia House Delegate. Her opponent, Bob Marshall is quite possibly one of the most conservative republicans in Virginia. He has attempted to pass many anti-LGBTQ+ bills but all have failed when voted on in the House. Marshall,72, has also refused to recognize Roem as a woman throughout the entire race. He is known for his support for conservative positions on social issues. He is opposed to abortion rights and, more recently, promoted as-yet unsuccessful bills to prevent Virginia localities and school divisions from outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Roem has been an active supporter of LGBTQ+ rights in schools and businesses. She believes improving the quality of life starts with equality. She supports the DREAM Act, civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, raising the minimum wage and making health insurance more accessible and affordable for everyone. Roem, who graduated from a Catholic private school, is now fighting to raise teachers salaries in Manassas Park and Prince William County so they are no longer the lowest in Northern Virginia. She also wants to reduce the classroom sizes and make full use of funding to the best of their abilities.

Roem has been endorsed by two Fairfax County school board members, Dalia Palchik and Pat Hynes, and Prince William County school board member Loree Williams. Along with those endorsements she has also had received support from organizations such as the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, Progressive Change Committee, and Run for Something. Along with her progressive ideals, she also hopes to raise the minimum wage to at least $8.75 an hour to match West Virginia’s minimum wage. This is in hopes to eventually get Virginia’s minimum wage up to a liveable wage of $15 dollars an hour.