Democrat Gabe Amo, an LGBTQ+ ally and the first person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress, won yesterday’s special election to take the seat of the openly gay and former chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus David Cicilline.
Amo has been vocal about continuing the work of his predecessor. In a statement, he said, “I will be a tireless ally for the LGBTQ+ community in Rhode Island and across the country. The attacks on the queer community by Republicans in Congress and in state legislatures around the United States are reprehensible. Ensuring the inclusion and safety of all is something that is incumbent upon all of us.”
As a native of Pawtucket and the son of West African parents, Amo worked in the Rhode Island State House for former Governor Gina Raimondo, in the White House for Barack Obama and, most recently, as special assistant and deputy director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs under President Joe Biden.
With 98.89 percent of the votes in, Amo took 64.8 percent over his Republican opponent’s 35.2 percent.
Reports the Boston Globe:
“I went to vote with my mom earlier today,” Amo told about 150 supporters at The Guild in his hometown of Pawtucket. “When I was 8 years old, helping my mother study for the citizenship test, I never could have imagined that I would go with her to cast her ballot to vote for her son for the United States Congress.”
Speaking without a microphone, Amo said he “stands on the shoulders” of many others who made Tuesday’s victory possible.
“Whether your ancestors came to Rhode Island in search of religious freedom, or came here as enslaved peoples, or came here for economic opportunity in the 20th century, whether they were Irish or Italian, Cape Verdean or Portuguese, West African or Dominican or Colombian, or from any place in between, the journey for so many Rhode Islanders and their families is one of great hard work, determination, and resilience.”
Read the complete Boston Globe article here.
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
