Taylor Small Explained

Taylor Small
State House:Vermont
District:Chittenden-21
Alongside:Daisy Berbeco
Term Start:January 2023
Predecessor:Redistricted
State House1:Vermont
District1:Chittenden 6-7
Alongside1:Hal Colston
Term Start1:January 6, 2021
Term End1:January 4, 2023
Birth Date:26 March 1994
Birth Place:Portland, Maine, U.S.
Alma Mater:University of Vermont (BS)

Taylor Small (born March 26, 1994) is an American politician. Small is a member of the Vermont House of Representatives and is the first openly transgender legislator elected in Vermont and the 5th elected in the United States.[1]

Early life

Small was born in Portland, Maine to Canadian parents.[2] Small lived in Johnson, Vermont, and then Western Massachusetts as a child.[3] After Small’s parents divorced, Small returned to Vermont and attended Colchester High School and Burlington Technical Center. Small then went on to graduate from the University of Vermont in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Sexuality and Gender Identity Studies.[4] [5]

Career

Small was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in the 2020 general election after the incumbent Diana Gonzalez retired and is the state's first openly transgender legislator,[6] and the fifth in the nation.[1] [7] Small ran on both the Democratic ticket and Vermont Progressive Party ticket and won with 41% of the vote.[3] [8]

Small is the education manager (and former director of the Health and Wellness program) at Pride Center of Vermont and has worked with the Vermont Department of Health. Prior to that, Small worked in mental health at Howard Center and Northwestern Counseling and Support Services and supported homeless and runaway youth with Spectrum Youth and Family Services. Through a drag persona, Nikki Champagne, along with colleague Emoji Nightmare, Small has promoted local libraries and youth literacy and hosted fundraisers to help support Vermont’s non-profit organizations.[9] [10] [4]

Small was named a 2022 Politician of Year by One Young World, receiving the award in Manchester, England in September 2022 alongside four other young politicians from around the world.[11]

Personal life

Small lives in Winooski with her partner, Carsen, and their dogs, Theobroma and Charlie.[4]

Electoral history

2020

See also: 2020 Vermont House of Representatives election.

2022

See also: 2022 Vermont House of Representatives election.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Taylor Small will be Vermont's first out transgender legislator. Molly. Sprayregan. November 3, 2020. November 3, 2020.
  2. Web site: Representative Taylor Small. The LGBTQ+ Bar. December 13, 2021.
  3. Taylor Small wins House seat to become first openly transgender member of Vermont Legislature. Burlington Free Press. Brent. Hallenbeck. November 4, 2020. November 4, 2020.
  4. Web site: About. Taylor Small for State Rep. November 3, 2020.
  5. Winooski candidate Taylor Small looks to become state's first openly trans lawmaker. VT Digger. Grace. Elletson. August 9, 2020. November 3, 2020.
  6. Web site: Taylor Small speaks about her accomplishments during her first legislative session . YouTube.com.
  7. Vermont's First Trans State Representative Is Fighting For Her Community. Them.. Samantha. Riedel. September 4, 2020. November 3, 2020.
  8. Web site: Vermont gets state's 1st openly transgender legislator. Associated Press. November 4, 2020. November 4, 2020.
  9. Web site: Meet Our Team. Pride Center of VT. December 15, 2020.
  10. Taylor Small, tireless LGBT+ champion and sickening drag queen, makes history as her state's first trans lawmaker. PinkNews. Lily. Wakefield. November 4, 2020. December 15, 2020.
  11. Vt. Lawmaker Honored at Event Attended by Prince Harry & Meghan Markle. NECN. Jack. Thurston. September 12, 2022. November 9, 2022.