Sarah McBride
A groundbreaking American politician who shattered a national barrier as the first openly transgender person to serve in the United States Congress.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American politician and activist·Birthday: August 9·Millennials
Biography
Sarah McBride's political awakening was deeply personal, catalyzed by the death of her transgender husband, which solidified her resolve to fight for LGBTQ+ rights. She quickly became a powerful voice, serving as the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign where she shaped messaging on a national scale. But McBride aimed for more direct change. In 2020, she won a seat in the Delaware State Senate, becoming the highest-ranking openly transgender elected official in the country at that time. Just four years later, she made history again, elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, shattering a centuries-old barrier. Her journey from activist to congresswoman is a testament to strategic advocacy and the power of living one's truth in the public arena, opening doors for countless others.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Sarah was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sarah Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Sarah's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Elected as the first openly transgender member of the United States Congress in 2024.
- Served as a Delaware State Senator from 2021 to 2025, becoming the nation's highest-ranking openly transgender elected official at that time.
- Previously served as the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, a major LGBTQ+ advocacy organization.
Did You Know?
She came out as transgender in a student newspaper editorial while serving as student body president at American University.
She is the author of the memoir 'Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality'.
She interned at the White House during the Obama administration, becoming the first openly transgender woman to do so.
“Our democracy is at its best when every person has the opportunity to live their life to its fullest potential.”
