With the new Congress now sworn into office, we’ve seen many milestones of social progress. One of them that deserves some attention is Virginia’s Rep. Jennifer Wexton, who put up a transgender pride flag outside her office door:

.@HRC's Narissa Rahaman joined @RepWexton today as the #116thCongress gets underway. The trans pride flying proudly outside her office is a sign that @JenniferWexton is the pro-equality champion Virginians deserve. #EqualityForward #VA10 pic.twitter.com/MFbYRBmbPf — Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) January 3, 2019

The gesture makes sense given how Wexton is the aunt of a trans child and was endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign.

“The trans community has been under attack,” Wexton told the Washingtonian. “I wanted to show my solidarity because we are talking about my friends and family.” … “From the military to schools to hospitals, the Trump-Pence White House is working overtime in an attempt to erase trans people from the public square,” Human Rights Campaign spokesperson Charlotte Clymer said. “The trans flag proudly on display in the Halls of Congress is a sign to our community that we will not be erased.”

Give the state of perpetual horror coming out of the Trump administration, acts like these should give us hope that all is not lost and we’re only one election away from serious change. Yes, it will take some time, but defenders of civil rights are back in charge of at least one key part of the government.

