Joey Garrison

jgarrison@tennessean.com

PHILADELPHIA — A Tennessean who recently became the state’s first transgender woman to be appointed to a local government board has been tapped to serve as the official timekeeper at the Democratic National Convention.

Marisa Richmond, a longtime Democratic activist from Nashville, said she believes the designation makes her the nation’s first transgender person to be a podium official at a major party convention.

It will give her a prime seat at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Arena for the four nights of speeches, which kick off on Monday night and conclude Thursday with the expected nomination of Hillary Clinton for president.

“It’s a personal honor and a privilege to be up there on the stage,” said Richmond, 57, who is an adjunct professor in the history department at Middle Tennessee State University. “I’ll be just a few feet away from all of the speakers all four nights. It’s literally one of the best seats there.

“It shows that this is easily the most trans-friendly convention ever,” she said. “It shows that this party has really made progress in terms of inclusion and diversity.”

The year’s DNC convention has a record 27 transgender delegates.

More from the DNC in Philadelphia

In another nod to the nation’s LGBT community, Sarah McBride, a transgender activist from Delaware, will speak at the convention later this week. McBride, who currently works as national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, will become the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party convention.

Tennessee Democratic Party chairwoman Mary Mancini, in a statement, said she is thrilled that Hillary for America and the DNC chose a “great leader, advocate and Tennessean” for the role of official timekeeper.

“Marisa has been one of the strongest advocates for the LGBTQ community in Tennessee and across the country for many years,” Mancini said. “She is a shining example of what makes Tennessee and the Democratic Party the Party of the people.”

In May, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry appointed Richmond to serve on the state’s Metro Human Relations Commission, making her the first transgender person in Tennessee to be named to a local board or commission. Nashville’s Metro Council unanimously confirmed her nomination.

Barry, a Tennessee delegate for Clinton, at the time called Richmond “a dedicated community leader who is a champion for equality and has been at the forefront of the discussion over transgender rights in Nashville and Tennessee.”

In her role as timekeeper, Richmond will be positioned on the stage and tasked with keeping speakers on schedule. Richmond said she was contacted for the position through her roles as a member of the party’s LGBT advisory board and the committee of Trans United for Hillary.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison.