Lisa Goodman, the founding president of Equality Delaware, played a crucial role in helping Sarah McBride navigate her journey as an advocate for LGBTQ rights. After coming out as transgender, McBride interned at the White House in 2012 and helped pass legislation in Delaware protecting trans people from discrimination. She then worked for the Center for American Progress and the Human Rights Campaign, becoming the first trans person to speak at a major political convention in 2016. However, McBride’s life took a tragic turn when she married Andrew Cray, who died of oral cancer just days later. McBride credits Cray for teaching her the importance of delivering real and tangible results in advocacy work.
McBride’s ability to bridge contradictions and create change was evident in her work to pass paid family leave in Delaware. In 2020, she was elected as the first openly trans state senator in the country. In her first term, she sponsored and helped pass the Healthy Delaware Families Act, providing paid parental leave and medical leave for covered employees. The program was signed into law in 2022, reflecting McBride’s commitment to helping others and honoring Cray’s legacy. McBride’s friends in politics commend her for her ability to navigate complexities and deliver meaningful change, echoing the traits that made Cray such a significant influence in her life.
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