Mary Washington

Maryland State Delegate Mary Washington is on the path to possibly being the first out lesbian elected to the Maryland State Senate. For more than two decades, she has worked as a legislator, public policy student, and advocate for Maryland’s 43rd District. She served two terms as a representative for Baltimore City in the House of Delegates, and eight years ago, was the first out African-American elected official in Maryland. She has worked to get folks access to water and the right to marry, and has fought for homeless youth. Washington, who earned a PhD in Sociology from Johns Hopkins University, is also on the teaching staff in the Department of Humanistic Studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art. “I ran for political office because, after working in government and nonprofits, I knew that my skill set in bringing people together to solve problems could be most effectively utilized in the state legislature. It’s been rewarding to make positive changes for people’s lives in Baltimore and in Maryland, and to do the work I am most passionate about, whether it’s getting housing and wraparound services for our homeless youth, or helping folks save their homes from foreclosures and tax sales over unpaid water bills, or shepherding advances for equality and equity. Being an out lesbian and working with other legislators and advocacy organizations on these critical issues was incredibly important, both because members of our community are also affected, and because the coalitions I built well-positioned me to utilize these relationships in the fight for LGBT equality.” —GH