Mary Washington
Longtime feminist, environmentalist, LGBT rights activist and community organizer, Maryland Delegate Mary Washington found her calling in the realm of politics and social change movements while registering voters for the Rainbow Coalition’s Freedom Summer campaign in 1984. A self-proclaimed city girl, Washington grew up in Philadelphia before earning her Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. She taught Sociology for five years at Lehigh University before returning to Charm City to build a career focused on urban environmental education and on improving the quality of life of city neighborhoods. In January 2011 she was elected to represent Baltimore in the state’s House of Delegates. As the first openly gay African-American delegate in Maryland, she’s already a leading voice in the state’s legislative battles over marriage equality and ending discrimination based on gender identity. “Representing this district gives me a remarkable chance to help bring people from very different walks of life together to solve city problems,” Washington says. “It is an honor to be able to serve this diverse district and to strive to build a community that works for all of us.” Washington is especially proud to have been named Honorary Grand Marshall of Baltimore’s Pride Parade this year. –DP
