Recent University Grad Becomes World’s First Elected Non-Binary Mayor

Owen J. Hurcum, 22, was elected mayor of Bangor, Wales, a city of over 16,000.

“When I came out two years ago I was so worried I’d be ostracized by my community or worse,” they said on Twitter on May 10. “Today my community elected me Mayor of our great City. The youngest ever Mayor in Wales. The first ever openly Non-Binary Mayor of any city anywhere.”

Hurcum is agender and genderqueer.

“Beyond humbled,” they added. “Diolch Bangor.” Diolch is Welsh for “thank you.”

“I know representation is not just putting on the chain and I’ll be judged by what we do as a team for Bangor during my year in office, but still, [I’m] glad my election has resonated with so many,” Hurcum said.

Hurcum was elected last year as deputy mayor. Prior to that, they were a councillor in the town for four years, ever since running as a college student.

According to ‘LGBTQ Nation’, in March, Hurcum stepped down as a candidate for Welsh Parliament with the Plaid Cymru party, accusing the party of practicing transphobia by including someone they said was a trans-exclusionary radical feminist.

“I want Helen Mary Jones to apologise in a way that is not ‘I’m sorry you’re offended.’ I want a sincere apology and I want her to make an effort to learn about the community and understand why she’s perpetrating transphobia,” Hurcum said. Jones denied the accusation.

“Adam Price, as the leader of the party, needs to make it very clear not just that Plaid have a great set of policies for if they’re in government, but are also tackling transphobia within their own party immediately,” they said of their party’s leader.

In the tweet, Hurcum included a photo of them wearing “a sheer black blouse and traditional mayoral chains and ruffles,” adding “a tricorne hat” and “colorful green hair.”

Read related myGwork articles here:

The Netherlands Welcomes its First Transgender Member of Parliament

Sarah McBride To Become First Trans State Senator In U.S. History

Georgette Gomez Could Be The First LGBTQ+ Latina Congresswoman In US History

Belgium’s New Deputy Prime Minister Is Europe’s Most Senior Trans Politician

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