Immigrant rights activist Carlos Ramirez-Rosa made history in Chicago, IL last night, becoming the first openly-gay Latino to win a seat on the City Council.
Ramirez-Rosa also becomes the first openly-gay Latino elected to office in the state of Illinois.
Ramirez-Rosa, an organizer with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and former caseworker for Rep. Luis Gutierrez, beat out three-term incumbent Rey Colon in a landslide, capturing 67% of the vote, DNAinfo Chicago reports.
He was the only Chicago City Council member to lose his seat in the election.
More from DNAinfo Chicago:
“This is not about switching one alderman for another; it was about a movement,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “We aspire to more — a city that uplifts working people. That’s the message the 35th Ward sent today. We proved tonight we can begin the first step of that progression.”
A traditional Puerto Rican meal of lechon asado, rice with pinto beans, baked chicken and maduros was served to guests by the candidate’s aunt and uncle in honor of Ramirez-Rosa, who is half Mexican, half Puerto Rican.
“We kicked butt,” a proud Norma Ramirez said of her nephew’s victory. “It’s the right person for the right time. This has always been a work in progress, and it will continue to be because he’s only 26 years old.”
Congratulations to Alderman-elect Ramirez-Rosa!
