Laphonza Butler Will Be the 1st Black Lesbian Senator in US History

Laphonza Butler will replace the late Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate. California Gov. Gavin Newsom was tasked with filling the seat after the 90-year-old senator passed away on September 28. Butler was the CEO of Emily’s List, an organization that calls itself a “resource dedicated to electing Democratic pro-choice women to office.” She will be the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate as well as the first Black openly lesbian senator in American history.