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WHEREAS, After securing a plurality of votes in a close election in Wheeling City Council Ward 3, Rosemary Ketchum is now the first openly transgender official elected in the state of West Virginia; and,
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WHEREAS, With only 27 out trans elected officials, Ms. Ketchum draws attention to the vast lack of representation of the estimated 1.4 million trans people in the nation; and,
WHEREAS, While much of the national attention of Ms. Ketchum’s victory has and will continue to focus on her identity, Ms. Ketchum’s platform focused on local issues like tackling homelessness and poverty in Wheeling as well as her background as a community organizer and her expertise in mental health; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Ketchum has shown immense bravery by not letting someone else determine who should run for public office and rather deciding to shatter the lavender ceiling by herself; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Ketchum is determined to make Wheeling a model city of a positive relationship between compassionate law enforcement and effective rehabilitation centers as her city battles an opioid crisis that is all too prevalent in our region; and,
WHEREAS, in Ms. Ketchum’s own words “We don’t run for office to make history. We run for office to make a difference. And I guess if history is made in the process then so be it.”
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the history that has been made in the process of Rosemary Ketchum’s victory and commends her resolve to make a difference in Wheeling; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Wednesday, July 1st, 2020, to be “ROSEMARY KETCHUM DAY” in the City of Pittsburgh.