This is so awesome.
Owen Hurcum is a 22-year-old recent graduate and also now the youngest mayor in Welsh history AND (most notably for us) believed to be the first openly non-binary mayor of any city worldwide.
I can’t remember what I was doing at 22 (because I was probably drunk af), but it definitely wasn’t anything as cool as this, so can we just take a second to s/o to all queer youth like this for SMASHING the agenda. We’re proud as punch.
Here’s what Owen had to say on his appointment:
“When I came out two years ago I was so worried I’d be ostracised by my community or worse” he tweeted.
“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. Beyond humbled. Diolch, Bangor.”
When I came out two years ago I was so worried I'd be ostracized by my community or worse. 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. Beyond humbled, Diolch Bangor 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/pGHiaQTVaO
— Mayor Owen J Hurcum 🏴🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@OwenJHurcum) May 10, 2021
As ever, with the internet being the way it is, the “well actually…” brigade tried to piss on Owen’s parade by arguing that Georgina Beyer, who was elected mayor of Carterton in New Zealand back in 1995, was actually the world’s first non-binary mayor.
But, for clarity, Georgina is transgender and defines as female, not non-binary.
So well done, Owen! You rock!
I just want to say a huge diolch to all the lovely messages that are still coming in. I know representation is not just putting on the chain and Ill be judged by what we do as a team for Bangor during my year in office, but still, Im glad my election has resonated with so many 💜 pic.twitter.com/DNCzQyppDg
— Mayor Owen J Hurcum 🏴🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@OwenJHurcum) May 11, 2021