Venezuela on Sunday saw a historic milestone for LGBTQ rights with Tamara Adrián on the ballot as the first transgender woman to run for president in the country.
The country’s opposition held a presidential primary where different political sectors, self-defined as the opposition to President Nicolás Maduro’s regime, ran with the commitment that the defeated candidates would unite behind the winner: María Corina Machado from the center-right Vente Venezuela party.
Adrián after the results became known went to Machado’s election headquarters to give her her unconditional support. “Together until the end,” they both said during an emotional and celebratory celebration.
Adrián also expressed her conviction that the opposition’s unity is fundamental to win in 2024. “I come to express my support to a long-time friend,” she said. “She knows that she can count on me in everything to free the country.” Adrián told the Washington Blade that “even though we didn’t win, this road was an important step we collectively took to once and for all end the regime of Nicolas Maduro, which has done so much harm to our people.” “We showed that LGBTQ people can go very far and that diversity is our strength,” said Adrián.