After travelling to Washington, DC to celebrate the signing of the Respect For Marriage Act, a trans legislator got engaged in the rainbow glow of the White House. Taylor Small, the first-ever out trans person to be elected to the Vermont state legislature, went to the nation’s capital to attend the signing ceremony for the Act with her partner of four years, Carsen Russell.
To mark the occasion, the Biden administration had the White House illuminated in rainbows. As the ceremony came to a close Russell asked Small if she wanted to take a photo. He then got down on one knee. In a joint interview with Small, Russell told NBC News: “I was just like, ‘I want to spend my life with you, and will you marry me?”. Small said she said yes “immediately” and couldn’t taken her glove off fast enough. “It was really just the perfect backdrop and the perfect moment for that celebration.”
We’re officially en-GAY-ged!
After @potus signed the #RespectForMarriageAct my partner of almost 4 years, Carsen, proposed to me on the South Lawn of the @whitehouse. I, of course, said YES and could not think of a more fitting way to celebrate this moment. #LoveIsLove pic.twitter.com/cKdSDHhRCc
— Rep. Taylor Small (@TaylorSmallVT) December 15, 2022
Response to their engagement has been overwhelming positive, with one message from a local community member standing out to Small. She recalled: “I had a young trans woman reach out and say: ‘Your engagement is so powerful, because it validated that I can have a similar future, that me having a loving relationship can happen, that I can move into leadership positions just like you,’ and that is the message I really want to pass along — that my experiences are not unique.”
Russell had planned to propose to Small at the end of December at the Vermont state capitol, but after Small received an invite to the signing of the Respect For Marriage Act – which protects same-sex and interracial marriage – he knew he had to change his plans. In order to hide the ring from his wife-to-be, Russell put it on his finger under his glove to go through security. Then, when Small wasn’t paying attention, he popped it back in the box and in his pocket.
Article URL : https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/12/20/trans-lawmaker-taylor-small-engaged-white-house/