Trans Metal Singer Danica Roem Wins Second Term in Virginia House of Delegates | Revolver

Trans Metal Singer Danica Roem Wins Second Term in Virginia House of Delegates

The first openly transgender person to be voted into Virginia General Assembly — twice
danica roem GETTY, Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post via Getty Images
photograph by Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Danica Roem — heavy-metal musician, in the thrash band Cab Ride Home, and the first openly transgender person to be elected to the Virginia General Assembly — has made history once again by winning back her seat for a second term. In a race against Republican candidate Kelly McGinn, the lifelong Prince William County resident (the district she represents) swept the vote in a 57-43 margin. Before entering politics, Roem cut her teeth in journalism and worked for the Gainesville Times and the Prince William Times

Her victory is being hailed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund leader Annise Parker as a "political revolution ... Danica inspired trans people across the nation to run for office. Her reelection proves that political revolution is a lasting transformation — not an aberration." 

Roem, who remains staunchly proud of her involvement in the metal scene, told Vice in 2017, "Just because I sing in a heavy-metal band while spinning my head in circles and getting paid to do it, why can't I run for government? Why would I have to change who I am in order to run for government? I've already had to go through transformative change." 

Upon learning of her latest victory, she tweeted: "To the people of the 13th District: Thank you so much for the confidence you've shown in my team and me by such an overwhelming margin. I'm grateful to represent you because of who you are — never despite it." Fellow Virginian and Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton replied with "Congrats Danica!" A few weeks before her win, Roem hung out with another famous supporter, Arch Enemy's Alissa White-Gluz, who shared a photo the pair on Instagram and praised her as a "strong, intelligent and talented" woman.