Shay Franco-Clausen, co-chair of the National Black Justice Coalition’s Good Trouble Network, has long awaited the ascent of Laphonza Butler to a top-tier position within the U.S. government. Being an Afro-Latina woman from California who identifies as gay, Franco-Clausen is elated to see someone who comprehends the plight faced by her communities succeeding the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
In Franco-Clausen’s words, “It’s about time.” She holds firm belief in the ability of Senator Butler to pave the way for others, thus enabling them space at the prestigious table of Congress.
Just the previous week, Butler etched her name into the annals of history as the first-known Black lesbian woman bestowed with an appointment to Congress. Currently, she holds distinction as the sole Black woman to be serving in the Senate and only the third to ever grace the chamber.
The oath of office that initiated Butler into her position came from Vice President Kamala Harris, who herself is renowned as the country’s second Black female senator prior to her ascension as the first female Vice President.
While Butler hasn’t focused on her race or sexuality publicly concerning her new post, Franco-Clausen is hopeful that she will herald a fresh era of representation. Expressing her excitement, Franco-Clausen conveyed how Butler’s historic breakthrough translates into a harbinger of hope for young Black girls who identify as queer or non-binary.
The departed Sen. Feinstein is remembered for her tenure as the longest-serving female senator in U.S. history. Her remarkable career witnessed myriad historic firsts. She was the pioneering woman to chair the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the first woman in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the maiden chairwoman of both the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee.
In fulfilling the promise of nominating a Black woman as Feinstein’s successor, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Butler to her seat. “As we mourn the enormous loss of Senator Feinstein … Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington, D.C.,” Newsom stated, expressing his hopes for Butler.
For Butler, honoring the legacy of the late senator is paramount. “Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s leadership and legacy are immeasurable. I will do my best to honor her by devoting my time and energy to serving the people of California and the people of this great nation,” she declared.
Despite sparking anticipation with her appointment, Butler has yet to reveal whether she will make an official run for the seat. In 2024, California will convene two Senate elections – a special election to serve out Feinstein’s term until January 2025, and another for a full six-year term.
Like Feinstein, Butler has also been a trailblazer throughout her career. Born in Mississippi, she attended Jackson State University and was part of the University of California Board of Regents. Moreover, she’s served as a board member of the National Children’s Defense Fund, an adviser to both Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and Kamala Harris’ 2020 campaign.
Butler’s tenure as president of California’s largest labor union, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015, particularly distinguishes her. The union embodies close to 450,000 nursing home and long-term care workers in California, an experience Franco-Clausen believes will equip Butler well in the Senate.
Arnulfo De La Cruz, current president of SEIU Local 2015, describes Butler as a “fierce negotiator”, effectively raising caregivers’ hopes for continued advocacy in the legislature. La Cruz notes that she played a vital role in hiking California’s minimum wage to $15, thereby valuing a workforce that otherwise remained undervalued.
Butler’s rise to the U.S. Senate has thus been seen as a continuation of progress for Black women and LGBTQ representation while also presenting a historic chance to enhance their representation in Congress. Notably, there are 13 LGBTQ+ elected officials in Congress currently.
Shay Franco-Clausen and others hope that Butler’s presence in the Senate will be reflective of the work of previous Black LGBTQ+ political leaders, advocating for the LGBTQ+ community beyond California. David Johns, the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, emphasized the importance of Butler’s disruptive influence in line with the nation’s diversity growth.
