Welsh city votes in ‘world’s first non-binary mayor’
Sian Elvin for Metro.co.uk
https://i.imgur.com/qi132IV.jpg
A university graduate has been elected as what is thought to be the world’s first openly non-binary city mayor.
Owen J Hurcum, who won their election by an overwhelming majority in Bangor, Wales, is also Wales’ youngest ever mayor at the age of 22.
They tweeted on Monday evening: ‘When I came out two years ago I was so worried I’d be ostracised 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.’
The graduate, who grew up in Harrow, London and moved to north Wales five years ago to study at Bangor University, posted a picture of themselves wearing a sheer black blouse and traditional mayoral chains and ruffles, with a tricorne hat.
They said they were determined to fight for better representation of non-binary people, writing: ‘I know representation is not just putting on the chain and I’ll be judged by what we do as a team for Bangor during my year in office, but still, I’m glad my election has resonated with so many.’
Owen, who defines as genderqueer or agender, has already been a councillor for four years – and a deputy mayor and chair of the committee for the council and other sub-groups for a year.
They told North Wales Live: ‘I came here as a student five years ago, just because it was a place to study and it looked quite nice.
‘Within a week, I fell in love with it and tried to throw myself into the city’s culture.’
They said their first priority would be community cohesion, saying: ‘My first steps as Bangor’s mayor will be reaching across the different divisions of the community, continuing the good work of the departing mayor, and trying to get more grants in to develop the city.’
Some contested the claim that Owen is the world’s first non-binary city mayor, suggesting that Georgina Beyer, who was elected mayor of Carterton in New Zealand back in 1995, was actually the world’s first.
But many pointed out that Georgina is transgender and defines as female, and is not non-binary like Owen.
Non-binary means a person does not align with a typical gender identity of male or female, and instead feels they are somewhere outside of those gender binaries.
In response, Owen said: ‘I believe she was the first openly transgender mayor anywhere, and not non-binary, that was what I got when I first looked her up but I’m obviously happy to be corrected if my research was incorrect.’
