Anya Crittenton

The people of Kansas today voted in the first ever LGBTI Native American to Congress with Sharice Davids as their preferred candidate.

Davids ran for office in Kansas’ 3rd congressional district. She earned 52.8% of the vote, with 70% of precincts submitting their votes.

Her Republican opponent, Kevin Yoder, got 44.5% of the vote. The third-party candidate, Chris Clemmons (Libertarian), took 2.4% of the total vote.

Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, a Native American tribe in Wisconsin. She has lived and worked on numerous reservations, working with multiple tribes.

From 2016-17, she was one of 16 who participated in the White House Fellowship program. That’s when her political aspirations became bigger.

‘After completing a year as a White House fellow in Washington under President Barack Obama, I know that now is the time to take action for our community and for our nation,’ she said.

On the issues, Davids boasts numerous progressive stances.

Regarding gun violence, she believes the country ‘must demand more than condolences from our lawmakers’. Further, she said politicians must enact legislation for gun safety laws.

She’s also highly trained in martial arts.

Actor and comedian Billy Eichner, who has been vocal about the midterm elections and began his own program, Glam Up the Midterms, congratulated Davids on her win.

Numerous races throughout the country are still being determined. For Democrats, their eyes are set on taking back control of the House of Representatives, which Davids’ win helps possibly achieve.

‘Sharice Davids made history tonight as the next congresswoman from Kansas, showing the Trump-Pence administration that LGBTQ people of color are here, visible and that our fight for equality continues to move forward,’ said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin.

‘We look forward to working closely with Congresswoman Davids to pass commonsense federal protections for LGBTQ people through the Equality Act.’

One of the biggest hopes with Democrats taking back the House is movement on the Equality Act, as Nancy Pelosi affirmed.

Jared Polis is a history-maker in today’s midterm elections in the United States. He is officially the first openly gay man elected a state governor.

Polis ran as the Democratic candidate in Colorado’s gubernatorial race. He was declared the victor with 52% of the votes after 57% of the precincts reporting.

He ran opposing Republican candidate Walker Stapleton, who took 44.9% of the votes. Third-party candidates Scott Helker (Libertarian) and Bill Hammons (Unity Party of Colorado) took 2.4% and 0.9% of the votes, respectively.

‘Tonight, Colorado rejected the Trump-Pence administration’s politics of bigotry and fear by choosing bold pro-equality champion Jared Polis, the nation’s first openly gay man elected governor,’ said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin.

‘For nearly a decade in Congress, Jared Polis fought to advance fairness and equality in Colorado and across America. He is a proven leader who will take his commitment to securing full equality to the governor’s mansion and fight to make Colorado a stronger and more inclusive state.’

Earlier today, a gay Democrat won in Guam and anti-marriage equality figure Kim Davis lost her re-election.

Polis has served as the representative from Colorado’s 2nd congressional district since 2009.

He is a vocal supporter of numerous progressive issues, including LGBTI rights and education reform. During his career, he sponsored bills for both improvements to school lunches, as well as funding special education.

He also advocates for safer campuses and altering disciplinary processes regarding accusations of rape and sexual assault.

Civil Rights icon and House of Representatives member John Lewis endorsed Polis in his bid for governorship.

‘Jared and I have worked together for years to expand civil rights and to make healthcare more affordable to millions,’ Lewis said.

‘I’m proud to call Jared my friend. He has the courage to be a great governor for Colorado.’

A police officer in Chicago is currently under investigation for allegedly beating a gay couple outside a club.

Two friends of Sgt. Eric Elkins, as well as a friend of the victims, implicated Elkins in the attack on 29 September. According to reports, the friend of the victims identified Elkins ‘immediately and without hesitation’ from a lineup of photos of suspects.

So far, Elkins faces no official charges. On Wednesday (31 October), however, Anthony Guglielmi, a Chicago police spokesman, described Elkins as a ‘person of interest’.

He also added the investigation is ongoing.

A lawsuit filed by Attorney Timothy Cavanagh identifies the victims as longtime partners John Sherwood and Tom Stacha.

Sherwood suffered a compound leg fracture, while Stacha was admitted to the hospital with broken cheekbones and a perforated trachea.

The night of 29 September, the couple was out with friends. They went to @mosphere, a popular gay dance club, when they reportedly ran into Elkins and his group.

The suit alleges Elkins and his friends attacked Sherwood, Stacha, and their friends first. A friend of Elkins’, however, said Sherwood instigated the alteracation.

Sherwood’s group left the club and then Sherwood said Elkins came out and began attacking them.

‘I went instinctively into the fetal position, and they kept kicking and punching my head,’ he described.

Three other men were named as defendants in the lawsuit, including an Oak Park police officer identified as Elkins’ boyfriend.

Cavanagh said no action has been taken against Elkins because he’s a police officer.

‘They had probable cause to arrest (Elkins) weeks ago. But because it’s a Chicago police sergeant, nothing,’ he said.

At the time of the altercations, Elkins had been on paid desk duty for over three years due to sexual assault allegation in his Michigan hometown.

The Michigan State Police records reveal accusations against Elkins for inappropriately touching four teenage boys in 2015. He pleaded guilty to reduced charges and faced a fine, as well as a year of probation.

Before that, in 2003, he faced charges of sexually abusing a male student during his time as a patrolman. A judge eventually acquitted Elkins and he became sergeant in 2007.

In his 20 years on the force, Elkins also accrued 35 citizen complaints.

GSN reached out to the Chicago Police Department for further comment.