PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Democratic voters made history on Tuesday by nominating Philadelphia’s first South Asian and openly LGBTQ candidates to City Council.
Rue Landau, the former executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, secured one of five Democratic nominations for at-large seats for City Council. She will most likely be the first openly LGBTQ person to serve in the chamber.
A civil rights and housing attorney, Landau has spent most of her career working to gain equality for LGBTQ communities. She received the first same-sex marriage certificate in Pennsylvania in 2014.
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She said this primary win comes at important moment.
“From Florida to Bucks County and many, many places in between all over the country, they are literally trying to strip us of our rights,” Landau said. “Now more than ever, I think it is important that we have a member of the community on our City Council to maintain Philadelphia as a safe space.
“It’s really important that we have a seat at the table.”
Nina Ahmad also advanced in this week’s Democratic primary. She is poised to become the first South Asian person on City Council.
“I am doing this to build a legacy for everyone who sounds a little different, looks a little different but must have a voice,” she said.
“As an immigrant to this city from a tiny little country called Bangladesh, which is part of South Asia … it does matter to bring your experience to the table. People see themselves you.”
The top five candidates for each party who won this week’s respective primaries will be on the general election ballot in November. They are vying for seven at-large seats total. Given the city’s voter registration numbers, all five Democrats are expected to win.
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