This piece is being published in coordination with Sister District, an organization working to build progressive power in state legislatures. Critical and life-altering policies, including abortion access, trans rights, voting rights, fair wages and conditions for working people and families are increasingly coming from often overlooked state legislatures rather than Washington, DC. Our Historic Firsts Series uplifts inspiring, historic firsts among recently elected state lawmakers, with a focus on women, people of color, young folks, LGBTQIA+ folks, and folks from nontraditional backgrounds.
Senator Kim Jackson is many things: a politician, yes, but also a reverend, and the first openly LGBTQ+ state senator in Georgia’s history. Though the pieces of her identity may seem disparate to some, Sen. Jackson doesn’t see it that way. She felt a calling to ministry from a young age, she says, and then, when she was 13, decided running for office was also in her future. That happened when she visited a city council meeting. “I was listening to them make all these decisions about what streets were going to get paved and who was going to get street lights,” Jackson tells Teen Vogue. “And I was like, This is the real deal. I decided right then that I wanted to be an elected official.”
And she did just that. In 2021, Jackson took her seat as a Georgia senator representing portions of Gwinnett and DeKalb counties after winning the election by a steep margin, securing 82% of the votes. Now, Sen. Jackson devotes her life to her two passions: politics and ministry.
Teen Vogue catches up with Sen. Jackson to hear about her path, what she hopes to accomplish for the state of Georgia, and why she thinks young people are the future.
Teen Vogue: It can seem like politics and ministry are worlds apart. Does it feel that way to you?
Kim Jackson: They don't feel far to me, largely, I think, because of the work that I do. I serve a congregation of people who are experiencing homelessness. Almost everybody that is a member of our congregation has either been impacted by homelessness or is currently homeless. Basically, I work in the capital to advocate around those types of issues and to try to solve these critical issues that result in people sleeping outside. And then I go across the street and work with people who are sleeping outside. To me, they live together. On Sundays, we give lunches to people who are hungry. Then on Monday, I try to fight to make sure that people have access to food stamps.
TV: You’re the first openly LGBTQ+ state senator in Georgia. That must be a lot of pressure. Does that accomplishment feel heavy to you?
KJ: It feels like a lot of pressure, particularly when issues that have to do with our community come up. We've had a lot of anti-trans bills, and that's been hard because people expect me to be the one that gives the speeches and expect me to be the one who explains these issues. I'm happy to do it — and I wish there were other people who could do it with me. So there is that pressure.
But it's also a gift, right? I get to meet people, particularly young people, who come to my office just to see me because they're like, “I didn't know this was possible.” So I get to be inspiring to people too, and that's beautiful.
TV: What would you say to young people who feel disenchanted with politics and the electoral system?
KJ: It's important for them to know that there are good people in politics who are working hard and fighting to make this place better. And that we really are dependent upon young people to come along and force us to make better decisions, but also to replace us. I'm really clear that there is somebody who has already been born who will someday have my seat. I want those folks to know that that's possible for them.
TV: What do you hope for Georgia’s future?
KJ: The optimist in me really hopes for a future Georgia where everybody feels safe to live here, where kids don't feel like they're under attack for their gender expression, where they can play on the sports teams they need to play on. I hope for a Georgia where everybody has a place to sleep who wants to and that people aren't hungry.
TV: What’s bringing you hope right now?
KJ: Some of the biggest advocates that have met with me down at the Capitol have been people under the age of 22. That gives me so much hope. They know so much more about politics than I did at that age, even though I knew I wanted to run for office.
So that level of passion — also that boldness of going down to the Capitol and meeting with me and not being intimidated by these Republicans and other people who try to make it really intimidating — it's just to me, it's powerful. If I had an ounce of the boldness of some of these young people, I'd be so much more powerful. So I'm very inspired by them.
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