WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Mondaire Jones (D-NY) released the following statement after he became the first openly gay, Black Member of Congress to preside over floor proceedings in the House of Representatives:

“Presiding over the House floor today was for all of the kids who wonder whether it’s true that they can be anything they want to be when they grow up,” said Congressman Mondaire Jones. “I didn’t come to Congress to be the first openly gay, Black member, but the power in what I represent is not lost on me. Growing up poor, Black, and gay, seeing a young, queer man of color hold the gavel in the House chamber would have changed what I thought was possible from an early age.”

Last week Congressman joined volunteers to distribute food at the Martin Luther King Center in Spring Valley, New York. Video below.