Estefania Cortes-Vargas
| Estefania Cortes-Vargas MLA | |
|---|---|
 Cortes-Vargas in 2015 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Strathcona-Sherwood Park | |
|
Assumed office May 5, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Dave Quest |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1990/1991 (age 26–27) Colombia |
| Political party | Alberta New Democratic Party |
| Occupation | Educational assistant |
Estefania Cortes-Vargas (born 1991) is a Canadian politician who was elected in the Alberta general election, 2015 to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the electoral district of Strathcona-Sherwood Park as a member of the Alberta New Democratic Party.[1] Upon election they became one of the first three out LGBT people elected to the Alberta legislature, alongside caucus colleagues Michael Connolly and Ricardo Miranda.[2]
Although Cortes-Vargas was represented in media coverage during the election campaign as female and lesbian,[2] in December 2015 they formally came out as non-binary in the legislature during debate on the inclusion of transgender rights in the provincial human rights code.[3] While the provincial Hansard normally reports members' speeches under the gender honorifics "Mr." or "Ms.", Cortes-Vargas is recorded as "Member Cortes-Vargas".[3]
References
- ↑ "Alberta Election 2015: NDP’s Estefania Cortes-Vargas wins Strathcona-Sherwood Park riding". Global News, May 5, 2015.
- 1 2 "NDP candidate supports education". Sherwood Park News, April 30, 2015.
- 1 2 "An Alberta MLA on battling gender identity". Maclean's, December 1, 2015.