Born: 21 September 1965, India
Died: NA
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following is republished from the Badass Womxn and Enbies in the Pacific Northwest Volume 3, in line with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. It was written by Karma Nashed (she/her).
In the wake of the September 11th attacks, a young woman by the name of Pramila Jayapal emerged as a beacon of solidarity and advocacy for Middle Eastern and South Asian immigrants in the United States. Armed with a fierce commitment to combating hate and discrimination, she embarked on a mission to amplify the voices of marginalized communities. This crusade led her to found OneAmerica, a groundbreaking immigrant advocacy organization which would become the largest of its kind in Washington State and a formidable force for change nationwide.
Jayapal’s indomitable spirit and tireless advocacy caught the attention of the nation, propelling her into the political arena. In a historic moment of triumph, she shattered barriers as the first South Asian American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing the 7th district of Washington State. Today, she has filed for re-election to continue serving. Her journey to this groundbreaking achievement speaks volumes about the transformative power of perseverance and passion.
Beyond her trailblazing electoral victory, Jayapal’s legacy is etched in the fabric of her numerous accomplishments and contributions. Born in India and raised in Singapore, Jayapal’s journey to the United States at the age of sixteen brings a unique perspective rooted in the immigrant experience to the hallowed halls of government. As one of only two dozen naturalized citizens currently serving in Congress, her unwavering dedication to championing the rights of immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized communities has earned her widespread admiration, but she has also been met with backlash and even death threats. One night in July of 2022, two men showed up outside of Jayapal’s home to yell obscenities and make threats to her life. One of them was armed with a pistol, swearing he would come back “every day”. Despite her privacy, safety, and sense of security being compromised, Jayapal persists in her role as a woman of color in politics. “It should not be that you get this kind of abuse and racism and sexism directed at you. But you have to accept it if you want to do this job”.
Jayapal’s advocacy extends far beyond the confines of Capitol Hill. Through her acclaimed literary works, including “Pilgrimage to India: A Woman Revisits Her Homeland” and “Use the Power You Have: A Brown Woman’s Guide to Politics and Political Change,” she continues to inspire and empower readers to harness their own agency for social and political change.
As a proud mother of a Transgender daughter, Jayapal embodies the intersectionality between inclusivity and acceptance. Her leadership on the Immigration Task Force for the Congressional Asian Pacific Asian Caucus and as the Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus are prime examples of her commitment to advancing equity and justice for all.