Owen Hurcum

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Owen Exie Hurcum

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Owen J Hurcum (cropped) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Hurcum in May 2021

| office = Mayor of Bangor

| term_start = May 2021

| term_end = May 2022{{cite web |title=Bangor City Council Latest News |url=https://bangorcitycouncil.gov.wales/ |website=Bangor City Council |access-date=31 May 2022 |archive-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818134504/http://www.bangorcitycouncil.gov.wales/ |url-status=live }}

| predecessor = John Wyn Williams

| successor = Gwynant Roberts

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date |23 |2021|06|13}}{{cite news |last1=Storer |first1=Rhi |title=Introducing 'their worship', the world's first non-binary mayor |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/13/owen-hurcum-bangor-wales-worlds-first-non-binary-mayor |access-date=13 June 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=13 June 2021 |archive-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127234556/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/13/owen-hurcum-bangor-wales-worlds-first-non-binary-mayor |url-status=live }}

| birth_place = Harrow, London, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Green Party (2024–present){{cite web|title=I firmly believe the Green Party is the only hope|url=https://x.com/OwenJHurcum/status/1842136008130732267?t=osn5V2GVemesVXMUJscdFg&s=19|website=Twitter|access-date=5 October 2024|archive-date=7 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007092817/https://x.com/OwenJHurcum/status/1842136008130732267?t=osn5V2GVemesVXMUJscdFg&s=19|url-status=live}}

| otherparty =

Breakthrough Party (2022–2023){{cite web |title=Owen Hurcum Joins Breakthrough |url=https://twitter.com/BThroughParty/status/1486617603724484610 |website=Twitter |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-date=28 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128223832/https://twitter.com/bthroughparty/status/1486617603724484610 |url-status=live }} Independent (2021–2022)

Plaid Cymru (until 2021)

| spouse =

| children =

| alma_mater = Bangor University

| website =

}}

Owen Exie J. Hurcum{{Cite tweet |user=owenjhurcum |number=1644735764176027648 |title=So I've decided to give myself a second first name; Exie. It's a name I've used on and off for a while and I want to more formally include it in my name. But I won't be losing Owen. I still like and use that name. So I'll be Owen Exie J Hurcum, and either name is fine to use... |access-date=2024-05-30}} (born Owen J. Hurcum, 1997) is a former British politician. They are the former Mayor of the city of Bangor, Wales, and former ward councillor for Glyder ward on Bangor City Council. In May 2021, they became the Mayor of Bangor, the first openly non-binary mayor of any city world-wide and the youngest person in history to hold a mayoral position in Wales.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-57087627|title=LGBT: Wales' first non-binary mayor 'used to abuse'|date=2021-05-12|website=BBC News|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=26 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426215701/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-57087627|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-05-12|title=Welsh city votes in 'worlds first non-binary mayor'|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/12/graduate-22-is-elected-worlds-first-openly-non-binary-city-mayor-14565159/|website=Metro News|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=5 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405165507/https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/12/graduate-22-is-elected-worlds-first-openly-non-binary-city-mayor-14565159/|url-status=live}} In May 2022 they completed their term as mayor and did not seek re-election to the community council.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-03-11/the-worlds-first-non-binary-mayor-owen-j-hurcum-is-stepping-down|title=IWorld's first non-binary mayor Owen J Hurcum to step down to build home on boat|date=2022-03-11|website=ITV News|access-date=31 May 2022|archive-date=24 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924094322/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-03-11/the-worlds-first-non-binary-mayor-owen-j-hurcum-is-stepping-down|url-status=live}}

Career

Originally from the London suburb of Harrow, Hurcum studied at Whitmore High School during which time they won the 2013 Harrow Regional Final of Jack Petchey's Speak Out Challenge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/10100729.whitmore-high-school-student-wins-harrow-regional-final-of-jack-petcheys-speak-out-challenge/|title=Student wins public speaking competition|last=Innes|first=Emma|date=11 December 2012|website=Harrow Times|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=2 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202222644/https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/10100729.whitmore-high-school-student-wins-harrow-regional-final-of-jack-petcheys-speak-out-challenge/|url-status=live}} Hurcum moved to Bangor in 2015 to attend Bangor University{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Branwen|date=28 March 2020|title=City's youngest mayor promises 'fresh ideas' - here's what they've got planned|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/bangors-youngest-ever-mayor-hopes-17909318|access-date=12 May 2021|website=North Wales Live|language=en|archive-date=28 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628101331/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/bangors-youngest-ever-mayor-hopes-17909318|url-status=live}} to study Archaeology, graduating with a First in 2019.{{cite web |title=Owen Graduates from Bangor University |url=https://twitter.com/OwenJHurcum/status/1150741873255964673 |website=Twitter |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506131851/https://twitter.com/owenjhurcum/status/1150741873255964673 |url-status=live }}

In January 2019, Hurcum co-organised a protest against proposed cuts at Bangor University which would have seen up to 60 staff members at risk of losing their jobs and the closure of the university's Department of Chemistry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seren.bangor.ac.uk/news-politics/2018/12/16/student-protest-against-bangor-university-cuts-organised-for-january-2019/|title=Student Protest Against Bangor University Cuts Organised For January 2019|date=December 16, 2018|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127054812/https://www.seren.bangor.ac.uk/news-politics/2018/12/16/student-protest-against-bangor-university-cuts-organised-for-january-2019/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.seren.bangor.ac.uk/news-politics/2019/01/15/interview-student-protest-organisers-owen-j-hurcum-kayleigh-lavornia-a-lot-is-riding-on-this/|title=INTERVIEW: Student Protest Organisers, Owen J Hurcum & Kayleigh Lavornia – "A lot is riding on this."|date=January 15, 2019|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=2 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202212708/https://www.seren.bangor.ac.uk/news-politics/2019/01/15/interview-student-protest-organisers-owen-j-hurcum-kayleigh-lavornia-a-lot-is-riding-on-this/|url-status=live}} In September 2019, they organised a protest on Bangor High Street against Boris Johnson's prorogation of Parliament ahead of the Brexit withdrawal treaty deadline. The prorogation was later found to be unlawful.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebangoraye.com/big-turnout-for-bangor-stand-up-for-democracy-protest/|title=Big turnout for Bangor 'Stand up for Democracy' Protest|date=2 September 2019|access-date=13 May 2021|archive-date=2 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202204439/https://www.thebangoraye.com/big-turnout-for-bangor-stand-up-for-democracy-protest/|url-status=live}}

Hurcum was appointed unopposed as deputy mayor in 2019. During this time, Hurcum was the target of abuse from the Twitter account of a primary school in Cardiff after they stated that "You are Welsh if you feel Welsh, being born abroad has nothing to do with that." The school claimed an individual had gained unauthorised access to their Twitter account and pledged to launch an investigation.{{cite web|last=Lennox|first=Aaraan|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/investigation-north-wales-councillor-told-20265342|title=Investigation as North Wales councillor told to 'f**k off c**t' by primary school Twitter account|date=2021-03-26|website=North Wales Live|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=31 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331185851/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/investigation-north-wales-councillor-told-20265342|url-status=live}}

Hurcum was due to run as a Plaid Cymru candidate in the 2021 Senedd election, being fourth on Plaid's regional list for North Wales, which would have made them Plaid's first ever openly non-binary candidate. However, on 3 March 2021, they withdrew from the election and resigned from the party, citing transphobia. They continued to sit on Bangor Council as an independent, until January 2022 when they announced they had joined the Breakthrough Party.{{cite web|url=https://nation.cymru/news/plaid-cymru-regional-candidate-steps-down-over-helen-mary-jones-promotion-of-transphobia/|title=Plaid Cymru regional candidate steps down over Helen Mary Jones 'promotion of transphobia'|publisher=Nation Cymru|date=3 March 2021|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203152222/https://nation.cymru/news/plaid-cymru-regional-candidate-steps-down-over-helen-mary-jones-promotion-of-transphobia/|url-status=live}}

File:OwenMayorOfBangor.jpg]]

In May 2021, councillors elected Hurcum to the position of Mayor of Bangor City Council for the 2021–22 term, with Plaid Cymru's Gwynant Roberts taking the deputy mayor position.{{cite web|last=Elvin|first=Sian|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/12/graduate-22-is-elected-worlds-first-openly-non-binary-city-mayor-14565159/|title=Welsh city votes in 'world's first non-binary mayor'|date=2021-05-12|website=Metro|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=5 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405165507/https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/12/graduate-22-is-elected-worlds-first-openly-non-binary-city-mayor-14565159/|url-status=live}} On 14 November 2021 Hurcum laid a Remembrance Day wreath at Bangor Cathedral on behalf of the people of the City. Hurcum completed this term as Mayor in May 2022 and did not seek re-election to the City Council due to their plan to move to England for at least a year to renovate a boat.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-03-11/the-worlds-first-non-binary-mayor-owen-j-hurcum-is-stepping-down|title=IWorld's first non-binary mayor Owen J Hurcum to step down to build home on boat|date=2022-03-11|website=ITV News|access-date=31 May 2022|archive-date=24 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924094322/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-03-11/the-worlds-first-non-binary-mayor-owen-j-hurcum-is-stepping-down|url-status=live}}

Hurcum's debut book entitled Don't Ask About my Genitals : An Introductory Manifesto to Trans and Non-Binary Equality was published in May 2022.{{cite news|last=Chandler|first=Matthew|url=https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/20115964.outgoing-bangor-mayor-release-book-trans-non-binary-equality/ |title=Outgoing Bangor mayor to release book on trans and non-binary equality |date=5 May 2022 |work=North Wales Chronicle|access-date=2023-04-04}}

They continued their postgraduate studies at Bangor, studying an MA in Celtic Archaeology, graduating from the University in December 2022 with a Distinction.{{cite web |title=Owen MA graduation from Bangor University |url=https://twitter.com/OwenJHurcum/status/1594969114681942016I|website=Twitter}} In 2023 they started their PhD at the University of York, focusing on Transgender Archaeology. {{Cite web |title=Trowels, Trenches and ‘#TransRights’ – Heritage for Global Challenges Research Centre |url=https://www.hgc.hosted.york.ac.uk/trowels-trenches-and-transrights-archaeology-as-transgender-activism/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |language=en}} Owen, for their PhD, has been researching Transgender Archaeology, which they define as "the relationship of our discipline to the transgender community, genders outside of the modern settler/West’s dominating binary construct of cisgender man/woman".{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=Owen J Hurcum |url=https://historiesatrisk.com/owen-j-hurcum/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Histories At Risk |language=en |archive-date=8 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108214239/https://historiesatrisk.com/owen-j-hurcum/ |url-status=live }}

== Political positions ==

Hurcum supports Welsh independence, but has been hugely critical of transphobia in the independence movement, including abuse they have personally faced, and have stated that an independent Wales "should be one built on equality and acceptance."{{cite web|last=Hurcum|first=Owen|url=https://www.thenational.wales/news/19175083.owen-hurcum-calls-equality-welsh-independence-movement/|title=Owen Hurcum calls for equality in Welsh independence movement|date=2021-03-20|website=The National|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204065819/https://www.thenational.wales/news/19175083.owen-hurcum-calls-equality-welsh-independence-movement/|url-status=live}} They opposed the renaming of the Second Severn Crossing to the Prince of Wales Bridge in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebangoraye.com/plaid-ifanc-condemn-prince-wales-renaming-bangor-conference/|title=Plaid Ifanc condemn 'Prince of Wales' renaming at Bangor Conference|date=April 15, 2018|access-date=13 May 2021|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204070353/https://www.thebangoraye.com/plaid-ifanc-condemn-prince-wales-renaming-bangor-conference/|url-status=live}}

Hurcum has also spoken in favour of, and campaigned for, transgender rights in the United Kingdom as a whole, including for improved access to trans healthcare in the NHS, amending the Equality Act 2010 to explicitly include non-binary people, and introducing third gender options for passports and other identity documents.{{cite web|last=Bryan|first=Nicola|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-55721123|title=Census 2021: England and Wales gender question 'a good first step'|date=2021-02-14|website=BBC News|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412183953/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-55721123|url-status=live}}

They have opposed increases of post-secondary tuition fees by the Welsh Labour Senedd government.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://www.partyofwalesarfon.org/cynydd_mewn_ffioedd_dysgu_cynydd_mewn_ffioedd_dysgu_barn_myfyriwr_ym_mangor|title=Hike in tuition fees - Bangor student responds|date=2017-07-21|website=Plaid Cymru Arfon|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209071939/https://www.partyofwalesarfon.org/cynydd_mewn_ffioedd_dysgu_cynydd_mewn_ffioedd_dysgu_barn_myfyriwr_ym_mangor|url-status=usurped}}

On 27 January 2022 Hurcum announced that they had joined the Breakthrough Party.{{cite news |title=World's First Openly Non-Binary Mayor joins Breakthrough Party |url=https://breakthroughparty.org.uk/news/worlds-first-openly-non-binary-mayor-joins-breakthrough-party/?swcfpc=1#more-1540 |website=Breakthrough Party |date=27 January 2022 |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-date=31 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131101832/https://breakthroughparty.org.uk/news/worlds-first-openly-non-binary-mayor-joins-breakthrough-party/?swcfpc=1#more-1540 |url-status=live }} They have since joined the Green Party.{{Cite web |last=Hurcum |first=Owen |date=October 4, 2024 |title=Owen Exie J Hurcum 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏳️‍⚧️🍉 on X: "I firmly beleive [sic] @TheGreenParty is the only hope we have at the ballot box ... |url=https://x.com/OwenJHurcum/status/1842136008130732267 |website=Twitter |access-date=4 October 2024 |archive-date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007092738/https://x.com/OwenJHurcum/status/1842136008130732267 |url-status=live }}

Personal life

Hurcum is genderqueer and agender, with they/them pronouns.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-12|title=First non-binary mayor 'of any city, anywhere' wins landslide election aged 22|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/05/12/non-binary-mayor-bangor-wales-owen-hurcum-genderqueer-agender/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=PinkNews|language=en-GB|archive-date=13 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513002154/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/05/12/non-binary-mayor-bangor-wales-owen-hurcum-genderqueer-agender/|url-status=live}} Hurcum has said "I know I'm not a bloke, but I know I'm not a trans woman either". They are pansexual.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/world-s-1st-nonbinary-mayor-wants-use-pride-month-platform-n1269163 |title=World's 1st nonbinary mayor wants to use Pride Month as a 'platform to force change' |date=June 2, 2021 |work=NBC News |first=Elizabeth |last=Kuhr |access-date=9 December 2021 |archive-date=21 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921162401/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/world-s-1st-nonbinary-mayor-wants-use-pride-month-platform-n1269163 |url-status=live }}

In March 2022 Hurcum said they would be moving back to England to renovate a 1940s houseboat, citing property prices as a reason. The intention was to return to Bangor with the boat after the renovation had been completed.

Owen Hurcum

Career

Personal life

References

External links