Taylor Small

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Taylor Small

| image = Taylor small 2020 int 2.jpg

| caption = Small in 2020

| state_house = Vermont

| district = Chittenden-21

| alongside = Daisy Berbeco

| term_start = January 4, 2023

| term_end = January 8, 2025

| predecessor = Redistricted

| successor = Chloe Tomlinson

| state_house1 = Vermont

| district1 = Chittenden 6-7

| alongside1 = Hal Colston

| term_start1 = January 6, 2021

| term_end1 = January 4, 2023

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|03|26}}

| birth_place = Portland, Maine, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = {{flatlist|

}}

| alma_mater = University of Vermont (BS)

| website = {{url|https://www.taylorsmallvt.com/|Campaign website}}

}}

Taylor Small (born March 26, 1994) is an American politician. Small was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 2021 until 2025. She was the first openly transgender legislator elected in Vermont and the 5th elected in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/11/taylor-small-will-vermonts-first-transgender-legislator/|title=Taylor Small will be Vermont's first out transgender legislator|first=Molly|last=Sprayregan|date=November 3, 2020|accessdate=November 3, 2020}}

Early life

Small was born in Portland, Maine to Canadian parents.{{Cite web|url=https://lgbtqbar.org/annual/conference-speakers/representative-taylor-small/|title=Representative Taylor Small|website=The LGBTQ+ Bar|accessdate=December 13, 2021}} Small lived in Johnson, Vermont, and then Western Massachusetts as a child.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2020/11/04/taylor-small-first-transgender-vermont-legislator-2020-election-results/6087418002/|title=Taylor Small wins House seat to become first openly transgender member of Vermont Legislature|journal=Burlington Free Press|first=Brent|last=Hallenbeck|date=November 4, 2020|accessdate=November 4, 2020}} After Small’s parents divorced, Small returned to Vermont and attended Colchester High School and Burlington Technical Center. Small then went on to graduate from the University of Vermont in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Sexuality and Gender Identity Studies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.taylorsmallvt.com/about|title=About|website=Taylor Small for State Rep|accessdate=November 3, 2020}}{{Cite journal|url=https://vtdigger.org/2020/08/09/winooski-candidate-taylor-small-looks-to-become-states-first-openly-trans-lawmaker/|title=Winooski candidate Taylor Small looks to become state's first openly trans lawmaker|journal=VT Digger|first=Grace|last=Elletson|date=August 9, 2020|accessdate=November 3, 2020}}

Career

Small was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in the 2020 general election after the incumbent Diana Gonzalez retired and is the state's first openly transgender legislator,{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrupG_3E01A |title= Taylor Small speaks about her accomplishments during her first legislative session |date= June 8, 2021 |via=YouTube.com}} and the fifth in the nation.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.them.us/story/trans-state-representative-taylor-small-interview|title=Vermont's First Trans State Representative Is Fighting For Her Community|journal=Them.|first=Samantha|last=Riedel|date=September 4, 2020|accessdate=November 3, 2020}} Small ran on both the Democratic ticket and Vermont Progressive Party ticket and won with 41% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/legislature-state-legislature-elections-vermont-3d1005de71eaac63bfbb537016523c12|title=Vermont gets state's 1st openly transgender legislator|work=Associated Press|date=November 4, 2020|accessdate=November 4, 2020}}

Small is the education manager (and former director of the Health and Wellness program) at Pride Center of Vermont and has worked with the Vermont Department of Health. Prior to that, Small worked in mental health at Howard Center and Northwestern Counseling and Support Services and supported homeless and runaway youth with Spectrum Youth and Family Services. Through a drag persona, Nikki Champagne, along with colleague Emoji Nightmare, Small has promoted local libraries and youth literacy and hosted fundraisers to help support Vermont’s non-profit organizations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pridecentervt.org/team/|title=Meet Our Team|website=Pride Center of VT|accessdate=December 15, 2020}}{{Cite journal|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/11/04/taylor-small-vermont-transgender-trans-nikki-champagne/|title=Taylor Small, tireless LGBT+ champion and sickening drag queen, makes history as her state's first trans lawmaker|journal=PinkNews|first=Lily|last=Wakefield|date=November 4, 2020|accessdate=December 15, 2020}}

Small was named a 2022 Politician of Year by One Young World, receiving the award in Manchester, England in September 2022 alongside four other young politicians from around the world.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.necn.com/news/local/vt-lawmaker-honored-at-event-attended-by-prince-harry-meghan-markle/2822821/|title=Vt. Lawmaker Honored at Event Attended by Prince Harry & Meghan Markle|journal=NECN|first=Jack|last=Thurston|date=September 12, 2022|accessdate=November 9, 2022}}

Personal life

Small lives in Winooski with her partner, Carsen, and their dogs, Theobroma and Charlie.

Electoral history

= 2020 =

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Vermont House of Representatives Chittenden 6-7 district Democratic primary, 2020{{cite web |url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/search/year_from:2020/year_to:2020/office_id:8/district_id:33556| title=Elections Results Archive| publisher=Vermont Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Taylor Small

| votes = 1003

| percentage = 44.9

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Hal Colston (incumbent)

| votes = 912

| percentage = 40.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Jordan Matte

| votes = 316

| percentage = 14.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Write-ins

| votes = 4

| percentage = 0.2

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 2235

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

|title = Vermont House of Representatives Chittenden 6-7 district general election, 2020

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Hal Colston (incumbent)

| votes = 2551

| percentage = 43.5

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no change

| party = Progressive/Democratic

| color = {{party color|Vermont Progressive Party}}

| candidate = Taylor Small

| votes = 2423

| percentage = 41.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent

| candidate = James Ehlers

| votes = 867

| percentage = 14.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate = Write-ins

| votes = 28

| percentage = 0.5

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 5869

| percentage = 100.0

}}

= 2022 =

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Vermont House of Representatives Chittenden-21 district Democratic primary, 2022{{cite web |url=https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/Elections%20Division/election%20info%20and%20resources/elections%20results%20and%20data/2022%20Primary%20Election%20Candidate%20Vote%20Totals%20for%20website.xlsx

| title=2022 August Primary Election Detailed Results |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Vermont Progressive Party

| candidate = Taylor Small (incumbent)

| votes = 1011

| percentage = 53.0

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Daisy Berbeco

| votes = 883

| percentage = 46.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Write-ins

| votes = 13

| percentage = 0.7

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1907

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

|title = Vermont House of Representatives Chittenden-21 district general election, 2022{{cite web |url=https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/Elections%20Division/election%20info%20and%20resources/elections%20results%20and%20data/2022%20GE%20Candidate%20Vote%20Totals%20for%20Website.xlsx| title=2022 General Election Results |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Daisy Berbeco

| votes = 1813

| percentage = 43.6

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no change

| party = Progressive/Democratic

| color = {{party color|Vermont Progressive Party}}

| candidate = Taylor Small (incumbent)

| votes = 1735