A 22-year-old who is the youngest mayor in Welsh history is also believed to be the first openly non-binary mayor of any city worldwide.
Owen Hurcum, a recent graduate, said they were “beyond humbled” to be voted in by The City of Bangor Council at this year’s elections.
The independent candidate, who identifies as agender, tweeted: “When I came out two years ago I was so worried I’d be ostracised by my community or worse.
“Today my community elected me mayor of our great city. The youngest ever mayor in Wales. The first ever openly non-binary mayor of any city anywhere. Beyond humbled. Diolch, Bangor.”
When I came out two years ago I was so worried I'd be ostracized by my community or worse. Today my community elected me Mayor of our great City. The youngest ever Mayor in Wales. The first ever openly Non-Binary Mayor of any city anywhere. Beyond humbled, Diolch Bangor 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/pGHiaQTVaO
— Mayor Owen J Hurcum 🏴🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@OwenJHurcum) May 10, 2021
Mayor Hurcum had already been a councillor for four years – and a deputy mayor and chair of the committee for the council.
They added on their twitter: “I just want to say a huge diolch to all the lovely messages that are still coming in.
“I know representation is not just putting on the chain and I’ll be judged by what we do as a team for Bangor during my year in office, but still, I’m glad my election has resonated with so many.”
Some had contested the claim that Hurcum is the world’s first non-binary city mayor, suggesting that Georgina Beyer, who was elected mayor of Carterton in New Zealand back in 1995, was actually the world’s first.
But it was later clarified that Georgina is transgender and defines as female, and is not non-binary, Metro reported.
