Gabriel Acevero facts for kids
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Gabriel Acevero
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Acevero in 2023
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| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 39th district |
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| Assumed office January 9, 2019 Serving with Lesley Lopez, W. Gregory Wims
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| Preceded by | Shane Robinson |
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| Born | October 23, 1990 San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic Socialists of America |
| Education | Montgomery College (AA) University of Maryland, Baltimore County (BA) |
Gabriel Acevero was born on October 23, 1990. He is a politician, activist, and community organizer from Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. He represents Maryland's 39th House district. On November 6, 2018, Acevero was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates. He was one of the youngest people to be elected to this role. He is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
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Early Life and Education
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Gabriel Acevero was born on October 23, 1990, in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. He was the youngest of six children. His mother, Ingrid, was a government worker and labor activist. His father, Michael, worked in insurance.
Acevero grew up in Couva, Trinidad. He went to Richmond Street Boys Anglican School. He graduated from Couva Government Secondary School in 2007. He was very good on the school's debate team. Later that year, his family moved to Maryland in the United States.
He started college at age 16. He earned an associate degree in international relations from Montgomery College. Then, he got a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 2011. He was only 20 years old. While in college, he was an active student and volunteered for political campaigns.
Political Career
How Gabriel Acevero Became an Activist
After college, Acevero worked as an organizer for important issues. In 2012, he helped with two successful campaigns in Maryland. One was for the Maryland Dream Act. This law helps young undocumented immigrants. The other was for Marriage Equality. Maryland was the first state to approve both of these measures by public vote.
In 2014, he worked on issues related to transgender equality. In 2015, a group called the National Black Justice Coalition recognized him. They named him one of their "100 Black LGBTQ Emerging Leaders to Watch." This was for his work to improve Maryland's justice system.
Acevero is also a Black Lives Matter activist. He helped organize protests in Baltimore in 2015. These protests happened after the death of Freddie Gray. He also joined groups that wanted to change Maryland's Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights. Before he ran for office, he worked on efforts to reduce the number of people in prison in Maryland.
He also joined the Fight for $15 campaign in Maryland. This group worked to raise the minimum wage in Montgomery County. The County Council approved the bill, and it became law in 2017.
In 2017, Acevero was part of a group arrested at Capitol Hill. They were protesting to ask Congress to pass laws for young undocumented immigrants, known as DREAMers.
He also supported renaming an elementary school in Rockville, Maryland. The school was renamed after Bayard Rustin, a civil rights leader. Acevero spoke about the importance of supporting LGBTQ youth. The Montgomery County Board of Education voted to approve the name change.
Serving in the Maryland House of Delegates
Acevero ran for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates. This district includes parts of Gaithersburg, Germantown, Clarksburg, Montgomery Village, and Washington Grove. He won the Democratic primary election on June 26, 2018. He defeated two current delegates in a close race.
He was elected on November 6, 2018, when he was 28 years old. He took office on January 9, 2019. He serves on the House Appropriations Committee. He is also a member of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, the Latino Legislative Caucus, and the Montgomery County Delegation.
In December 2019, Acevero attended a rally in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The rally supported the impeachment of Donald Trump.
In 2020, Delegate Acevero supported Senator Bernie Sanders for president. In 2024, he encouraged voters to cast an "Uncommitted" vote against President Joe Biden. This was a protest vote about the Gaza war.
In 2022, Acevero won reelection to his seat.
What Gabriel Acevero Believes In
Education Support
In 2020, Acevero supported the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. This plan aims to improve education in Maryland. He said that investing in education helps everyone in the state. He also sponsored HB0489. This bill would create a commission to improve how US and Maryland history, culture, and civics are taught in schools.
Health Care for Everyone
In 2020, Acevero and state senator Jill P. Carter introduced a bill. This bill would create a single-payer health care system in Maryland. This means the state would manage health care for all its citizens.
Immigration Rights
In 2021, Acevero supported the Dignity Not Detention Act. This act would stop counties from making agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He spoke about how important it is to protect immigrants. In April 2025, he spoke at a rally against the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Israel and Gaza
In 2024, Acevero introduced a resolution. This resolution asked Maryland's representatives in Congress to support a ceasefire in the Gaza war. In 2025, he introduced the Not On Our Dime Act. This bill would remove non-profit groups from the state's charity list if they support Israeli settlement activities.
Redistricting Fairness
In 2019, Acevero was the only person in the Maryland General Assembly to vote against a motion. This motion would have allowed Republican lawmakers to change the boundaries of Maryland's 6th and 8th congressional districts. He believed the changes should be made by a nonpartisan group.
In 2021, Acevero was the only Democrat in the Maryland General Assembly to vote against the legislature's plan for congressional districts. He was concerned about gerrymandering. This is when district lines are drawn to favor one political party. He wanted both parties to support the For the People Act. This act would create state-level groups to draw congressional lines. In 2022, the Maryland Congressional Map was found to be unconstitutional. A judge called it "extreme partisan gerrymandering."
Social Issues
In 2019, Acevero helped write a bill about diaper-changing stations in men's restrooms. He also worked on issues related to school funding.
In 2020, Acevero supported a bill to explore giving reparations to the descendants of enslaved Africans in Maryland.
In May 2023, Acevero and delegate Ashanti Martinez signed a letter. This letter spoke out against the punishment of two transgender lawmakers in Montana and Oklahoma. In April 2025, Acevero spoke at protests outside the U.S. Supreme Court.
Universal Basic Income
Acevero supports universal basic income. This idea means that all citizens would receive a regular payment from the government. ..... The earnings from this account would then be given to Maryland citizens. He sees this as a way to reduce poverty. He pointed to Alaska's use of it to help with income inequality.
Personal Life
Gabriel Acevero is openly gay.
Awards and Recognition
- In 2015, the National Black Justice Coalition named Acevero one of its "100 Black LGBTQ Emerging Leaders to Watch."
- The Advocate magazine named him one of its "50 Champions of Pride" in June 2018.
- The G-Listed named Acevero one of its "Black LGBTQ Power 100 in 2018."
- LGBTQ Nation named him one of its 10 favorite LGBTQ candidates of 2018.
See also
- List of Democratic Socialists of America who have held office in the United States
