Gabriel Acevero facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gabriel Acevero
Acevero in 2023
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 39th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2019 Serving with Lesley Lopez, W. Gregory Wims
Preceded by	Shane Robinson
Personal details
Born	(1990-10-23) October 23, 1990 (age 34) 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 (born October 23, 1990) 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 elected and the first openly gay Afro-Latino person to hold this position. Acevero is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Early Life and Education

Acevero speaking in 2016

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.

Early Career and Activism

After college, Acevero worked as an organizer for important causes. In 2012, he helped with two successful campaigns in Maryland. One was Question 4, which supported the Maryland Dream Act. This law helped young undocumented immigrants. The other was Question 6, which supported marriage equality for all couples. Maryland was the first state to approve both these measures through voting.

In 2014, he worked to support transgender equality. The National Black Justice Coalition recognized him as one of "100 Black LGBTQ Emerging Leaders to Watch." This was for his work to improve Maryland's justice system.

Acevero was also an activist for Black Lives Matter. He helped organize protests in Baltimore City in 2015 after the death of Freddie Gray. He joined groups that wanted to change Maryland's Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights. This law gives special protections to police officers. Before becoming a politician, he worked to reduce the number of people in jail.

He joined the Fight for $15 campaign in Maryland. This group worked to raise the minimum wage in Montgomery County. He helped organize workers and community groups. The County Council approved the bill, and it became law in 2017.

In December 2017, Acevero and other activists were arrested at Capitol Hill. They were protesting to pressure Congress to pass laws for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. He also helped rename an elementary school after Bayard Rustin. Rustin was a gay Civil Rights leader. Acevero spoke about the importance of affirming LGBTQ youth. The Montgomery County Board of Education approved the renaming.

Political Career in the Maryland Legislature

In 2018, Gabriel Acevero ran for 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 experienced delegates.

He faced little opposition from Republicans in the general election. On November 6, 2018, he was elected at age 28. Acevero took office on January 9, 2019. He was sworn in using a copy of The Fire Next Time, a book by James Baldwin.

In the House of Delegates, he serves on the House Appropriations Committee. This committee handles state spending. He is also a member of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, the Latino Legislative Caucus, and the Montgomery County Delegation.

In 2022, Acevero ran for reelection. Even though some other Democrats campaigned for someone else, he won and kept his seat.

Key Political Ideas

Gabriel Acevero supports several important issues in Maryland.

Education Funding

In 2020, Acevero supported a plan to increase funding for public schools in Maryland. This plan came from the Kirwan Commission. He said that investing in education helps everyone in the state. He also sponsored a bill to create a commission. This group would help improve how U.S. and Maryland history, culture, and civics are taught in schools.

Health Care for All

During the 2020 legislative session, Acevero and State Senator Jill P. Carter introduced a bill. This bill aimed to create a single-payer health care system in Maryland. This means the state would manage health care for everyone.

Immigration Rights

In 2021, Acevero supported the Dignity Not Detention Act. This law would stop counties from making deals with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He said that ICE's methods were harsh.

Fair Voting Maps

In 2019, Acevero was the only person in the Maryland General Assembly to vote against a bill about changing voting district lines. He felt the bill was introduced too late and didn't follow suggestions for fair, non-political map drawing.

In 2021, he was the only Democrat to vote against the legislature's plan for congressional districts. He was worried about Gerrymandering. This is when voting districts are drawn unfairly to favor one political party. He wanted both parties to support a law that would create independent groups to draw these lines. In 2022, Maryland's congressional map was found to be unconstitutional because it was too partisan.

Social Issues

In 2019, Acevero helped create a bill about having diaper-changing stations in men's restrooms. He also worked on issues related to school funding.

In 2020, he supported a bill to explore giving reparations to descendants of enslaved Africans in Maryland.

Universal Basic Income

Acevero supports the idea of a universal basic income. This means everyone would receive a regular payment from the government. He sees it as a way to fight extreme poverty. He mentioned Alaska's program as an example of how it can help with income inequality.

Awards and Recognitions

• 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 included him in 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