Documentary ‘State of Firsts’ Follows Sarah McBride’s Historic Journey to Congress

A new documentary, State of Firsts , released during Pride Month, chronicles Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.)’s historic path to Congress amid growing anti-transgender rhetoric. It is now showing in select theaters across the country.

By Roxanne Szal July 22, 2026 1 min read

A new documentary, State of Firsts, released during Pride Month, chronicles Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.)’s historic path to Congress amid growing anti-transgender rhetoric. It is now showing in select theaters across the country.

Directed by trans filmmaker Chase Joynt, the documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at McBride’s journey to becoming the first openly transgender elected official in the U.S. Congress.

The post Documentary ‘State of Firsts’ Follows Sarah McBride’s Historic Journey to Congress appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

Why this matters

The release of the documentary "State of Firsts" during Pride Month highlights the significance of Rep. Sarah McBride's historic election to Congress, particularly in the context of growing anti-transgender rhetoric nationwide. As the first openly transgender elected official in the U.S. Congress, McBride's journey is a landmark moment for LGBTQ representation in politics. The documentary's behind-the-scenes look at her campaign offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by transgender individuals in public life. McBride's election also underscores the importance of diverse representation in state and federal governments, where laws and policies affecting the LGBTQ community are often decided. As states continue to propose and pass legislation impacting transgender rights, McBride's presence in Congress serves as a crucial voice for advocacy and awareness, and her story may inspire further LGBTQ representation in politics across the country.

About this coverage

Her Choice is AI-assisted and human-supervised: every story is summarized from and links to the original publisher's reporting, with local context added for our readers by our Texas-based editorial team. We do not republish full articles — we link back to the source, summarize key facts, link to the source, and add the local or topical relevance that our audience needs. Our editorial standards and corrections policy are public: see herchoice.org/editorial-standards.

About Her Choice

Her Choice is published by Nexcom Media as part of the Nexcom Media Network. We launched in 2024 and have grown to cover reproductive rights, women's healthcare, abortion access, contraception. This publication is self-funded by its founders.

Stay informed

Documentary ‘State of Firsts’ Follows Sarah McBride’s Historic Journey to Congress

Need Support?

More stories