Erica Deuso will become the first openly transgender mayor in Pennsylvania.

Voters in Downingtown elected Deuso on Tuesday with 64 percent of the vote, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Democrat ran against Republican Richard Bryant.

Deuso, 45, currently works at Johnson & Johnson and has lived in Downingtown since 2007. The mayor-elect is originally from Vermont and graduated from Drexel University.

Deuso released a statement following her election, noting that “history was made.”

“Voters chose hope, decency, and a vision of community where every neighbor matters,” Deuso stated. “I am deeply honored to be elected as Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor, and I don’t take that responsibility lightly.”

According to a LGBTQ+ Victory Institute report released in June, the U.S. has seen a 12.5 percent increase in trans elected officials from 2024 to 2025. Still, Deuso’s campaign did not heavily focus on LGBTQ policy or her identity. She instead prioritized public safety, environmental resilience, and town infrastructure, according to Deuso’s campaign website.

Deuso has served on the boards of the Pennsylvania Equality Project, PFLAG West Chester/Chester County, and Emerge Pennsylvania, according to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. She is also an executive member of the Chester County Democratic Committee.

“This victory isn’t about one person, it’s about what happens when people come together to choose progress over fear. It’s about showing that leadership can be compassionate, practical, and focused on results. Now the real work begins, building a Downingtown that is safe, sustainable, and strong for everyone who calls it home,” Deuso said.

Downingtown has a population of more than 8,000 people and is a suburb of Philadelphia. The town’s current mayor, Democrat Phil Dague, did not seek a second term.

Janelle Perez, the executive director of LPAC, celebrated Deuso’s victory. The super PAC endorses LGBTQ women and nonbinary candidates with a commitment to women’s equality and social justice, including Deuso.

“Downingtown voters delivered a resounding message today, affirming that Erica represents the inclusive, forward-looking leadership their community deserves, while rejecting the transphobic rhetoric that has become far too common across the country,” Perez said. “Throughout her campaign, Erica demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her future constituents and the issues that matter most to them. LPAC is proud to have supported her from the beginning of this historic campaign, and we look forward to the positive impact she will have as mayor of Downingtown.”

Deuso will be sworn in as mayor on Jan. 7.

A group of customers reported an anti-LGBTQ attack in York, Pa., on Friday, Aug. 22, according to the York Daily Record.

York City Police Commissioner Michael Muldrow said he ordered detectives to investigate the incident in which a group of LGBTQ individuals said they were harassed and attacked near the York County Judicial Center by another group they first encountered at Gift Horse Brewing Company, YDR reported.

Brady Pappas, one of the alleged victims, shared a Facebook post about the incident. He wrote that he and two friends were harassed by several patrons in an outdoor beer garden “screaming at us and calling us faggots.”

Pappas and the group then left the bar.

“The group then ran out of the bar, across traffic, and circled us on the sidewalk, saying things like ‘If you wanna dress like women act like women.’ They were threatening us and getting in our faces for a few minutes while staff and some bystanders were watching from across the street,” Pappas wrote.

“After exchanging yells from down the street, the group, led by one of the men began running after us and attacked Vayne,” Pappas wrote. “Vayne was in no way being physically aggressive and said multiple times that they did not want to fight. The guy did not stop trying to get to Vayne and once he did, began to push Vayne, grab them, and punch them while trying to get Vayne into a chokehold. Vayne swung their book bag at him trying to put some distance between them, but fell over a bench, in which the guy then threw Vayne to the ground and choked them to the point that they turned purple, passed out, and began seizing after coming back to consciousness about 5 seconds later. Tragedy and I were trying everything we could to help. I truly did not know what was going to happen to my sister as I was sobbing, trying to pull them off of Vayne, begging for them to stop.”

“An employee from Gift Horse got the man off of Vayne and held him down until the police arrived,” Pappas continued. “I’m so grateful for the witnesses who came to our aid, and consoled us. They were queer and ally community members who actually knew us.”

“The interactions with the cops were disappointing as they dismissed everything that we said,” Pappas wrote.

Pappas added that police charged both Vayne and a man with disorderly conduct in the incident.

“This was hate,” Pappas wrote. “Vayne never laid a hand on the guy until they had to defend themselves.”

Commissioner Muldrow responded in a Facebook post:

“ANY incident where ‘Hate Fueled Violence’ is alleged (in this community) will ALWAYS be a priority to myself, this Department, and York City Government as a whole.

“To that end, after consulting with Downtown Inc. Leadership (who were on top of this incident from the start, advocating for the Victims and the safety of the Downtown Community);

“(1) I’ve ordered our Detectives back in (today) to do a thorough ‘review of the case’ (i.e.; meeting with responding Officers, studying available surveillance video, speaking to victims, witnesses and persons involved as needed, reviewing the circumstances, and consulting with the DA’s Office to make sure the most appropriate charges are filed)…

“(2) Notified the Human Relations Commission about the incident, and

“(3) Deployed our departments new “Trauma Responder” Counselor (to follow-up with the individuals affected during this incident, to help them safely process through what occurred).”

YDR reported that York City Police Capt. Daniel Lentz said that charging documents in the incident are not yet available.

The University of Pennsylvania learned Wednesday from Fox News and social media that the Trump-Vance administration is pausing $175 million in federal funding because of its nondiscrimination policy that allows transgender student athletes to compete as their authentic selves.

A reporter from Fox Business was first to break the news, describing the decision as a “pro-active punishment” for UPenn’s policy which she said violated Trump’s executive order, signed last month, banning “men from competing in women’s sports.”

BREAKING: The Trump Administration has “paused $175 million in federal funding from the University of Pennsylvania” over its policies forcing women to compete with men in sports.

Promises made, promises kept. pic.twitter.com/o4yiiqtH9d

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 19, 2025

The reporter went on to say an ongoing Title IX investigation puts the university “at risk of losing all its federal funding” because Lia Thomas, a former UPenn student athlete, made history three years ago this week by competing with other women. 

That investigation, according to Fox, centers on the school’s decision to “allow transgender and biological male Lia Thomas to compete on the women’s swim team, use women’s locker rooms while exposing his male genitalia to his fellow female athletes.” 

A spokesperson for the university told Fox it had not received any “official notification” of the decision on funding by the Trump administration. UPenn said the university was and is in “full compliance” with NCAA and Ivy League policies:

“We are aware of media reports suggesting a suspension of $175 million in federal funding to Penn, but have not yet received any official notification or any details. It is important to note, however, that Penn has always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding student participation on athletic teams. We have been in the past, and remain today, in full compliance with the regulations that apply to not only Penn, but all of our NCAA and Ivy League peer institutions.”

As the Washington Blade reported on March 17, 2022, Thomas was a UPenn senior when she became the NCAA’s first openly trans Division 1 national champion at the Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship held in Atlanta that day. She won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:33:24, one second faster than her closest competitor. 

Thomas graduated in 2022 and started her pursuit of a law degree and the chance to compete in last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris. The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a worldwide ban on trans women athletes in June 2024, ending her dream of swimming at the Olympics or any other women’s competition, as the Blade reported. 

Thomas did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening. Last summer, the aspiring attorney commented on the decision that smashed her hopes of competing again. 

“Blanket bans preventing trans women from competing are discriminatory and deprive us of valuable athletic opportunities that are central to our identities,” said Thomas. 

Openly trans athlete and activist Chris Mosier noted in a video posted on Instagram that Thomas and the university were in total compliance with rules of that time, and that the funding is being frozen despite the fact Trump was not even in office when Thomas competed. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Chris Mosier | Trans Athlete (@thechrismosier)

Also speaking out Wednesday was Riley Gaines, who tied with Thomas for fifth place at the 2022 championships and has gone to become a paid spokesperson for anti-inclusion women’s sports organizations. 

“The Trump administration has yet again taken swift action to uphold common sense and preserve women’s opportunities by pausing $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania,” Gaines told Fox News. 

UPenn’s policy appears online, stating: “The Policy of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination at the University of Pennsylvania states “the University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.” 

“The federal Title IX Policy extends to trans students; it states “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”