Sherry Harris

Sherry D. Harris (born February 27, 1957) is an American activist and politician who served as a member of the Seattle City Council from 1992 to 1996. She was the first out black lesbian elected to public office in the United States.

Early life and education Harris was born on February 27, 1957, in Newark, New Jersey, to a single mom. She grew up in Newark's ghetto as an only child and experienced poverty and other hardships, including the 1967 Newark riots.

In 1978, Harris graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology with a degree in Human Factors Engineering (Ergonomic Engineering) After college she would move to Seattle, working at Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Company and Boeing as an engineer. She was active in community activism around Seattle focusing on city improvements, women's rights, and LGBT rights. Due to health complications related to diabetes, and long hospitalizations, Smith was unable to run an effective campaign against Harris.

In the November general election, Harris won in a landslide with 65% of the vote compared to Smith's 35%. Harris would be the first elected black lesbian to elected office.

Tenure While in office, Harris chaired the council's Housing, Health, Human Services and Education Committee and served on the Transportation and Utilities Committees. In the general election, Manning would defeat Harris, 54% to 46%. At the time, Harris denied the allegations stating, "Anyone who knows me or has dealt with me...knows that any rumor, innuendo, claim or suggestion of harassment or discrimination on my part is absurd..." and would claim that the complaint was blackmail. According to the former staffer, Rev. Dorinda Henry, Harris threatened her if she chose to file a complaint by saying, "I'll destroy you. You won't be able to do anything in this city,"