LOVE AND LOSS
Who was Sarah McBride’s late husband Andrew Cray and when was he married to US senator?
SARAH McBride was married to LGBTQ+ activist Andrew Cray.
In November 2024, she became the first transgender person elected to Congress — here we look at Sarah's relationship with her late husband, as well as his political achievements.
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Who was Sarah McBride's husband Andrew Cray?
Andrew Cray, 28, was an American activist who championed for constitutional protection in the LGBTQ+ community.
He worked closely with the Department of Health and Human Services to create the Out2Enroll initiative.
His plan was to connect LGBTQ people with health insurance coverage options.
Additionally, he sought to assist with the passage of the HOPE Act to make organ donation and transplantation more accessible to people with HIV.
He worked to draft new provisions addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ youth for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.
Andrew was a founding member of Trans Legal Advocates of Washington, which trains attorneys on transgender legal issues and operates pro bono legal clinics for transgender clients.
When Sarah and Andrew got married
Sarah and Andrew tied the knot in August 2014.
The two reportedly bumped into each other at The White House in June 2012.
Most read in The US Sun
Sarah had been invited to an event honoring the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community after coming out as a transgender woman.
Andrew had come out as a transgender man several years earlier.
Parents call for more kids books to cover topics like being transgender or disabled to help them feel more represented
The pair bonded over movies after a social media direct message.
Sarah told publication: “It was really adorable.
“When he came to pick me up in his car, I remember he looked so suave with his dark-rimmed glasses.
“I was still relatively new to coming out and I was in awe of the confidence he carried himself with as a trans person.
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"He saw me as me. It was one of the first times I felt that.”
Her father, Dave, regarded Andrew as “a dream come true” for Sarah, claiming that the two were a great match for one another.
Sarah’s father told the publication: “The concern I had for her the most is will she find someone who loves her?
“Andy was such a godsend. It was a dream come true.”
How Andrew Cray died
Four days after marrying, Andrew passed away due to oral tongue cancer.
He had reportedly gone through a 12-hour surgery and Sarah stayed with him to care as he recovered.
Sarah told the Lily: “It was overwhelming for both of us.
“He couldn’t help but worry I would bail. I think it was always there in the back of his mind.”
On the whiteboard in his hospital room, nurses wrote a message for the newlyweds each day: “Happy second anniversary. Happy third anniversary. Happy fourth anniversary.”
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What did Barack Obama do after Andrew Cray's death?
President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Andrew as an Affordable Care Act Champion of Change for his contributions to LGBTQ health.
In addition to Obama’s recognition, the Cray family established the Andrew Cray Memorial Scholarship to support LGBTQ young people in their post-secondary life.
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Did Sarah McBride win the Delaware Senate?
Sarah McBride made history on election night 2024.
She won Delaware's state senate in a race against Republican candidate Steve Washington
- In July of 2019, McBride announced that she was running for Delaware Senate
- Her campaign focused on paid family leave and health care
- McBride became the first openly transgender state senator in the nation
- She replaced Sen. Harris McDowell, a Democrat, who retired at the end of his term
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