Ruthellen "Rue" Landau (born February 20, 1969) is an American politician and activist. She is a member of the Philadelphia City Council from At-Large after winning one of the seven At Large Seats in the 2023 election. She is the first openly LGBT person elected to the Philadelphia City Council.[1][2][3]
Rue Landau | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Philadelphia City Council from At-Large | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 20, 1969 Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania |
| Spouse | Kerry Smith (m. 2014) |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | Bella Vista, Philadelphia |
| Alma mater | University of Delaware Temple University Beasley School of Law |
| Website | Campaign |
Early life and education
editLandau was born on February 20, 1969, in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania to Myron "Mike" and Dorothy "Dosty" Landau along with her identical twin sister, Suzanne. She also has an older brother named Rich. She attended the University of Delaware where she had first came out. She decided to move to the Gayborhood in Philadelphia. She volunteered with ACT UP, an AIDS activist organization and then also with the Kensington Welfare Rights Union, a housing activists group. She decided to go to Law School at the Temple University Beasley School of Law and serve as a housing activist.[2]
Pre-political career
editAfter graduating from Temple, she spent a decade at Community Legal Services to help prevent Philadelphians in cases of evictions and to help locate housings for families. She was then appointed as the director of the Commission on Human Relations, as well as the Commission of the Fair Housing Commission for the City of Philadelphia. She challenged local government like the Philadelphia Housing Authority to create fairer laws and conditions for Philadelphia families.[4]
She served as a Committeeperson in the Second Ward for the Democratic Party of Philadelphia.[5]
Run for city council
editOn December 13, 2022, Landau officially announced her bid for an at-large seat in the 2023 Philadelphia City Council election. She was endorsed by the Democratic Party of Philadelphia, Working Families Party, and Reclaim Philadelphia. Landau won one of the nominations, winning the most votes from a non-incumbent and also received more votes than Incumbent Jim Haritty. After placing fourth and winning a seat in the general election, Landau became the first openly LGTBQ Councilmember in Philadelphia City Council.[6][7][8][9]
Personal life
editLandau met Kerry Smith, who lived in Boston at the time from a friend in New York City in 2002. Landau and Kerry would become the first couple in Pennsylvania to receive a same-sex marriage license when it became legal on May 20, 2014. Rue and Kerry have a son, Eli, who goes to Central High School. They currently live in Bella Vista near Rue's two siblings.[2]
References
edit- ^ Mikulich, Leah (June 21, 2024). "Cheltenham's Rue Landau Is First Openly Gay Person to Be Elected to Philadelphia City Council". MONTCO.Today.
- ^ a b c McCutcheon, Lauren (2023-05-11). "City Council Election 2023: Rue Landau". The Philadelphia Citizen. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ "Voters elected Philadelphia's first openly gay candidate to win a city council nomination". www.cbsnews.com. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
- ^ Orso, Anna; Walsh, Sean Collins (2022-10-03). "Philly has never had an openly LGBTQ City Council member. That could change after next year's election". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ "Rue Landau officially announces her historic run for an at-large 2023 City Council seat". Al Día News. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ Marin, Max (2023-05-17). "'We've made history': Rue Landau poised to become Philly's first openly LGBTQ City Council member". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ Saffren, Jarrad (2022-12-20). "Jewish Democrat Rue Landau Announces City Council Run". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ Sprayregen, Molly (2023-04-24). "Out civil rights warrior Rue Landau is running to make history on the Philadelphia City Council". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
- ^ "2 women likely to be first openly LGBTQ and first South Asian City Council members". www.audacy.com. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-05-28.