Openly Trans Woman Becomes First to Address National Party Convention

Sarah McBride made history Thursday when she became the first openly transgender woman to address a national party's convention.

McBride took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to share her own transition story, her history of advocacy, and the inspiration she found from her late husband, Andy--a transgender man who died from cancer.

"Even in the face of his terminal illness, this 28-year-old never wavered in our cause and his belief that this country can change," she said. "His passing taught me that every day matters when it comes to building a world where every person an live their life to the fullest."

McBride, the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, gave a stirring endorsement of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and said that Clinton "understands the urgency of our fight" for transgender equality. McBride touched on Clinton's support for passing the Equality Act, eliminating the epidemic violence against transgender women of color, and ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the LGBT community.

"I believe tomorrow can be different," she said. "Tomorrow we can be respected and protected, especially if Hillary Clinton is our president. And that's why I'm proud to stand here and say, I'm with her."

Watch her full speech below.