TRENTON,NJ – In a moment that was supposed to be all about unity and pride, things didn’t go entirely according to plan when New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy was spotlighted at the DNC convention with Dr. Joeigh Perella, a transgender advocate and recent candidate for Cumberland County Commissioner.
Perella, who introduced herself confidently with her pronouns (“she/her”), was all set to make a bold statement in support of the LGBTQ+ community. After all, standing alongside big names like Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is no small feat!
“My name is Dr. Joeigh Perella, pronouns she/her. I’m a proud resident of the Garden State,” she began, earning nods of approval from the virtual audience.
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for—the takedown of the Trump era.
“It’s time to turn the page on Trump for…” Perella started strong, but then… the dreaded blank stare. You could almost hear the collective gasp from viewers. But hey, who hasn’t had a brain freeze at the worst possible moment?
After a brief pause, Perella finished with a simple, “Thank you.” And just like that, the mic drop moment fizzled out.
Sure, it wasn’t exactly the slam dunk against Trump that people were hoping for, but if anything, it was a reminder that we’re all human. Plus, Perella’s message of standing up for LGBTQ+ rights didn’t go unnoticed, even if it wasn’t delivered with the sharpest zinger.
Dr. Perella, who garnered 16.5% of the vote in a four-way race for Cumberland County Commissioner back in June, may not have clinched the primary, but she’s clearly not shying away from the spotlight. Whether she’s speaking out at the DNC or campaigning in New Jersey, one thing’s for sure—she’s making her voice heard, even if there’s the occasional hiccup along the way.
We care about protecting women’s rights and lifting up vulnerable communities. That’s what we mean when we say the Great Garden State,” Governor Murphy said.
So while the Trump takedown didn’t exactly go as planned, Dr. Perella’s appearance at the DNC still highlighted the growing diversity within the Democratic Party, and that’s something worth celebrating—brain freezes and all!
