State of Firsts, directed by filmmaker Chase Joynt, follows Sarah McBride as she makes history as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.
The documentary chronicles McBride’s campaign for Delaware’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and the intense national attention that followed her victory. Her election coincided with Donald Trump’s return to the White House, placing her at the center of a rapidly escalating political battle over transgender rights.
According to the film’s synopsis, McBride enters Congress amid growing hostility from some Republican lawmakers, including efforts to restrict her access to women’s restrooms in Capitol buildings. The documentary captures how she navigates those challenges while balancing the responsibilities of representing her constituents and becoming a national symbol for transgender visibility.
Rather than focusing on explaining trans identity, Joynt says the film centers on McBride’s work and leadership in real time.
“As a trans filmmaker who’s been making films about trans life for a long time now, I’m not interested in making films that explain what a trans person is,” Joynt said. “Instead, we get to pay attention to the things that she’s saying.”
McBride described the documentary as a candid look at both the historic nature of her election and the responsibilities that came with it.
“This is a candid exploration of my run for Congress and of proving that representation and effectiveness can go hand in hand,” she said. “The only way to ensure that, while I may be the first, I’m not the last is to be the best member of Congress I can be.”
Produced in association with XTR, Optimist, and Level Ground Productions, State of Firsts offers an intimate look at a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ political history while documenting the pressures, victories, and challenges of being a trailblazer.
The film will open theatrically on June 12 in Wilmington, Delaware, before expanding to cities including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Dallas, and San Francisco, with community screenings planned nationwide.
Watch the trailer for State of Firsts below.