(TheConservativeNews.org) – It is a long-standing tradition in the United States that when politicians are sworn into office, they use a Bible. However, there have been very few notable exceptions to this.
Rep.-elect Robert Garcia, who is described by his office as the “first immigrant and LGBTQ mayor” in the history of Long Beach, is now prepared to enter Congress as the first person to describe himself that way in that body.
And he will not be using a Bible when he is sworn in.
“Will be proudly sworn-in to Congress on the U.S. Constitution. Underneath the Constitution will be 3 items that mean a lot to me personally. A photo of my parents who I lost to covid, my citizenship certificate & an original Superman #1 from the @librarycongress,” he said on Twitter.
The Congressman-Elect also wrote a few words about the importance of comics in response to those “upset” he still reads them.
“For all of you upset that I still read comics and suggesting that I need to do more serious reading…..um…….anyone who understands comics knows that comics are an essential part of American fiction. And the lessons learned are invaluable. It’s serious shit,” Garcia wrote.
Garcia will serve as the representative for California’s 42nd Congressional District. Garcia immigrated to the U.S. from Peru at the age of 5 and has said that becoming a citizen was not only his proudest moment but also the reason he went into public service. Upon his election as mayor of Long Beach in 2014, Garcia became the first immigrant and LGBTQ mayor in the city’s history. He will also be the first LGBTQ immigrant to serve in Congress, according to his office.
He should have been sworn in on January 3, but the House still has not elected a Speaker so no new representatives can be sworn in until they do.
