12 Facts About Phillipe Cunningham

Phillipe M Cunningham is a former city council member for Minneapolis Ward 4 and was the first transgender man of color to be elected to public office in the United States.

Phillipe Cunningham was born in Streator, Illinois, where he lived until he was 18.

Phillipe Cunningham graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese studies.

Phillipe Cunningham transitioned during his junior year at DePaul, inspired by the life and work of Lou Sullivan.

On November 7,2017, Phillipe Cunningham was elected as the city council member for Minneapolis Ward 4, becoming the first transgender man of color to be elected to public office in the United States.

Phillipe Cunningham won over 20-year incumbent Barb Johnson by 175 votes.

Phillipe Cunningham is currently the US Lead of Global Leadership Programs at the Obama Foundation.

Phillipe Cunningham was a panelist on President Barack Obama's 2020 Town Hall on Racial Justice and Policing on June 3,2020 where he spoke about the public health approach to public safety and gave an update on Minneapolis in the immediate aftermath of George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis Police Department officers.

Phillipe Cunningham led the planning process for the projected $350 million dollar Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment project which was approved.

Phillipe Cunningham led the creation, passage, and implementation of the Tenant Relocation Assistance ordinance, which requires landlords to provide 3 months rent to their tenants, if they lose their housing due to landlord negligence.

In November 2018, Phillipe Cunningham drew attention for a post on Twitter for characterizing the concerns of opponents of the "Minneapolis 2040" plan as merely seeking to protect their "bungalow neighborhoods".

On July 10,2015, soon after same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide, Phillipe Cunningham married Lane Phillipe Cunningham, a software architect and small business owner.