{{Short description|American politician (born 1990)}} {{Like a resume|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder |image = Gabriel Acevero (53009282213).jpg |caption = Acevero in 2023 |name = Gabriel Acevero |state_delegate = Maryland |district = 39th |term_start = January 9, 2019 |term_end = |alongside = Lesley Lopez, W. Gregory Wims |successor = |predecessor = Shane Robinson |birth_name = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|10|23}} |birth_place = San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago |death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> |death_place = |party = Democratic |other_party = Democratic Socialists of America |education = Montgomery College (AA)<br>University of Maryland, Baltimore County (BA) |website = {{URL|https://gabeacevero.org/}} }} '''Gabriel Acevero''' (born October 23, 1990) is a Trinidadian–American organizer, activist and politician representing Maryland's 39th House district. On November 6, 2018, Acevero finished in first place with 31% of the vote and became the first openly gay Afro-Latino, and one of the youngest people, elected to the Maryland House of Delegates.<ref name="History" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dawson |first1=Isaiah |title=Spotlight on Maryland State Rep. Gabriel Acevero |url=https://victoryinstitute.org/union-rep-gabriel-acevero-speaks/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=LGBTQ Victory Fund |date=June 24, 2019}}</ref> Acevero is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2019 |title=DSA Elected Officials Support Teacher Power and Working People Everywhere |url=https://www.dsausa.org/statements/dsa-elected-officials-support-teacher-power-and-working-people-everywhere/ |website=Democratic Socialists of America}}</ref>
==Early life and education== thumb|Acevero speaking in 2016 Acevero was born on October 23, 1990, in San Fernando, Trinidad;<ref name="msa">{{cite web |date=April 21, 2023 |title=Gabriel Acevero, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa18034.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=August 28, 2023}}</ref> the youngest of six children.<ref name="Queerty">{{cite news |last1=Reimer |first1=Alex |title=Gabriel Acevero is a fierce queer politician who isn't afraid to buck the establishment |url=https://www.queerty.com/gabriel-acevero-is-a-fierce-queer-politician-who-isnt-afraid-to-buck-the-establishment-20250502/ |access-date=May 12, 2025 |work=Queerty |date=May 3, 2025 |language=en}}</ref> His paternal family is Afro-Venezuelan and his mother is Afro-Trinidadian.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} Acevero was raised in the town of Couva and attended Richmond Street Boys Anglican School in the capital, Port-of-Spain. He graduated from Couva Government Secondary School in 2007, where he was a member of the school's debate team.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} Later that year, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Maryland. Acevero started college at 16, earning his associate degree in international relations from Montgomery College and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 2011 at the age of 20. He was a student activist in college, volunteered for political campaigns, and was active in the Maryland Democratic Party.<ref name="Queerty" />
==Political career== ===Activism=== After college, Acevero worked as an issue organizer. He was involved in the successful Question 4 (Maryland Dream Act) and Question 6 (Marriage Equality) campaigns in 2012, which resulted in Maryland becoming the first state to approve both measures at the ballot box. Then, in 2014, he worked on transgender equality.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=State Delegate District 39 (three seats) |url=https://bethesdamagazine.com/2018-general-election-voters-guide/state-delegate-district-39-three-seats/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |magazine=Bethesda Magazine |date=September 11, 2018 |orig-date=February 13, 2018}}</ref> In 2015, he was recognized by the National Black Justice Coalition as one of its "100 Black LGBTQ Emerging Leaders to Watch" for his advocacy and efforts to reform Maryland's justice system.<ref name="nbjc">{{cite web |title=100 Black LGBTQ/SGL Emerging Leaders to Watch |url=http://www.nbjc.org/100-to-watch |url-status=dead |website=National Black Justice Coalition |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217133218/http://www.nbjc.org/100-to-watch |archive-date=December 17, 2014}}</ref>
A Black Lives Matter activist, Acevero helped organize and participated in protests during the 2015 Freddie Gray unrest in Baltimore City. Acevero joined the coalition of activists and organizations that pushed for the repeal of Maryland's Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights (LEOBR) following Freddie Gray's death. Before running for office, he was involved in decarceration efforts in Maryland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the Panelists |url=https://www.sandyspringmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Meet-the-Panelists-Anton-Black.pdf |website=sandyspringmuseum.org |publisher=Sandy Spring Museum |access-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-date=June 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628191511/https://www.sandyspringmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Meet-the-Panelists-Anton-Black.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Acevero joined the Maryland Fight for $15 campaign and organized low-wage workers and community groups to support raising the minimum wage in Montgomery County. The County Council overwhelmingly approved the bill, which was signed into law in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alsobrooks |first1=Angela |last2=Elrich |first2=Marc |last3=Pittman |first3=Steuart |date=March 5, 2019 |title=We are Maryland county executives. We support the $15 minimum wage — as a floor. |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/03/05/we-are-three-maryland-county-executives-heres-why-we-support-minimum-wage-floor/}}</ref>
In December 2017, Acevero was one of a group of activists, labor leaders, clergy, and lawmakers arrested on the steps of Capitol Hill for engaging in an unlawful demonstration. The group was hoping to pressure Congress to include legislation for undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children (known as DREAMers).
He was also behind the push that led to renaming a Rockville, Maryland, elementary school in honor of gay civil rights leader Bayard Rustin. In his testimony before the Montgomery County Board of Education, Acevero criticized the Trump administration's decision to remove LGBTQ people off the US Census and the transgender military ban: "We have a hostile administration that is intent on erasing LGBTQ folks, recently taking us off the Census and banning transgender Americans from serving their country. Now more than ever we need to affirm LGBTQ youth, and that's why Bayard Rustin is such a powerful name for this school". The Montgomery County Board of Education voted to approve changing the school's name to Bayard Rustin Elementary.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rodgers |first1=Bethany |date=April 2, 2018 |title=MCPS Will Get First School Named in Honor of an Openly Gay Person: Bayard Rustin Elementary will open in Rockville in September |url=https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-will-get-first-school-named-in-honor-of-an-openly-gay-person/ |magazine=Bethesda Magazine}}</ref>
===Maryland House of Delegates=== Acevero ran in the three-member house district, which includes parts of Gaithersburg, Germantown, Clarksburg, Montgomery Village, and Washington Grove. He won the Democratic primary on June 26, 2018, coming in ahead of three-term incumbent Delegate Kirill Reznik and edging out two-term incumbent Delegate Shane Robinson in the hotly contested primary. He faced minimal Republican opposition in the general and was elected on November 6, 2018, at the age of 28. Acevero was sworn in on a copy of James Baldwin's 1963 book, ''The Fire Next Time'', and assumed office on January 9, 2019.<ref>{{cite press release |website=Hype.News |title=Black Democratic Socialist Sworn in to the Maryland General Assembly |date=January 14, 2019 |url=https://hype.news/mdga/black-democratic-socialist-sworn-in-to-the-maryland-general-assembly-rybmkjfk}}</ref><ref name="jacobin" /> He serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is a member of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, the Latino Legislative Caucus, and the Montgomery County Delegation.<ref name="gam">{{cite web |website=General Assembly of Maryland |title=Delegate Gabriel Acevero |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/members/details/acevero01?ys=2019rs}}</ref>
In December 2019, Acevero attended a rally in Gaithersburg, Maryland, to support the impeachment of Donald Trump.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=7 Pro-Impeachment Rallies Set for Tuesday in Md. |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/12/17/7-pro-impeachment-rallies-set-for-tuesday-in-md/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=December 17, 2019}}</ref>
In 2020, Delegate Acevero endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1237535265607958530 |user=gabrielacevero |title=I'm endorsing @BernieSanders because of his consistency. He's been a consistent fighter for working families & marginalized people. And I know he'll continue to fight for us as President. Like him, I believe a better world is possible & worth fighting for. #NotMeUs #Bernie2020 |first=Gabriel |last=Acevero |date=March 11, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2022 |location=Annapolis, Maryland}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2024}} During the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries, he urged voters to cast an "Uncommitted" protest vote against President Joe Biden for his handling of the Gaza war.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fischler |first1=Jacob |title=Israel-Hamas war sets progressive and young voters on collision course with White House |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2024/04/09/israel-hamas-war-sets-progressive-and-young-voters-on-collision-course-with-white-house/ |access-date=April 9, 2024 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>
In the 2022 Democratic primary, other members of the House district campaigned for another Democrat to replace Acevero.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kurtz |first=Josh |date=July 7, 2022 |title=As the Primary Approaches, Some Legislative Teams Are More Fractured Than Others |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/07/07/as-the-primary-approaches-some-legislative-teams-are-more-fractured-than-others/ |website=Maryland Matters}}</ref> Nonetheless, Acevero won reelection to the ticket.<ref name="jacobin">{{cite web |url=https://jacobin.com/2022/09/democratic-socialist-gabriel-acevero-maryland-general-assembly-39-district-dsa-reelection |title=The Democratic Establishment Hates Socialist Gabriel Acevero. He Won Reelection Anyway |date=September 1, 2022 |website=Jacobin |access-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901153353/https://jacobin.com/2022/09/democratic-socialist-gabriel-acevero-maryland-general-assembly-39-district-dsa-reelection |archive-date=September 1, 2022}}</ref> In October 2025, Acevero's District 39 colleagues once again launched a primary challenge against him, recruiting Gaithersburg city councilmember Robert Wu to run against him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hogan |first1=Jack |title=State lawmakers team up to edge out firebrand colleague |url=https://www.thebanner.com/economy/growth-development/gabriel-acevero-legislature-montgomery-county-lawmakers-slate-2026-election-D4WN3OANDBAZFEFNGDGL7LE7CA/ |access-date=October 10, 2025 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=October 10, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
==Political positions== ===Cannabis=== In 2022, Acevero voted in support of cannabis legalization and voted in favor of HB 1, "Constitutional Amendment – Cannabis – Adult Use and Possession."<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last1=Sears |first1=Bryan |date=February 25, 2022 |title=Maryland House approves pair of bills aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana |work=The Daily Record |url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2022/02/25/maryland-house-approves-pair-of-bills-aimed-at-legalizing-recreational-marijuana/ |access-date=July 12, 2022}}</ref> He was one of two Democrats to vote against House Bill 837, which is another Cannabis Reform bill. The bill aimed to study the racial impacts of cannabis legalization, create a public health fund, alter civil and criminal penalties, and create a process of expungement for possession of the drug. Acevero stated that, despite supporting cannabis legalization, he believed that certain aspects of the legalization need to be addressed before the state can move forward.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Cannabis Legalization Legislation Headed to the Senate |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/02/25/cannabis-legalization-legislation-headed-to-the-senate/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 25, 2022}}</ref> He said the bill "does not create true racial equity related to minority ownerships of licensed growing, processing and dispensing businesses."<ref name="auto" />
Delegate Acevero introduced his own bill HB1342, "Cannabis - Legalization and Regulation (Cannabis Legalization and Equity Act)",<ref name=":0" /> in 2022 which would legalize "the possession and use of a certain amount of cannabis by a person of at least a certain age; providing for expungement of records, dismissal of charges, and commutation of sentences in certain cases involving cannabis-related charges; providing for a system of regulation of the sale of cannabis by the Maryland Department of Health and local jurisdictions; and providing for the taxation of the sale of cannabis in the State."<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=HB 1342 |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1342?ys=2022RS |website=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=July 12, 2022}}</ref>
===Criminal justice=== During the 2019 legislative session, Acevero introduced "Anton's Law," a bill that reformed the Maryland Public Information Act to require transparency in investigations of complaints against law enforcement officers. The bill was named for Anton Black, a 19-year-old African-American man who died in police custody in Greensboro, Maryland.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Washington Post |last1=Milloy |first1=Courtland |title=The cost of making this bill on police reform law: Sacrifice. |date=March 12, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-cost-of-making-this-bill-on-police-reform-law-sacrifice/2019/03/12/27398e84-44ee-11e9-90f0-0ccfeec87a61_story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kazanjian |first1=Glynis |title=Lawmakers Push For Transparency in Officer-Involved Death Investigations |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/02/20/lawmakers-push-for-transparency-in-officer-involved-death-investigations/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website=General Assembly of Maryland |title=SB1037: Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission - Uniform Citizen Complaint Process (Anton's Law) |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/legislation/details/sb1037?ys=2019rs}}</ref> In July 2020, Acevero accused local union leaders of using "strong-arm tactics" to slow down Anton's Law.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scheiber |first1=Noam |title=Maryland lawmaker says a union fired him over his push for police reform |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/featured/sns-nyt-gabriel-acevero-fired-police-reform-20200702-4ehk2bzuhjb2hbexmt2tzbpusi-story.html |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 1, 2020}}</ref> Gino Renne, president of Montgomery County Government Employees Organization Local 1994 (MCGEO), had expressed concern over Acevero's support of the legislation. Rene asked him to attend a meeting, where Acevero claims Renne and others pressured him to drop Anton's Law. Renne fiercely denied Acevero's accusations, calling them a "bold-face lie."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kazanjian |first1=Glynis |title=State Lawmaker Says Union Leaders Used Strong-Arm Tactics to Thwart Police Reform Legislation |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/07/13/state-lawmaker-says-union-leaders-used-strong-arm-tactics-to-thwart-police-reform-legislation/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=July 13, 2020}}</ref> During the 2021 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed Anton's Law as part of the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021. The law took effect on October 1, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=After Years of Legislating, Anton's Law Goes Into Effect |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/10/01/after-years-of-legislating-antons-law-goes-into-effect/ |work=Maryland Matters |date=October 1, 2021}}</ref>
During the 2021 legislative session, Acevero introduced legislation to prohibit school districts from contracting with local law enforcement agencies to station school resource officers in public schools.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Lawmakers Push to Replace School Police with Counselors |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/02/03/lawmakers-push-to-replace-school-police-with-counselors/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 3, 2021}}</ref>
During the 2026 legislative session, Acevero supported a bill to end the practice of automatically charging minors as adults for certain crimes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Neill |first1=Madeleine |title=Bill that would charge fewer youths as adults headed to Gov. Moore |url=https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/youth-charging-reform-bill-T6TPNCA6PFDG5PY7UXNS7AAL4E/ |access-date=April 8, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=April 7, 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
===Education=== During the 2020 legislative session, Acevero expressed support for the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. He noted that "What we're trying to do here is change the trajectory of this state ... All of us will win when we invest in education".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |last2=Wood |first2=Pamela |date=March 6, 2019 |title=Maryland House of Delegates approves historic, expensive plan to improve public schools |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-ga-kirwan-vote-20200306-cic247gnpbg2vpvvvwcpmzwxz4-story.html}}</ref> He also sponsored HB0489, a bill that establishes the Commission on History, Culture, and Civics in Education. The commission would aim to recommend ways to enhance the teaching of US and Maryland history, culture, and civics to the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education, and it would report findings and recommendations annually by December 30.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislation HB0489 |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0489?ys=2022RS |website=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=July 12, 2022}}</ref>
===Health care=== During the 2020 legislative session, Acevero and state senator Jill P. Carter introduced legislation to establish a universal single-payer health care system in Maryland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Sen. Carter Says She'll Introduce Medicare for All Legislation |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/01/27/carter-announces-plans-to-introduce-medicare-for-all-legislation/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 27, 2020}}</ref>
===Immigration=== During the 2021 legislative session, Acevero spoke in support of the Dignity Not Detention Act that would prevent counties from contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), during which he described the tactics of ICE as being similar to the Gestapo during World War II.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Legislature Passes Immigrants' Rights Bill; Hogan Veto Expected |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/04/13/legislature-passes-immigrants-rights-bill-hogan-veto-expected/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 13, 2021}}</ref> In April 2025, he attended and spoke at a rally protesting the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, saying that there was "evidence of fascism" and accusing the Trump administration of "intentionally targeting not just immigrants, but those who exercise free speech in criticizing this government and the actions of foreign governments".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bixby |first1=Ginny |title=Hundreds gather in downtown Silver Spring, demanding release of mistakenly deported Maryland man |url=https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/04/16/van-hollen-abrego-garcia-rally/ |access-date=April 16, 2025 |magazine=Bethesda Magazine |date=April 16, 2025}}</ref> During the 2026 legislative session, Acevero supported a bill to ban counties from entering into 287(g) program agreements with ICE.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Skirble |first1=Rosanne |title=For Latino Caucus, immigrant protections are top priority: 'We cannot afford to be silent' |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2026/01/16/for-latino-caucus-immigrant-protections-are-top-priority-we-cannot-afford-to-be-silent/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 17, 2026}}</ref>
===Israel=== [[File:Gabriel Acevero at UMD.jpg|thumb|Acevero speaks to a group of pro-Palestine protesters at the University of Maryland during the Gaza war]] During the 2024 legislative session, Acevero introduced a resolution calling on Maryland's congressional delegation to support a ceasefire in the Gaza war.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |last2=Wintrode |first2=Brenda |title=Gaza ceasefire supporters interrupt House of Delegates during Cardin visit |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/national-politics/gaza-ceasefire-general-assembly-EEFSDQUREBER5CFA7EH7GTUB4Y/ |access-date=January 26, 2024 |work=Baltimore Banner |date=January 26, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> In 2025, he introduced the Not On Our Dime Act, which would require the Maryland Secretary of State to remove nonprofit organizations from the state's Registry of Charitable Solicitation if they knowingly support Israeli settlement activity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swick |first1=Carosn |last2=Gaskill |first2=Hannah |title=Democratic socialist in Maryland legislature ready to 'fight like hell,' says party moving in his direction |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/07/24/democratic-socialists-maryland/ |access-date=July 24, 2025 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 24, 2025}}</ref>
===Redistricting=== In 2019, Acevero was the lone dissenting vote in the Maryland General Assembly on a motion to allow Republican legislators to introduce a bill to change the boundaries of Maryland's 6th and 8th congressional districts due to a U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland ruling.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle |title=GOP Lawmakers Introduce Redistricting Bill That's Likely to Sit on the Shelf |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/03/29/gop-lawmakers-introduce-redistricting-bill-thats-likely-to-sit-on-the-shelf/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 29, 2019}}</ref> Due to the timing of this legislation and because it did not adhere to the Court's recommendation of using a nonpartisan redistricting commission to draw the new borders, Acevero could not support the bill in its introduced form.
In 2021, Acevero was the only Democrat in the entire Maryland General Assembly to vote against House Bill 1, the legislature's congressional redistricting plan, citing concerns of the heavy use of gerrymandering and splitting up of communities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stole |first1=Bryn |title=Maryland Democrats send new congressional map to Gov. Hogan |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-redistricting-passed-20211208-5q5bs5unird7rpjzau74tsyssa-story.html |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=December 8, 2021}}</ref> He also voted present on amendments to replace the map created by the Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission with one drawn by the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission. He called on legislators from both parties to support the For the People Act, due to its creation of state-level commissions for drawing Congressional Lines.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leckrone |first1=Bennett |title=UPDATE: House Overrides Hogan's Veto of General Assembly's Congressional Redistricting Plan |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/12/09/hogan-vetoes-general-assemblys-congressional-redistricting-plan/ |access-date=December 9, 2021 |work=Maryland Matters |date=December 9, 2021 |archive-date=December 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209201428/https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/12/09/hogan-vetoes-general-assemblys-congressional-redistricting-plan/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2022, the Maryland Congressional Map was ruled unconstitutional, marking the first time a Democratic-drawn map has been struck down by a court during this redistricting cycle. The Maryland judge called it a "product of extreme partisan gerrymandering."<ref>{{cite news |title=Maryland judge rules new congressional map unconstitutional |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/maryland-judge-rules-new-congressional-map-unconstitutional-n1293176 |access-date=July 12, 2022 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=NBC News |date=March 25, 2022}}</ref>
===Social issues=== In 2019, Acevero helped write a bill regarding diaper-changing stations in men's restrooms and worked on school funding issues.<ref name="mv">{{cite web |website=MontgomeryVillage.com |title=District 39 legislators provide update on 2019 session |access-date=September 11, 2019 |url=https://montgomeryvillage.com/press-room/village-news/articles/district-39-legislators-provide-update-2019-session |archive-date=September 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911180050/https://montgomeryvillage.com/press-room/village-news/articles/district-39-legislators-provide-update-2019-session |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2020, Acevero co-sponsored legislation to look into the possibility of distributing reparations to the descendants of enslaved Africans in Maryland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Lawmaker Wants to Open a Dialogue About Reparations in Md. |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/02/07/lawmaker-wants-to-open-a-dialogue-about-reparations-in-md/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 7, 2020}}</ref>
In May 2023, Acevero and delegate Ashanti Martinez signed onto a letter condemning the censure of two transgender legislators—Zooey Zephyr and Mauree Turner—in Montana and Oklahoma.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |last2=Ford |first2=William J. |last3=Kurtz |first3=Josh |last4=Sears |first4=Bryan P. |date=May 2, 2023 |title=Political Notes: Poll finds Moore on 'solid footing,' AG joins transgender health brief while lawmakers back trans colleagues, delegates come and go, and more |work=Maryland Matters |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/05/02/political-notes-poll-finds-moore-on-solid-footing-ag-joins-transgender-health-brief-while-lawmakers-back-trans-colleagues-delegates-come-and-go-and-more/ |access-date=May 2, 2023}}</ref> In April 2025, Acevero participated in and spoke at protests outside the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in ''Mahmoud v. Taylor''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |title=Justices appear to favor Montgomery County parents opposed to LGBTQ-themed books |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/04/23/justices-appear-to-favor-montgomery-county-parents-opposed-to-lgbtq-themed-books/ |access-date=April 23, 2025 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 23, 2025}}</ref>
===Universal basic income=== Acevero supports universal basic income, introducing legislation during the 2019 legislative session to direct 25% of the income generated from medical and recreational cannabis taxation is redirected into an investment account and the returns are then proportionally given to the citizens of Maryland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |date=March 12, 2019 |title=Will Populist Economic Bills Collide With Reality? |work=Maryland Matters |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/03/12/will-populist-economic-bills-collide-with-reality/ |access-date=June 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website=LegiScan |title=Bill Text: MD HB1089 |url=https://legiscan.com/MD/text/HB1089/id/1901377}}</ref> House Bill 1089 was referred to the House Appropriations Committee but did not move out of committee.<ref>{{cite web |last=Coelho |first=Andre |date=June 19, 2019 |title=United States: Maryland's legislator pushing the creation of a social wealth fund for the state |url=https://basicincome.org/topic/gabriel-acevero |website=Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN)}}</ref> Acevero called the idea as a "form of social security, and it is one of the most transformative policies that we can enact at the state and federal level to put a dent in extreme poverty," and pointed to Alaska's use of it to combat income inequality.<ref name="History">{{cite news |last1=Wellemeyer |first1=James |title=Gabriel Acevero makes history in Md. General Assembly |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/02/25/gabriel-acevero-makes-history-in-md-general-assembly-2/ |access-date=June 25, 2022 |work=Washington Blade |date=February 25, 2019}}</ref>
==Personal life== Acevero is openly gay.<ref name="History" />
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 39 Democratic Primary Election, 2022<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/archive/2022/primary_results/gen_results_2022_7_58.html
}}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Lesley J. Lopez ''' |votes = 7,847 |percentage = 29.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Gabriel Acevero''' |votes = 7,480 |percentage = 27.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Kirill Reznik''' |votes = 6,816 |percentage = 25.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Clint L. Sobratti |votes = 4,663 |percentage = 17.40 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 39 General Election, 2022<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/archive/2022/general_results/gen_results_2022_7_58.html
}}</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Lesley J. Lopez ''' |votes = 23,282 |percentage = 33.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Gabriel Acevero''' |votes = 23,104 |percentage = 33.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Kirill Reznik''' |votes = 22,292 |percentage = 31.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Write-In |candidate = |votes = 1,259 |percentage = 1.8 }} {{Election box end}}
==See also== * List of Democratic Socialists of America who have held office in the United States
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/acevero01 Maryland House of Delegates webpage for Gabriel Acevero] * {{Ballotpedia|Gabriel_Acevero|Gabriel Acevero}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20221105125016/https://gabeacevero.org/ Campaign Website] (archived)
{{Maryland House of Delegates}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Acevero, Gabriel}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:African-American state legislators in Maryland Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Maryland Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Maryland Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from Maryland Category:African-American LGBTQ people Category:Hispanic and Latino American LGBTQ people Category:American gay politicians Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:Montgomery College alumni Category:University of Maryland, Baltimore County alumni Category:Trinidad and Tobago emigrants to the United States Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:People from Montgomery County, Maryland Category:American people of Venezuelan descent Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly Category:LGBTQ socialism