Wales’ non-binary mayor on life, abuse and being a role model

Growing up in a politically active family, it may not be a surprise Owen Hurcum has ended up in politics.

But it may be more of a surprise that their journey into council politics in north Wales made headlines around the world. American news networks CBS and NBC, people.com and the New York Daily News, all carried Owen’s story which was also carried on Portuguese, Norwegian and Italian news sites when they were elected as the world’s first non-binary council mayor.

Stonewall defines non-binary as “an umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely”.

This year, Owen came second on WalesOnline’s Pinc List, our annual celebration of the most influential LGBT+ people in Wales.

Read more: The WalesOnline Pinc List 2021

It wasn’t just the appointment to a high-profile role that led the panel to their decision, but the reach being open about themselves had to others.

The reaction when elected as mayor left Owen “completely taken back”.

“I wasn’t really expecting it to travel as far as it did. I thought it might be a regional news piece. It’s not that I do this to get my name out t, but if somebody can see what I’m doing with all the support I have, because it’s obviously not a one person operation. But the fact it went international and I was getting messages from all over the world of people saying they’d seen my story has given them hope or confidence or gratification in themselves, that was huge. It was incredibly humbling.

“I was out to dinner with my parents and my friend – who is this year’s mayoral consort – Shane, and all the messages were coming in and I was just like, this is incredible. I was trying to reply to them but it was so humbling and incredible to know that I’ve affected people’s lives. And, you know, I’ve been able to show a representation I would have loved to have had when I was struggling with identity.”

But it isn’t plain sailing, and they do face abuse or offensive messages, but to deal with that, Owen says their support network is the best help.

“My friends and family have my back and that’s huge and it’s a big privilege I have.

“It’s not for everyone, I completely understand that, but I don’t mind so much head above the parapet and facing those hate comments, because I know the exposure of talking about non binary community will help people.

“And so it’s the same with hate comments, I deal with it by knowing that while I shouldn’t have to put up with it, it’s horrific. It’s worth it as long I have a support network to keep my mental health through it, knowing it will be helping some people who see my comments.”

Admitting they were “obviously” gender non-conforming as a child, Owen remembers wearing dresses to nursery or ballet, but says while men can do either of those things “for me, I see it now as quite obvious signs”.

“I didn’t really think about gender until I was 13 or 14 when I was questioning my sexuality. I thought I was trans briefly but I thought ‘nope, that’s not me’. I didn’t know that non-binary existed. I came to university and I thought ‘I’m definitely queer sexually, I’m proud of that and will live that best life’ but I still didn’t really feel me until I looked more into non-binary and had non-binary friends who talked about their experience and I realised ‘this is me’.

“I eventually came out as non-binary when I felt ready to do that and that was back in 2019. Just over two years ago, but it feels like a lifetime ago, and I suppose it was because while I am same person, I am a completely different person at the same time.”

Despite being accepted fully by colleagues and family, Owen was on the receiving end of bullying particularly in school. Not understanding how to label themselves for some years, the bullying was mainly targeted at their sexuality.

“I didn’t really know how to label myself. And at that time, I didn’t want to because you grew up in an environment that tells you anything other than normal is bad,” Owen added.

“I was already bullied for being gay, even though I hadn’t come out as queer, because I wasn’t the most ‘manly’ which is something that I love about myself now but at the time it was hard to avoid the bullying, but it still happened. And that’s a common story I think.”

Their political journey started very young.

“From a very young age, I had left wing and I would say, common sense ideology, around me. I was always politically aware, and then through my education at various different schools when we were talking about issues and politics, I’d always get involved with those and I was a debating society at my school and I joined that, and that gave me a lot of confidence in public speaking.”

Owen grew up in London, the grandchild of a Labour councillor in Henley Upon Thames and their great uncle was a BBC reporter who, as the family story goes, was shouted at by Margaret Thatcher.

Aged 18, Owen moved to Bangor to study archaeology as an undergraduate. “I didn’t really like growing up in London” and wanted to embrace their Welsh roots first hand by studying in Wales.

“Within a week I was like ‘Best place ever, I’m not leaving’. I fell in love with the place and I don’t have any plans to leave. It feels like I’ve been more than almost five years. This is my home.”

Their own political fit was found under Leanne Wood’s leadership of Plaid Cymru. At the time, Plaid wanted to stand candidates in all seats and offered Owen a chance.

“I had been active in the local branch for a while at that point and it made me think ‘I can do some good ‘. I was very lucky to be given the opportunity but it was a lot of hard work into it. I think that’s reflected in the fact that two years after being elected I was unanimously elected as deputy and I became mayor this year.”

However, Owen left the party in a row over trans rights, raising concerns at then-MS Helen Mary Jones, who was then a candidate in the Senedd elections.

“I’ve always been taught, if you see injustice, as you speak up about it, and you make it visible and try and help and that’s something I’ve tried to bring to all levels of politics.

“We’ve got a fantastic community that don’t like to see injustice. I’ve always considered myself to be an LGBT+ ally before I came out and being being active in supporting my friends who had come out when I was in the closet, but then, you know, I was like, if I’m going to come out, I can’t just for me, come out and sit back as we’re getting abused.

“I can completely understand people who aren’t comfortable being activists, because it is a strain, you do get physical and mental attacks, and it isn’t for everyone. But for me, I was like, ‘Right, I’m coming out, I’m gonna make a deal of it’ not because of me but because I don’t want to see anyone else hide themselves like I did.

“The LGBTQ+ community in Bangor has helped me do that. And now I like to think I’m doing that through this mayoral job I have now”.

Owen’s role has parameters but the most important thing they say the role gives them in terms of being non-binary is the ability to be a role model to others.

“Specifically through the mayor role, the role of t’s a limited amount of what it can do so I do in terms of non binary representations see my job through the lens of being an advocate and a voice and potentially a role model and I hope that it can inspire more people to engage with local community politics, activism and between if you don’t want to be a councillor that’s fine, you can still be a champion.”

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