DeShanna Neal is a Democratic State Representative for District 13 in the Delaware House of Representatives, serving since 2022. A lifelong Delawarean born in Wilmington, Neal is a single mother of four children—Trinity, Lucien, Hyperion, and Thane—and identifies as non-binary , becoming the first non-binary elected official in Delaware. Neal is an activist for social justice and LGBTQ+ rights, an author, and a mental health provider for at-risk youth. Notable achievements include founding the Intersections of Pride Foundation to support the LGBTQ+ community, creating the Nemours pediatric gender clinic, establishing New Castle County’s LGBTQ Youth Pride Day, and initiating Delaware’s first Drag Queen Story Hour. With their child Trinity, Neal co-authored the children’s book My Rainbow. Neal advocates for mental health, environmental issues, marijuana legalization, accessibility, maternal healthcare for incarcerated women, gender-affirming care, and equitable education.

Education and Political Experience

Neal graduated from Concord High School in 2000 and earned a Master’s degree in Applied Family Science from Wilmington University, becoming a Certified Family Life Educator and the first in their family to achieve this level of education.

In politics, Neal was elected in 2022 as a freshman legislator, passing bipartisan legislation on incarcerated medical healthcare and advancing mental and medical healthcare reforms. Neal serves on the House committees for Corrections , Education , and Health & Human Development , and engages constituents through newsletters, coffees, and public safety town halls. Their platform emphasizes building community with dignity, safer neighborhoods, stronger education, and better healthcare access.