In ‘Rainbow Wave,’ L.G.B.T. Candidates Are Elected in Record Numbers
The New York Times
By Christina Caron
November 7, 2018
More openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were elected Tuesday night than in any previous election, signaling a shift in cultural attitudes even as the Trump administration has chipped away at L.G.B.T. rights.
The results are still rolling in, but at least 153 have won so far, said Elliot Imse, a spokesman for the Victory Fund, a nonpartisan political action committee devoted to electing L.G.B.T. candidates. The group endorsed 225 candidates in this election cycle, nearly all of whom were Democrats.
L.G.B.T. candidates ran for office in record numbers this year. “Success breeds success,” said Annise Parker, the president and chief executive of the Victory Fund and former mayor of Houston.
“We’re not going out and pleading with people to run,” she added. “These are people who say, ‘I want to go out and do this and bring my whole self to the campaign.’”
The candidates not only won open seats but also made a strong showing as incumbents and challengers on Tuesday in what became a day of firsts for groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in political office.
In New Hampshire two trans candidates won.
Trans Candidates Made History by Running—and in Some Cases Winning—In the Midterms
As the Trump administration works to eliminate transgender rights, trans candidates ran for office in record numbers—and had a few notable victories.
Colorlines
By Catherine Lizette Gonzalez
November 7, 2018
[…]
Two trans women, Democrats Lisa Bunker and Gerri Cannon, were elected to serve in New Hampshire’s House of Representatives, making them the first openly trans people to win and serve in their state legislature. In Massachusetts, voters struck down an attempt to repeal a 2016 law that prohibits discrimination against trans people in places of public accommodation, including locker rooms, hospitals and restrooms, making it the first state to defend transgender rights by popular vote.
Alaska Makes History Twice By Electing Its First Openly Trans and Intersex Politicians
Into More
By Nico Lang
November 4, 2018
Alaska’s first two openly transgender elected officials took office this week after quietly making history in October.
Liz Lyke and Kathy Ottersten won election, respectively, to the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and the Fairbanks City Council. Lyke will serve on the FSNB for three years, while Ottersen will hold the position for a year.
Despite Alaska’s reputation as a conservative state, the races barely made headlines.
Lyke, 43, was profiled for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner earlier this year, but the story focused just as much on her wrestling career as it did her identity as a trans woman. She wrestles for the Fairbanks Ladies of Wrestling (FLOW) as “Lizzesota Undying,” a tongue-in-cheek tribute to her home state of Minnesota.
Meanwhile, the limited coverage of Ottersten’s win didn’t mention the fact that the 52-year-old also is also intersex.
After Ottersten (who uses gender-neutral pronouns) began transitioning in their 20s, their doctors discovered scar tissue on their genitalia resulting from a surgery performed without the consent of Ottersten’s parents.
Massachusetts backs transgender rights in historic statewide referendumThe voters of Massachusetts trounced the religious right. They issued a strong statement to the religious bigots…STFU!
In the first statewide referendum on trans rights, voters said “yes” to maintaining a 2016 law that extended nondiscrimination protections to trans people.
NBC News
By Julie Moreau
November 7, 2018
In the first statewide referendum on transgender rights, Massachusetts voters on Tuesday said “yes” to maintaining a 2016 law that extended nondiscrimination protections to transgender people, including their use of public bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity.
With nearly 50 percent of precincts reporting, the “Yes” vote garnered 70 percent of the vote, compared to 30 for the “No” vote. The results are pending official confirmation.
“Massachusetts voters reaffirmed our Commonwealth as a place that fiercely defends our basic values of dignity and respect for everyone,” Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, said in a statement shared with NBC News. “At a time when transgender rights are being threatened nationally, we absolutely must preserve the rights we have secured at the state level.”
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