It seems as though the 2010 election cycle is shaping up to be a potentially historic one for the transgender community. Kim Coco Iwamoto's first term on the Hawaii State Board of Education is coming to a close and she has yet to declare whether she will run again or seek higher office.
Brittany Novotny's a candidate for the Oklahoma legislature, Pam Bennett's making another run for the Aurora, CO city council after nearly winning in 2007, and Dr. Dana Beyer has decided to make another run for the Maryland State Legislature.
Dr. Beyer currently serves as the senior adviser to Montgomery County MD council member Duchy Trachtenberg and sits on the board of Equality Maryland.
“People should vote for me because they want someone looking out for them, not just taking orders from the antiquated leadership,” Dr. Beyer said. “We need a new approach to very serious economic difficulties if we are to reset our economy and move forward, building a better world for all.”
She's running for Maryland House Seat 18, but will have to get through the primary which takes place September 14, 2010. If she successfully does that and wins in the general election, either she or Brittany Novotny would become the first United States based trans people to win election to a state legislative body.
She's already been endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
I wish Dr. Dana the best of luck and hope that this run for the Maryland state house ends in a more satisfying conclusion for her than it did in 2006.
