Transsexual runs for presidency

There is no shortage of candidates in the Indian presidential election, including one 45-year-old transsexual, who says its her sexual identity that will defeat the political heavyweights.

GW Argues Over Transgender Rights

By AMANDA HESS

16 April 2009


G.W. Argues Over Transgender Rights was originally published on The Sexist on Apr. 16, 2009, at 3:38 pm.

George Washington University student group Trans Education and Advocacy (TEA) is spearheading the campaign to add “gender expression and identity” as a protected group in the university’s non-discrimination policy. In 2006, “gender expression and identity” became a protected group under the District of Columbia’s Human Rights Act, but the university’s policy has since failed to follow suit.

G.W.’s non-discrimination policy currently reads: ”The University will not permit discrimination on grounds of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or identity, or any other illegal basis in any University-recognized area of student life.” Even though “gender expression and identity” is officially incorporated into the university policy under D.C. law, the lack of explicit wording at the university level can make filing grievances with the University Police Department and school administrators very, very difficult (review my G.W. transgender discrimination story, “Menace to Sorority,” for a refresher). . . .Read More

Transgender woman hired as city manager for Lake Worth, Florida

April 9, 2009

Former city manager of Largo, Florida and transgendered woman Susan Stanton has been hired as the new city manager for Lake Worth. Stanton, formerly named Steven, was fired from her job as Largo's city manager in 2007, apparently when her sex-change operation became public knowledge.

Susan Stanton.
Image: personal image of Ms. Stanton.

"We said all along that we'd pick the best candidate regardless and that's what it's all about, we wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't," said Jeff Clemons, the mayor of Lake Worth. He added that the city's commission voted in favor of Stanton 4 to 1. . . .Read More

Journey to womanhood: Transgender individual tells her story

by Linda S. Mah | Kalamazoo Gazette

April 16, 2009

In 2008, Hunter underwent gender-reassignment surgery. He is now Amy Hunter.

As a man, Hunter was a fixture in the theater community, serving as production designer for both the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre and the Whole Art Theatre.

Now Hunter, 48, of Alamo Township, is the support-services coordinator for the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center. In this role, she has many responsibilities, among them running a support group called Trans•cend for people who think they may be transgender and helping them connect with counselors and doctors.

Today he is.

In 2008, Hunter underwent gender-reassignment surgery. He is now Amy Hunter.

As a man, Hunter was a fixture in the theater community, serving as production designer for both the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre and the Whole Art Theatre.

Now Hunter, 48, of Alamo Township, is the support-services coordinator for the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center. In this role, she has many responsibilities, among them running a support group called Trans•cend for people who think they may be transgender and helping them connect with counselors and doctors. . . .Read More

Transsexual Activist Makes Bid in Indian Elections

by Mark Leon Goldberg - April 16, 2009

The world's largest democracy goes to the polls today for the first phase of multi-stage parliamentary elections. By mid May, 714 million voters will cast ballots at 800,000 polling stations. There are, all told, 1,715 candidates for office. But one of these political hopefuls is unlike any other candidate India has ever seen. Her name is Daya Rani Kinnar and she is a transsexual activist.

From the Hindustan Times:

Kinnar is a popular figure in Ghaziabad and will stand for election as an independent candidate. “I don’t mind taking on all the political heavyweights. I was born in Ghaziabad and people know me. I don’t have children. I will work only for people. I am going to give a tough fight to Rajnath Singh, who is an outsider. The sitting MP did nothing for the constituency,” Kinnar said. . . .Read More