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Queer Trivia
She's an American journalist and politician.
She was born on September 30, 1984, at Prince William Hospital and grew up in Manassas, Virginia. After her father died by suicide when she was three, her maternal grandfather took on a fatherly role in her life.
As a student at St. Bonaventure University in New York, she initially struggled academically, earning a 1.1 GPA in her first semester while prioritizing music over coursework. However, she rebounded in her second semester, raising her GPA to 3.48 and earning a spot on the Dean's List. Her professors described her as tenacious and persistent, noting her dedication to advocating for those whose voices were often overlooked. After graduating, she returned to Virginia.
As a child, she was influenced by her grandfather, who often said, "The basis of my knowledge comes from reading the newspaper every day." This inspired her to pursue a career in journalism, where she worked for ten and a half years. During that time, she won seven awards from the Virginia Press Association, including multiple "Readers’ Choice" awards for best local public servant. Eventually, she decided to run for public office, crediting her journalism career with providing her a deep understanding of local policy issues.
In 2012, she began her transition, and on December 3, 2013, she started hormone replacement therapy. She described her friends and coworkers as incredibly supportive, noting, "No one cared. It was great. I could just keep doing my job." Growing up, she often felt she had no one to confide in about her feelings regarding her gender. It wasn’t until she left for college that she began exploring her identity.
During her 2017 campaign, her opponent attempted to use her gender identity against her by misgendering her and refusing to debate her. He also claimed she was not a "real woman" because she could never develop cervical or ovarian cancer.
She won the election, becoming the first openly transgender person to serve in a state legislature, paving the way for others to follow. Now, she is committed to ensuring that many more transgender individuals have the opportunity to serve at all levels of government.
The LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, the sister organization of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, will host a Candidate and Campaign Training program for aspiring LGBTQ+ candidates from September 4-7 in Los Angeles. Immediately following, from September 7-9, a specialized session will be held specifically for trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming individuals interested in running for office.
She will be among the trainers at this groundbreaking event for candidates.
Do you know her name? The answer is at the bottom of the email.
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