In 2007, Newsweek ran an article titled "My Life as a Transgender Politican. A former Air Force sergeant (and former man) on running for office as a transgender candidate." The article interviewed Pam Bennett who was running for city council in the United States in Aurora, Colorado. Pam ran an open and honest campaign about her politcal stances and as well as her personal life. When this topic was brought up in class, I wanted to find out the results of her campaign and share them with you all.
Here is a link to an article detailing the outcome:http://www.aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=8&ArticleID=17732&TM=39833.74
(I have tried to find the original article on Newsweeks website, but have had no success. If I find the original I will post it.)
What are your thoughts on having a transgender politcal figure? Would their status have any effect on the way you would vote? Also, what if a political figure had not been as honest about their gender identity as Pam Bennett. What effect, if any, would it have on you? Is it even any of our business if someone was previously male or female?
If you would like, please leave your thoughts and comments. Thanks!
1 comment:
I hope that with the increasing numbers of diversity candidates in the political arena these days that we won't have to ask questions like "What do you think of having someone who is transgendered as a political figure?" But rather, people will be evaluated based on their own merits and experience in politics. I think people like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and even Pam Bennett are opening the doors for future generations to be more open-minded.
What's more important, is that our society is finally becoming accepting enough that Bennett felt as though she could be honest about her transgendered identity as she runs for office. I think her courage is admirable, especially after we found out how much violence is perpetuated against transgendered individuals, in class yesterday.
On the other hand, I think if Bennett had not been forthright about her previous gender that it truly is none of Colorado's concern. In a culture where we feel as though it's our right to know 110% about which celebrity is pregnant and what sex their child is and which celebrity is or is not dating who, I really think it's time for America to allow personal lives to be personal lives. Because would it really undermine Bennett's ability to serve on city council just because she's a transgendered individual? I don't think so.
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