Transgender candidate a front-runner

[Ahriman]

If Robert Haaland wins a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Nov. 2, he will be make history as the nation's first transgender elected official.

An activist who once sued city police for groping him to determine his gender identity, the 40-year-old Haaland was born and raised as a female in Austin, Minn. He declared himself a lesbian at age 20 and began to identify as a man after attending the University of California at Berkeley, and Hastings Law School.

While transgender candidates have run for office in San Francisco and never won, Haaland is considered a front-running Democrat in the race to represent the city's Haight Ashbury district. He's won the backing of several of the city's top elected officials, including District Attorney Kamala Harris and Supervisor Tom Ammiano. Mayor Gavin Newsom is supporting a more moderate Democrat.

A win would be historic "and a little scary," Haaland said.


http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2490048,00.html

[Chicago Democrat]

1. Faaabulous!

Yay!O8)

[David__77]

2. From what I gather Haaland is a good progressive.

I say this is great!

[davidinalameda]

3. the guy Newsom endorsed is backed by Howard Dean as well

moderate is a relative term in District 5

http://www.nickwaugh.com/index.htm

[Skittles]

4. GOOD

there's a transgender where I work who must be changing a lot of minds - he was a nice guy and now he is a nice woman - plus so intelligent - people are always in her cube asking questions. Her male coworkers are very protective of her and pounce on anyone who looks at her cross-eyed.

[Tight_rope]

5. Kick!