Trans woman wins Democratic nomination for Michigan state legislature
Joanna Whaley, ex-megachurch pastor who endured years of conversion practices, comfortably bested her opponents
Source excerpt
A former megachurch pastor who endured 15 years of conversion practices is set to become the first transgender member of Michigan’s state legislature after winning a Democratic primary election on Tuesday.
Joanna Whaley comfortably defeated Frank Liberati, a former state representative, and Gary Schlack in the primary for the second district of the Michigan statehouse, a Democratic stronghold.
Earlier this year Liberati sought to have Whaley disqualified from the ballot over her name change but the Wayne county clerk’s office dismissed the challenge, finding that Whaley’s candidate affidavit was legal and proper.
Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of the US Congress, posted on X on Wednesday: “So proud of my friend, Joanna Whaley! She faced indignities from her opponent, channeled the energy into knocking on doors, doubled down on her economic agenda, and she defeated that former Dem legislator (who took the low road against her) by 30+%! Way to go, Joanna!”
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