Standing out : Transgender and Gender Variant Candidates and Elected Officials Around the World

L. Casey, A. Reynolds

We focus on one aspect of transgender visibility and progress toward legal and social justice: electoral politics. Elections are just one piece of the puzzle of how change happens and how rights are advanced - but they are a crucial piece. The presence of transgender and gender variant people in public office does more than give the community an authentic voice in political decision-making. It incorporates trans* people into established governance structures and offers role models to inspire future generations. It opens