WASHINGTON, August 28 – As Democrats from all over convene in Charlotte, NC to nominate Barack Obama for reelection as President, there will be at least 11 transgender people in official roles.
Delegates and Committee members are equally divided between male and female and, under the Democratic National Committee’s rules, should demographically reflect the Democratic electorate in each state. In 2008, each state was mandated to set a goal for LGBT delegates. Each State has their own procedure in electing and appointing delegates. The DNC Chair appoints 25 at-large Standing Committee members to each committee, including the 2 co-chairs and 4 vice chairs. Each jurisdiction also sends its allotted number of committee members.
In 2000, Jane Fee of Minnesota was the first transgender delegate to the Democratic National Convention. In 2004, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas sent transgender people in their delegation to Boston. In 2008, “gender identity” was included in the Democratic platform at the Denver National Convention and Arizona, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Texas sent delegates. Now, in 2012, we have our largest and most diverse contingent of openly transgender delegates.
In 2009, the DNC added “Gender Identity” as a characteristic of full inclusion within the party. The language of the 2012 Democratic Platform will be fully inclusive of transgender people’s civil rights.
The 2012 transgender Americans who are part of official DNC Convention are:
- Barbra Casbar Siperstein of New Jersey, Super Delegate (member of the Executive Committee of the DNC)
- Dana Beyer, M.D. of Maryland (Credentials Committee)
- Kylar William Broadus of Missouri (Platform Committee)
- Janice Covington of North Carolina (Delegate, 8th Cong. Dist.)
- Cris Land of Oregon (Delegate, 1st Cong. Dist)
- Daria Lynn Lohman of Arizona (Delegate Alternate for AZ)
- Marisa Richmond of Tennessee (At Large Delegate for TN)
- Diego Miguel Sanchez of Massachusetts (At Large Delegate for MA)
- Jamie Dianne Shiner of Wisconsin (Delegate, 8th Cong. Dist.)
- Melissa Sklarz of New York (Credentials Committee)
- Meghan Stabler of Texas (Delegate, 5th Cong. Dist.)
You can see all of their photos and statements at the delegates page of the Trans United for Obama website.Trans United for Obama is a national effort of transgender people and their allies to re-elect President Obama. Organized by a group of transgender advocates, educators, bloggers, authors, and their families and allies, Trans United for Obama aims to educate people about the historic changes that the Obama Administration has accomplished in the past three and a half years to secure equal rights and protections for all Americans, including transgender people.
For more information, please visit www.transunitedforobama.org.
Bios and quotes from each of the delegates follow (and are available at www.transunitedforobama.org/delegates):
Barbra Casbar Siperstein
Super Delegate
“Babs” is a member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Deputy Vice Chair of the NJ Democratic State Committee and Political Director of the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of NJ. She has served as Vice Chair of the DNC Eastern Caucus, President of NJ Stonewall Democrats, Co-Chair of National Stonewall Democrats Federal PAC Board, Vice-Chair of Garden State Equality, Executive Board member of National Stonewall Democrats as Chair of the DNC Relations Committee and a member of the NJ Civil Unions Review Commission. An author of the Dallas Principles, Speaker at the National Equality March, in 2009 she was appointed and confirmed as the first transgender member of the DNC. This will be her 3rd Convention.
A small business owner, grandparent, veteran, she enjoys helping create positive change.
“I am truly impressed how much President Obama has already actually done to tear down the walls of institutionalized discrimination within the far reaches of the Federal government and society as a whole. His actions are consistent with the DNC adding “gender identity” as a protected category for non discrimination as well as full inclusion for Transgender Americans in the Charter and By-laws in 2009. We now must step up and give him 4 more years to finish the job.”
Delegates:
in alphabetical order:
Dana Beyer, M.D.
Credentials Committee, Maryland
Dana is a retired eye surgeon who was a candidate for State Delegate in Maryland in 2006 and 2010. She is currently Executive Director of Gender Rights Maryland, and recently served as a senior adviser on the Montgomery County Council. She is now serving on the Credentials Committee of the national Democratic Party.
Dana has been an advocate on health issues ranging from the effects of DES and endocrine disruptors on human sexuality and reproduction, and worked the first county-wide ban of artificial trans fats in the U.S. Dana has been VP of Equality Maryland, EVP of Maryland NOW, and an HRC Governor. She is on the board of NCTE, and Keshet, the national Jewish LGBT organization. In 2009 she helped organize and co-authored The Dallas Principles. She led the coalitions that passed the Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery County gender identity anti-discrimination laws, and defended the Montgomery County law against national right-wing forces in 2008. She was the trans representative at the Washington Psychiatric Society that wrote the Gender Dysphoria text for the DSM5. She is the first out trans graduate of the Senior Executive Program in State and Local Government at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
“Let us work together to build on our remarkable victories of this past year to make them a lived reality for all in our community.”
Kylar William Broadus
Platform Committee
Long time DNC volunteer
Attended the 2000 convention but not in an official capacity
“I’m excited to be part of a party that embraces all human beings. Promotes fiscal responsibility and individual accountability.”
Janice Covington
Elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention by the 8th Congressional District of North Carolina.
Janice has been active as an advocate and activist for the LGBT community since 1990 till now, she has dedicated her life to fight against discrimination in the work place, The Employment Non Discrimination Act. [ENDA]. Also was active in lobbying for the Mathew Shepard Act, The Anti-Hate Crimes Bill, and Lobbied for the Anti-School Violence Act The Anti-Bullying Act of North Carolina along with NC-Equality.
Janice Covington Is the Chair of TransaCarolina; Sitting member of the Human Rights Champaign Steering committee Charlotte NC; Former board member of the Alternative Resources of the Triad, Triad Pride committee in Greensboro North Carolina; Former committee member of Pride Charlotte; South Carolina Pride Movement Coalition in Columbia, SC developing the state’s first transgender support group. Organized and spoke at the Transgender Day of Remembrance in Raleigh and Greensboro NC. In 2007 headed the largest transgender delegation to ever at attend a HRC gala. Organized a picket demonstration against HRC during the Carolina’s gala in 2009 protesting the transgender exclusion of transgenders from ENDA Janice has served as the keynote speaker, hosted by the University of South Carolina, Columbia SC. The Human Rights Campaign Gala in Raleigh NC as presenter. Guest speaker on Transgender issues at the Myrtle Beach South Carolina LGBT center at the behest of Sigma Mu Delta. Speaker Pride Charlotte 2009-2012.
Cris Land
Delegate, First Congressional District of Oregon
First time at a DNC
Chair, Columbia County Democratic Central Committee, Oregon. Vice-Chair, Dem. Party of Oregon Platform and Resolutions Committee, Treasurer of the Oregon Dem. LGBT Caucus, Delegate to the Oregon Dem. State Central Committee and to the First District Committee, Precinct Committee Person for Columbia County Dems in Oregon. Works as a management consultant.
“I am honored to go to Charlotte as the first out trans man elected as a Congressional District Delegate.”
Daria Lynn Lohman
Delegate Alternate from Arizona
This is my first National Convention and am very excited to be here. In the picture I am holding one of my grandsons. His name is Max and was born January 4th.
For many years I have been an active in Phoenix PFLAG and have spoken of trans-issues at schools and other gatherings. I am a former Board member of “This Is How” an organization which empowers trans-people to recover from negative situations and create healthy happy lives.
I have always voted for Democrats and my active political involvement began with Arizona’s “No on 107” campaign. I am a Precinct committeeperson and active in LD 23 and the LGBT and Progressive Caucuses.
I have many years of experience in software/systems engineering responsible for designing and validating secure information systems. I am Vietnam Veteran.
Marisa J. Richmond, Ph.D.
At Large Delegate, Tennessee
Marisa is the President of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition. She also serves on Board of Directors of the National Center for Transgender Equality, the Trans Advocacy Network, the Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Educational Network of Middle Tennessee, and is the President-Elect of the Davidson County Democratic Women.
In 2008, she became the first openly transgender person to win an election in Tennessee when she was elected to the Davidson County Democratic Party Executive Committee. In March, she was reelected to a third term. Also in 2008, she became the first African American, transgender person to serve as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from any state. She previously attended the 1980 Democratic National Convention as a staffer with the Kennedy for President campaign.
She has received numerous awards for her service including the IFGE Trinity Award for contributions to the Transgender Community, Vagina Warrior by Vanderbilt University’s Project Safe, the Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign, the Chairwoman’s ICON Award from Baltimore Black Pride, the Community Award from Nashville Black Pride, and was the Athena Award nominee in 2012 for the Davidson County Democratic Women.
Marisa has three degrees, all in U.S. History. Her A.B. is from Harvard University, her M.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Ph.D. from George Washington University. She currently teaches history at both Middle Tennessee State University and Nashville State Community College.
“I am glad to be part of the 2012 Transgender Caucus to raise awareness of trans issues within the party.”
Diego Miguel Sanchez
At-Large Delegate, Massachusetts
1988- Host Committee Communications Team, 1992 – Host Hotel Company PR Director, 2004 – Host City Volunteer, 2008 – Platform Committee Member, At-Large Delegate and PLEO
LA for Congressman Barney Frank (MA-4) and Massachusetts State Committee Member
“As a lifelong active Democrat, I’m honored to be working for victorious elections of Democrats everywhere, including President Obama to lead our country towards LGBT and other equality.”
Jamie Dianne Shiner
Elected Delegate from Congressional District 8 Wisconsin
1st National Convention
Member of Operating Engineers, Local 324 of Michigan (40 Years retired). Administrative Counsel of Democratic Party of Brown County, Resolution and Platform Committee DPW, 1st Vice Chair LGBT Caucus DPW.
Became interested in Politics in the early 80’s when Reagan fired the Air Traffic Controllers. Worked on Presidential, State House and US House campaigns in the 80-90’s in Michigan. Moved to Green Bay in 2005 and became involved with Fair Wisconsin to fight the Marriage Amendment, Worked for the Obama Campaign in 2008. Joined the Brown County Democratic Party in 2008 and have held office there ever since. My next Political goal is to get elected to the Democratic National Committee.
“Never Give Up on Your Dreams as Your Dreams can become Your Reality”
Melissa Sklarz
Credentials Committee, New York
Melissa Sklarz is the recently elected President of Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, the largest LGBT Democratic Club in New York. .
She became the first transgender person elected to office in New York in 1999 when she was elected Judicial Delegate from the 66th Assembly District. In 2004, Melissa became the first transgender person from New York to be part of the state delegation at the Democratic National Convention, by being appointed to the Credentials Committee and again to the Rules Committee in 2008.
She helped bring civil rights to transgender people in New York City when INT 24 became law in 2002,and has been a lobbying leader for GENDA (Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act) in New York State
She served on the Board of National Stonewall Democrats for 8 years, with the last 2 serving as Board Co-Chair, and in 2008, Melissa was a co-chair for Obama Pride NYC, helping to organize the LGBT community for the campaign. Locally, Melissa serves on the NYPD Commissioner’s LGBT Advisory Committee and on the SAGE Advisory Committee for LGBT seniors.
“Trans politcal power can increase with increased trans visibility.”
Meghan Stabler
Delegate, Texas Senate District 5 (Brazos, Freestone, Grimes, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Walker and Williamson Counties)
Meghan Stabler is a business executive, a transsexual woman, a transgender advocate and national LGBT activist. By day she is an Advisor at CA Technologies, a multi-billion dollar IT management software and solutions company. In her spare time she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a member of HRC’s Business Council focusing on LGBT workplace issues, policy and practices, and a member of Obama 2012 LGBT Leadership Circle and Obama Victory Trustees.
“I was proud to have been elected as a Delegate from the state of Texas to represent all Texans, and especially our LGBT community. Over the past several years I have been active in State Houses, Capitol Hill and Corporate Board rooms educating why we need progressive change, fairness, protections and equality for transgender, transsexual, intersex and gender queer people. I look forward to being an active participant at the DNC Convention in Charlotte and throughout the election cycle.”