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Neocon Nuttery See other Neocon Nuttery Articles Title: Transgender candidate runs for Republican endorsement in Brainerd(minnesota) BRAINERD, MINN. You could call Chrissy Nakonsky a candidate of change. Until about five years ago, Nakonsky, who recently announced she's running for the Minnesota Legislature and will seek the Republican endorsement in her Brainerd-area district, was known as Jeff Nakonsky. Nakonsky said the 2006 reelection of the state's only openly gay Republican legislator, Sen. Paul Koering of nearby Fort Ripley, gives her hope that Brainerd-area voters won't deny her a legislative seat because of her gender change. "If people vote for or against me, it should be because of my values," Nakonsky said. While there are about 400 openly gay or lesbian elected officials in the United States, none is a transgender person, according to the Washington-based Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. A transgender woman served a term on a City Council in Georgia but was defeated for reelection last year, the organization said. "I've voted Republican all my life," Nakonsky said. "Republicans swear by not raising taxes, and raising taxes would hurt families in poverty, like mine." The district is currently represented by Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, who is serving his first term. Married with children Nakonsky, who grew up in Washington state and moved to Brainerd 10 years ago because her brother lived there, said she knew from the time she was young that she was female at heart. She and her wife, Jennifer, were married seven years ago, when Nakonsky still was "pretending," she said, to be a man. Jennifer Nakonsky said, "It's been a learning experience, but I knew she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, either as a man or a woman. Our marriage is strong." Together they've had four children, all girls, now ages 6, 5, 3 and 10 months. While the oldest has had some trouble accepting her dad's gender change, the rest see it as normal, the couple said. Today, she identifies and dresses as a woman and gets female hormone therapy, but said she has yet to undergo a sex-change operation because it's expensive. The family lives on government public assistance in a cramped mobile home. Jennifer Nakonsky is a stay-at-home mom, and Chrissy Nakonsky hasn't worked, she said, since quitting as a store cashier and stocker because managers required her to observe the dress code for men. She said she's filed a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. While she may be at odds with many in the party on issues such as gay marriage, she said she would focus mainly on issues of education and poverty. "As someone who is poor myself, I can put a face on poverty in the Legislature," she said. "And I don't see why all these school superintendents and other administrators should be making six-figure salaries. I think some of that money should be reallocated to benefit the students more." He said/she said So far, Nakonsky's candidacy, which was reported on the front page of the Brainerd Dispatch, has prompted little noticeable reaction in the community. Associate Editor Mike O'Rourke, who wrote the story, said he got critical calls and e-mails from activists for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, questioning the use of "he" to describe Nakonsky. "Some of them said the more proper and sensitive thing to do is use the pronoun of the gender to which they are transitioning," O'Rourke said. He explained that he used "he" because Nakonsky hasn't had the operation. He said he told that to Nakonsky, who seemed to accept it, though she told the Star Tribune she prefers to be called "she." The newspaper is rethinking its decision, O'Rourke said, who added, "This is my first transgender story." While Minnesota has no transgender person in elective office, Susan Kimberly held important posts in St. Paul before and after a sex change. In the 1970s, as Bob Sylvester, she was president of the St. Paul City Council. After becoming a woman, she was deputy mayor under Mayor Norm Coleman. Now, Kimberly is vice president of economic development for the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. "You want a diverse group of people in all levels of politics," said Monica Meyer, public policy director for OutFront Minnesota, a GLBT advocacy group. "The more representative the voices, the better the policies we'll have that represent all the people of Minnesota." Meyer said she sees nothing odd about Nakonsky seeking the Republican endorsement. "Good for her," she said. "If she feels that's the party that represents her, she should seek out their support." Koering said he doesn't know Nakonsky and was surprised to hear that he was an inspiration. He said he got the Republican endorsement after coming out, but "it was not a pretty sight. I didn't win it until the seventh ballot. My father was in tears. There were some people who were just not that accepting." Crow Wing County GOP chairman Dale Walz said Nakonsky hasn't ruffled the local party organization. "Any candidate who announces up here will be treated and evaluated fairly," he said. Larry Oakes • 1-218-727-7344
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 7.
#7. To: freepatriot32 (#0)
Too bad Giuliani is out of the race. Chrissy would be a perfect running mate.
#8. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#7)
Be fair Giuliani had pretty good legs for an old guy. What amazes me is his picture in the blonde wig looks exactly like Gene Hackman in the movie, "The Birdcage". Go figure.
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