Joanna Whaley, who won the District 2 state Democratic primarily on Aug. 4, may be on her way to becoming Michigan's first ever transgender state representative.
Whaley beat Democratic opponents Frank Liberati of Allen Park, and Gary Schlack, also of Allen Park, with 56% of the vote, which means she will face off against Republican Ron Kokinda in the Nov. 3 general election.
The district is considered a Democratic stronghold.
Whaley, who is 38 and lives in Lincoln Park, is a clinical chaplain who works in emergency rooms, intensive care units and hospice. Before that, she spent many years working as a pastor at evangelical mega churches. Struggling with her gender identity, she went through multiple rounds of conversion therapy in an effort to ensure that she remain a heterosexual cis man. She lost her job there when it became known that she was considering gender transition.
It sometimes occurs to Whaley that she could become the first trans state representative in Lansing. "It hits me when I'm talking to trans folks across the state," she said. "I'll get in that conversation with someone across the state who just comes up and says, 'Thank you,' and I'm, 'What are you thanking me for?'
"I understand in this moment in politics what it would mean to elect a transwoman could be monumental. I don't take that responsibility lightly at all. I take it very seriously."
But, she added, "I know that in order to inspire ... I have to be able to focus on fixing roads and utility issues in District 2."
Among Whaley's concerns: affordable and high quality health care for everyone, medical debt relief, lower utility bills.
She believes her work as a clinical chaplain puts her in good position to work as a state legislator. "I've been professionally trained to be the calmest in the room and find a successful situation," she said.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Downriver candidate could become Michigan's first transgender state rep