{"id":6765,"date":"2026-08-05T18:00:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T18:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=6765"},"modified":"2026-08-05T18:00:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T18:00:11","slug":"michigan-nominates-first-trans-woman-for-state-legislature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=6765","title":{"rendered":"Michigan nominates first trans woman for state legislature"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"225e9519-5f22-410d-9235-0d003415841d\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A woman with a guitar speaks into a microphone\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/4a9380d362cadcdbc7113824ee1565b193d2eca3\/0_254_2160_1727\/master\/2160.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"371.78472222222223\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Joanna Whaley at the Michigan Pride rally at the state capitol in Lansing on 25 June 2023.<\/span> Photograph: Robert Killips | Lansing State J\/USA Today Network\/Reuters Connect<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"225e9519-5f22-410d-9235-0d003415841d\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Joanna Whaley at the Michigan Pride rally at the state capitol in Lansing on 25 June 2023.<\/span> Photograph: Robert Killips | Lansing State J\/USA Today Network\/Reuters Connect<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Michigan nominates first trans woman for state legislature<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Joanna Whaley, ex-megachurch pastor who endured years of conversion practices, comfortably bested her opponents<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/aug\/05\/michigan-primary-race-democrats-midterms-senate-el-sayed-haley-stevens-donald-trump-republicans-us-politics-latest-news-updates\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">US politics live \u2013 latest updates<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">A former megachurch pastor who endured 15 years of conversion practices is set to become the first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/society\/transgender\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">transgender<\/a> member of Michigan\u2019s state legislature after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2026\/08\/05\/michigan-could-elect-its-first-openly-transgender-state-rep\/91150053007\/?gnt-cfr=1&amp;gca-cat=p&amp;gca-uir=true&amp;gca-epti=z115858p119250l004050c119250e1166xxv115858d--36--b--36--&amp;gca-ft=212&amp;gca-ds=sophi\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">winning a Democratic primary election<\/a> on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.joannawhaley.com\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Joanna Whaley<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Earlier this year Liberati <a href=\"https:\/\/michiganadvance.com\/2026\/04\/30\/downriver-dem-files-complaint-against-primary-opponent-a-trans-woman-over-her-name-on-the-ballot\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">sought to have Whaley disqualified<\/a> from the ballot over her name change but the Wayne county clerk\u2019s office <a href=\"https:\/\/michiganadvance.com\/2026\/05\/12\/wayne-county-clerk-rejects-attempt-to-disqualify-candidate-from-primary-ballot-over-her-name-change\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">dismissed the challenge<\/a>, finding that Whaley\u2019s candidate affidavit was legal and proper.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"bb186cca-fd89-45f4-a80f-81dcc581468d\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-1oq85qr\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1rx5ky9\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-uyoh2p\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/05\/midterm-primary-elections-what-we-learned\" class=\"dcr-f35c0u\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-vvxpdt\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6z6e7\">\n<div class=\"dcr-zh9rih\">What we learned from Tuesday\u2019s midterm primary elections <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-oj13vq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-ef9nua\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of the US Congress, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SarahEMcBride\/status\/2084995436981498285?s=20\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">posted on X on Wednesday<\/a>: \u201cSo 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!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Whaley, 38, who grew up in a Catholic family, previously spent nearly two decades working as a pastor at an evangelical megachurch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">As she wrestled with her gender identity, the church forced her to undergo Christian conversion therapy with four different therapists over 15 years. In 2022 she was forced to quit when the church\u2019s leaders discovered she was contemplating a gender transition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Whaley went to work for a more progressive church, shared her story on social media and launched a podcast. She also found work as a hospital chaplain in emergency rooms, intensive care units and hospice. Since deciding to run for state office, she has had some unusual meetings with potential campaign donors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">She <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lgbtqnation.com\/2026\/04\/this-trans-megachurch-pastor-survived-15-years-of-conversion-therapy-shes-now-running-for-office\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told the LGBTQ Nation website<\/a> in April: \u201cSome of those conversations go weird. We have a semi-pro hockey team in the area, and I was sitting down with one of the directors. In the middle of the conversation, he says, \u2018So do you have a brother? I went to high school with someone named blah blah blah,\u2019 and they said my dead name. I\u2019m like, \u2018That\u2019s me.\u2019 And they\u2019re like, \u2018Whoa, what?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Whaley added: \u201cIt happens all the time. I\u2019m honored by it, but at the same time, it does turn into some really weird and uncomfortable conversations, especially with some of my old Christian friends who then try to save my soul and tell me that I\u2019m living in sin.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><a data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" href=\"#EmailSignup-skip-link-10\" class=\"dcr-76akua\">skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1tr4stg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-12qa5gp\">\n<hr class=\"dcr-1cjdlyj\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"EmailSignup-skip-link-10\" aria-label=\"after newsletter promotion\" role=\"note\" class=\"dcr-76akua\">after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2026\/08\/05\/first-transgender-state-rep-michigan\/91095738007\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">in a separate interview<\/a> with the Detroit Free Press newspaper, Whaley noted that some voters appreciate her historic candidacy: \u201cIt hits me when I\u2019m talking to trans folks across the state. I\u2019ll get in that conversation with someone across the state who just comes up and says, \u2018Thank you,\u2019 and I\u2019m, \u2018What are you thanking me for?\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI understand in this moment in politics what it would mean to elect a trans woman could be monumental. I don\u2019t take that responsibility lightly at all. I take it very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Whaley has earned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joannawhaley.com\/endorsements\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">endorsements<\/a> from groups including the LGBTQ Victory Fund, Run for Something, Her Bold Move and Families United for Trans Rights. She will run against Republican Ronald Kokinda to replace Liberati\u2019s brother, <a href=\"https:\/\/housedems.com\/tullio-liberati\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Tullio Liberati<\/a>, in the statehouse in the 3 November general election.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/michigan\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Michigan<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/democrats\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Democrats<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/society\/transgender\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Transgender<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/lgbt-rights\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">LGBTQ+ rights<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Michigan%20nominates%20first%20trans%20woman%20for%20state%20legislature&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/05\/trans-woman-joanna-whaley-michigan-legislature?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Faug%2F05%2Ftrans-woman-joanna-whaley-michigan-legislature&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/aug\/05\/trans-woman-joanna-whaley-michigan-legislature\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1kq7f60\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Joanna Whaley at the Michigan Pride rally at the state capitol in Lansing on 25 June 2023. Photograph:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":6767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6765"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6768,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6765\/revisions\/6768"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}