Eight months after taking office, the mayor of a small Texas town has become the first transgender elected official to come out publicly in the state’s history. “As your Mayor I must tell you about something that has been with me since my earliest memories, I am Transgender” said Jess Herbst, the mayor of New Hope in Collin County. She gave the message in an open letter posted on the town’s website.

Herbst, who has been documenting her transition on her personal blog JessHerbst.com., also talked about how her decision affected her family: “It is gender identity not sexual preference that applies to me. I love my wife, and she loves me, we have no intention of change. My daughters have been adamant supporters of me and are proud to tell people their father is transgender.” READ MORE

 


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