America's First Transgender Mayor: Stu Rasmussen

SILVERTON, Ore. — Plenty of politicians reinvent themselves, but few do it quite like Mayor-elect Stu Rasmussen.

Rasmussen has been a fixture in Silverton politics for more than 20 years, and had twice before been mayor of the small city 45 miles south of Portland. Those terms, however, were before his breast implants and before the once-discreet crossdresser started wearing dresses and 3-inch heels in public.

Silverton has made Rasmussen the country's first openly transgender mayor, according to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that works to help openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people win elected office.

Rasmussen, 60, unseated incumbent mayor Ken Hector, with whom he had long clashed, by 1,988 votes to 1,512.

Because Rasmussen's appearance was no secret, the campaign was dominated by policy issues.

"I've blackmail-proofed myself," Rasmussen said.

The story of Rasmussen's election was first reported by JustOut, a bimonthly publication for Portland's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.

"Stu never sought this recognition out," said JustOut reporter Stephen Marc Beaudoin. "He's interested in doing a great job for the community that he loves. The gender identity thing is just a total backseat thing."

That comes across when Rasmussen speaks in his decidedly masculine voice.

"I am a dude," he said. "I am a heterosexual male who appears to be a female."

His longtime live-in girlfriend, Victoria Sage, told The Oregonian newspaper that she and Rasmussen have been an item for almost 35 years.

___

Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com

Comments

[queertodaydotcom]

This article uses the wrong pronouns. She identifies as SHE and should be referred to as SHE!

[DragonMama]

It appears they're using the Mayor's preference, given the quote:

"I am a dude," he said. "I am a heterosexual male who appears to be a female."

The correct pronoun is the one the individual uses. Referring to one's self as a "dude" and a "heterosexual male" generally lead to the pronoun "he"

[namewithheld]

I disagree: "I am a dude," he said. "I am a heterosexual male who appears to be a female."

[EZKY]

nope. this person is not transsexual -- he is using 'transgender' as the umbrella term, which encompasses a range of gender-variant identities. so, not 'she' -- he clearly states his pronoun preference.

[robotfog]

I thought the same thing initially and got pissed, but as you go further along in the article, you find that the mayor is a crossdresser and identifies as a male.

I'm thrown off by the breast implants, though. To me, it indicates a non binary identification. Something where the individual would say they are not a man or a woman, but both. And they'd prefer gender nuetral pronouns such as Hir (him/her - pronounced like 'hear').

But the guy said "man". so let it be.

I'm just happy to see him being true to himself and accepted by his town.

[killmenow]

This is so cool. Thanks for posting this. It's so typical for a transgendered male to female to be heterosexual. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

[fyi08]

I bet the bi-racial guy is looking good right about now! Seriously, I think this is great. We need to elect politicians based on the content of their character and not the content of their underpants.

[noseysniper]

I raised this question in another story. To the gay and lesbian community on huffp: Do you consider transgender discrimination more of a sexism issue or a homophobia issue?

[rbarry647]

I would say it probably is more on the side of homophobia

[noseysniper]

Really? I figured it would be more related to sexism since it's a gender related issue. Although the same fears/insecurities that cause homophobia also cause transgender discrimination.

[rbarry647]

Did you hear that sound, it was heads exploding over at Faux News

[PDXTransplant]

This is why I love Oregon so much!

[KJsanfran]

ok, all of us california queers... time to move to oregon. if they'll have us.

[elcojonu]

Please, don't leave us !

[Bongborg]

He must be a very good mayor.

[queertodaydotcom]

SHE SHE SHE

[DragonMama]

"I am a dude," he said. "I am a heterosexual male who appears to be a female."

That is from the article. Sounds like the Mayor thinks of himself as male, hence the proper pronoun is "he".

[EZKY]

if you're queer, you should know better than to assume transgende­r=transsex­ual or binary- identified.

[FourTwoTwo]

" ... the campaign was dominated by policy issues." What a novel approach!

[elcojonu]

Bet you he / she can marry.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

The best line of the article, and the most telling part of the story was, "Because Rasmussen's appearance was no secret, the campaign was dominated by policy issues."

Way to go Silverton Oregon! See what happens when campaigns are about a candidate's policies and not a candidate's personal life.

[VoiceOmmAfar]

Attention on the issues, clarity in sexual orientation [blackmail proof], hypocrisy out of the door. Excellent!!

[gbrooks]

Well I'm pretty freakin' socially liberal, but dayum!

Credit goes to Silverton and its community for being able to look past this.

Still, wow, woah and WTF?

[bluekatz]

Don't think he is, just used it to get votes. Has a live-in girl

[Poboy]

Congrats Ms/Mr Rasmussen,

Good luck in your future endeavors.

[gifu]

I love America!

[happycat]

OMG!!!!