Trans woman will be first to stand for Scottish council elections
A social worker and former police officer is set to become Scotland’s first transgender election candidate.
Carol Mapley plans to contest the Castle Douglas and Glenkens seat 2012 council elections, the Dumfries & Galloway Standard reports.
The 53-year-old said: “I want to raise the profile of trans-genders, lesbians and gays.
“We are pretty marginalised. Society is more accepting of gays than transgenders. I want to bring people out of the shadows.
“There are 14 and 15-year-olds out there who are scared to be who they really are because they fear being picked on.
“I’ve been there. I know what it feels like – and attitudes need to change.”
She is the Labour Party’s UK transgender officer and said that while her party had been supportive, she wanted to challenge the views of others.
Earlier this month, Cambridge city councillor Sarah Brown ranked 28th on the Independent on Sunday’s Pink List, making her the UK’s most influential trans person.
Lesbian politician Ruth Davidson was elected this month to lead the Scottish Conservative Party, winning a national vote of party members.
