UK: Trans woman former councillor hopes to become Brighton MP
Brighton and Hove could return the UK’s first ever openly transgender MP at the next general election in 2015.
The Argus reports Rianna Humble is in the running to become the Labour parliamentary candidate for the city’s Hove or Brighton Kemptown constituencies – both currently occupied by the Conservatives.
Ms Humble, a former councillor in Crawley, is on the long list for the two parliamentary seats.
At the last election in 2010, Ms Humble unsuccessfully stood to become an MP in Reigate.
Speaking in an interview in 2010, when she made the decision to openly live as a woman, she said: “My earliest memory is when I was a child about seven years old.
“It was a recurring dream I would have. I would be watching my wedding, but I would be the bride.
“I did as much as I could to repress my feelings, but now I do not want to hide from myself. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
She added: “I had to accept that I was not a man, I am a woman.”
Trans activist Steph Scott told the Argus: “100 years ago there were not many women in the Houses of Parliament.
“The more people see that everybody has a point of view and that everybody is entitled to that point of view, the better.
“She is an intelligent person and I wish her the best of luck.
“Brighton is a diverse city and leads the country in many aspects. I think that it’s incredibly positive.”
The UK has never had an openly transgender MP.
