Jul 31, 2009  |  By: Amy Cavanaugh  | COMMENTS     

Maryland resident and transgender activist Dana Beyer was among the 11 openly LGBT candidates for public office whose candidacy the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund endorsed last week.

Beyer, senior adviser to Montgomery County Council member Duchy Trachtenberg and vice president of Equality Maryland’s board, is running to become a District 18 state delegate. She previously ran for a state delegate seat in 2006.

“Beyer is deeply involved in her community, so I think her experience and obvious commitment are going to be assets in the House of Delegates,” said Denis Dison, a Victory Fund spokesperson.

“She’s also already a leader on transgender issues, but becoming the first openly transgender state legislator in U.S. history would mean a great deal within the LGBT community nationwide.”

Beyer told the Blade last month that she was motivated to run because she sees “a need in Maryland now, particularly in the shadow of a new, hopeful administration, to bring progressive politics to our state.”