US transgender woman wins Democratic nod for governor in Vermont

Washington, United States — Christine Hallquist won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in the US state of Vermont on Tuesday, moving a step closer to becoming the nation’s first transgender governor, US media reported.

But she still faces an uphill battle in the general election, when she is projected to face Republican incumbent Phil Scott, who has been in office since 2016.

“HISTORY MADE! @christineforvt just became the first trans/non-binary gubernatorial candidate from a major political party in American history!” tweeted the Victory Fund, an organization that supports LGBTQ candidates.


Hallquist transitioned while heading the Vermont Electricity Coop, several years before launching her gubernatorial bid.

In 2015, “Christine made the decision, after years of holding it inside, to come out as her true self, a transgender woman, becoming the first business leader in the country to transition while in office,” according to her campaign’s website.

“Working to ensure that Vermont remains the special, inclusive and progressive place that it has always been… is what motivates Christine to seek the honor and opportunity to serve the people of Vermont as its next governor,” it says.

Hallquist beat out James Ehlers, a Navy veteran and environmentalist, and Brenda Siegel, the executive director of a dance festival, to win the Democratic nomination.

Also among the primary candidates was 14-year-old schoolboy Ethan Sonneborn, who took advantage of a quirk in the constitution of the bucolic northeastern state that imposes no age limit on running for governor.

His website proclaims him a champion for middle- and working-class families, with “the right ideas” on healthcare reform, economic development and education — never mind that he’s still years from graduating high school.

But despite praise for Sonneborn’s “maturity” and political awareness, his campaign attracted calls for Vermont lawmakers to close the loophole.

“I think we should probably take a look at that to be perfectly honest,” Governor Scott told reporters when asked if he thought 14-year-olds should be eligible to run.


“I think you should at least be able to get your driver’s license at the time that you become governor.” /kga

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Stars slam ‘bathroom bill’

Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and musicians Lady Gaga and Alicia Keys are among more than 140 artists and celebrities condemning a Texas “bathroom bill,” targeting transgender people.

Britney Spears and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel also signed a letter on Tuesday criticizing the Republican-backed efforts as a “denial of basic human dignity.” The bill would require people to use bathrooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate.

It’s similar to a North Carolina law that prompted rockers Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen to cancel concerts in that state last year.

The Texas bill has yet to receive even a preliminary vote but public pressure is ratcheting up.

Last week, the NFL suggested that Texas could be passed over for future Super Bowl sites if the proposal became law.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Arrest warrant out for US Marine in Laude killing

MANILA, Philippine – US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton was served with an arrest warrant on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the murder of transgender Jennifer Laude.

The warrant for Pemberton’s arrest was issued by Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 74 Judge Roline Ginez Jabalde.

On Monday, the Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office released a 23-page resolution stating that the prosecution panel has found probable cause to indict Pemberton of murder, a nonbailable offense.

The resolution stated that the panel has found “aggravating circumstances” to indict Pemberton, which include “treachery, abuse of superior strength and cruelty.”

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Tuesday that the Philippines needed to obtain Pemberton’s custody in order to comply with the warrant issued by the Olongapo court.

“Right now, he’s (Pemberton) under joint custody. That was agreed upon so that he would be available for preliminary investigation proceedings. But now, with the issuance of warrant of arrest, we need to get his custody so we can present in court and comply with the warrant,” De Lima said in a text message sent to INQUIRER.net

On its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that it will formally seek the custody of Pemberton now that the arrest warrant has been served.

“We welcome the progress made so far on the case, and as we stated earlier, we will now formally seek custody over the accused PFC Joseph Scott Pemberton. In accordance with the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), we look forward to the full cooperation of the US government in ensuring that justice is secured for Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude,” the DFA said in a statement.

Pemberton is currently detained in a facility inside Camp Aguinaldo.

Last October 11, Laude checked-in at Celzone Lodge in Olongapo City with Pemberton. She was shortly found dead after Pemberton left the lodge.

Autopsy reports revealed that Laude drowned when her head was forced into the room’s toilet.

source: globalnation.inquirer.net