Two Transgender Politicians First to Win Primaries for Major Party

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DETROIT (ChurchMilitant.com) - For the first time in U.S. history, two transgender politicians have won congressional primaries for a major political party.

Both sharing the name "Misty," one won the Democratic U.S. Senate race in Utah, and the other won a Democratic congressional race near Colorado Springs.

Misty K. Snow will run against Tea Party favorite U.S. Senator Mike Lee in Utah this November. Misty Plowright in Colorado will go up against U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn.

Misty Snow is a 30-year-old grocery clerk from Salt Lake City. Snow beat his Democratic Party opponent, moderate liberal Jonathon Swinton, a 35-year-old Mormon, by nearly 20 points. Snow criticized Swinton for supporting limitations on abortions.

Utah, known to be a fairly conservative state, hasn't had a Democratic senator in 40 years. If Snow's lead continues, he will be the first transgender candidate in the country to secure a major party's nomination for congressional office.

Misty Plowright, who is 33 years old and works in information technology, also won in his district, located near Colorado Springs. He won more than 13,000 votes over his opponent's 9,600. Plowright told a local paper he is "the anti-politician."

"I'm a nerd," he said.

Supporters of LGBT rights are calling these monumental victories.

"LGBT people tend to say: 'Aren't we past all the firsts?'" said Bob Witeck, a Washington-based LGBT advocate and consultant on LGBT issues. "We've done so many firsts, but for the transgender community, this has been waiting in the wings. This is even more breathtaking considering the political climate today, the uphill curve to educate people about who transgender people are."

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