When Lauren Scott announced she would be running for Nevada State Assembly District 30, the media pricked up its ears. If elected, Scott -- a business consultant, Air Force veteran and equal rights lobbyist -- will make U.S. history.
Billing herself as a “moderate Republican,” who supports pro-jobs legislation and fiscal conservancy as well as pro-choice measures and LGBT equality, Scott could become the first openly transgender legislator on Nov. 4.
Although open about her identity and even her transformation, Scott wants voters to know that’s not the only thing that defines who she is and what she stands for. Nonetheless, her status is intriguing.
Talking about the difficulties of dealing with gender dysphoria – conflict between one’s physical gender and the one he or she identifies – as a youth and in the military, Lauren Scott uses her own experiences to educate others and spread awareness of LGBT issues.
Scott established Equality Nevada in 2009 -- group that lobbies for equality in the legislature – and in 2012 was appointed to the Nevada Equal Rights Commission by Gov. Brian Sandoval. Scott rejects the notion that all Republicans are anti-gay, hard-right conservatives. She admits there needs to be some changes within the party, and she has some ideas on how to make that happen.
Scott hopes to appeal to a broader base of constituents within District 30 who don’t want a “party line politician,” but who encompasses a more broad, meet-in-the-middle approach on issues. Scott is running against Democratic incumbent Michael Sprinkle. She lost the primary for the same seat in 2012, but won it this year with 58 percent of the vote.
GUEST
Lauren Scott, Republican candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 30
Copyright 2015 KNPR-FM. To see more, visit http://www.knpr.org/.