ArticleAt 54, Former surgeon Dr. Dana Beyer is tall and dignified. With a persona that radiates unflappable efficiency, she busily paces about in her Chevy Chase home on a Saturday morning an hour before canvassing the neighborhood. She is making a bid for the District 18 seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, a position which includes West Silver Spring, Kensington, Chevy Chase, Wheaton and Twinbrook. But for Beyer, the upcoming Maryland delegate elections aren't just about securing a seat in the state legislature; they're about creating a world of opportunity; if successful, she will be the first transgender in the United States to be elected into public office.
Although she is accustomed to eyebrow raising and discomfort, Beyer unquestionably attributes the attention she has inspired to her uniqueness. "I'm getting the most press of all the candidates," she remarks wryly, though, she admits, her transition has put her at a decided advantage for the race.
