A hero a day: Georgina Beyer

http://www.washingtonblade.com/blog/index.cfm?blog_id=21831
10/20/2008

Today the gay community and Equality Forum celebrate Georgina Beyer as
part of GLBT History Month. Beyer is a transgender politician and the first openly transgender person in the world to hold a national office. Beyer was elected to parliament in New Zealand.

In her 20's, Beyer, who was born biologically male, began working in the Wellington gay nightclub scene as a singer and drag queen performer, and then a prostitute. During a trip to Australia, she was attacked and raped by four men. Beyer refers to this experience as her defining moment.