DENIAL Discussion

Christine Hallquist’s Vermont Win and the Emergence of Transgender Politicians

Posted by · August 17, 2018 1:18 PM

The New Yorker, August 16, 2018, By Masha Gessen

"The Democrats of Vermont have chosen Christine Hallquist as their candidate for governor, marking the first time that a major party has nominated a transgender person for a governorship. ...

The emergence of trans politicians reflects the vastly increased visibility of trans people in America—and likely also the increased numbers of trans people, although this is much harder to calculate. It’s too soon to say what Hallquist’s primary victory and other trans electoral successes tell us about the current moment. But does the presence of trans people in politics change the political space itself? ...

Hallquist herself has repeatedly said, 'I just happen to be transgender." She has stressed that the voters of Vermont know her primarily as a climate-change activist who ran an electrical company in the state until resigning to enter politics earlier this year. The approach, and the story, reflect the sixty-two-year-old nominee’s background: before she came out as a woman, Hallquist lived as a fairly conventional, and conventionally successful, white man. Hallquist became the C.E.O. of the utility Vermont Electric Cooperative, and was married to a woman for more than thirty-five years, raising two daughters and a son with her; their son, Derek Hallquist, made a documentary about Hallquist that takes place during the time period when she came out. Released in 2016, the film, “Denial,” is a peculiarly intimate portrait, particularly of a person who has since become a politician. ..."

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/christine-hallquists-vermont-win-and-the-emergence-of-transgender-politicians

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Transgender candidate for governor wins Vermont primary

Posted by · August 15, 2018 11:23 AM

NBC News, August 14, 2018, by Tim Fitzsimons

Former energy company executive Christine Hallquist made history Tuesday by becoming the first trans person to win a major party’s nomination for governor.

"A former energy company executive from Vermont has come a step closer to becoming the nation's first transgender governor.

Christine Hallquist swept to victory in Tuesday’s crowded gubernatorial primary, besting three other Democrats — including a 14-year-old boy — to become the party’s nominee. She is the first trans person to win a major party’s nomination for governor.

"Tonight we made history, and I'm so honored to be ... part of this historical moment," Hallquist said to a room full of clapping fans at her election-night party in Burlington. "I'm so proud to be the face of the Democrats tonight."

Hallquist will face Republican incumbent Phil Scott in November. Scott’s popularity has waned in recent months, but he managed to beat his Republican primary challenger by a healthy margin on Tuesday.

The most specific parts of Hallquist’s platform follow a now-familiar progressive model: a $15 minimum wage, Medicare for all and free higher education. She is also campaigning on an aggressive expansion of renewable electricity and high-speed broadband access across the state.

Hallquist said the anti-transgender policies of the Trump administration, including the attempt to ban trans people from serving in the military and the reversal of Obama-era protections for trans people in gender-segregated facilities, were factors in her decision to run for office. ..."

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/transgender-candidate-governor-wins-vermont-primary-n900781?cid=sm_npd_ms_fb_ma

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Interview with Christine Hallquist

Posted by · February 15, 2018 5:21 PM

Mountain Lake PBS, January 26, 2018

Christine and Derek Hallquist, and producer Aaron Woolf join us for a candid discussion about the the making of Denial.

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Introducing Bullfrog Communities

Posted by · February 18, 2015 6:29 PM

Welcome to Bullfrog Communities

We aim to energize change, and to help local activists broaden their reach.

We provide powerful films and all the support materials you need to create an effective community event.
We will send out strategic petitions, asking you to sign and send them on to your network, using the power of this medium on behalf of the people and the earth. These will be either national in scope — asking you to join an uproar of opinion, or very local — asking you to add your voice to attain a specific victory, which may provide a watershed — changing the mindset of the people empowered in a community, of multinational corporations' assumptions as to what they can get away with, and of politicians who notice the change in the wind.
We will provide a forum for sharing ideas that work and news that can inform action on an issue. We ask for your discussion, suggestions, feedback, and reports of successes in your community.

Please join. Let's see what we can accomplish together.

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