Throughout the last few years it has been a fad in many deep red states (and some purple ones) to introduce “bathroom laws” to stake their position in the culture war. Many people found those laws not only unconstitutional (in some cases) but also unnecessary, since transgender people have been using the bathroom for as long as bathrooms have been around, and there hasn’t been any problems.
One such bill was proposed by Virginia’s House Delegate Robert G. Marshall. The bill eventually tanked, but what Marshall got instead was a political challenger. Her name is Danica Roem, and she is running to become Virginia’s first openly transgender politician.
“I’m Danica Roem. I’m running for office because my identity shouldn’t be a big deal,” she says. “Because this shouldn’t be newsworthy or political. This is just who I am.”
In a statement released with the video, Roem says her ad was a response to a comment that Marshall made to a reporter from the Prince William Times earlier this month, where he reportedly asked, “Why do you call Danica a female? Did Danica’s DNA change?”
Marshall says he was misquoted, adding “You can change your appearances, but your DNA fixes your bodily structures for your entire life… He [Roem] is making up stories all over the place, including about his sexual identity.”
Marshall’s “correction” wasn’t much better than his original quote, but in her response, Danica replied, “When Delegate Marshall said that, his lack of understanding and empathy weren’t just disrespectful toward me, personally. He once again attacked every person in our community, including the teenagers in this video, who he’s singled out and stigmatized through his 26 years of discriminatory social policies designed to tear our community apart instead of unite us around our common needs.”
Her ad echoes this same point. Using the cameos of three real-life teenagers from her area, Roem states, “There are millions of transgender people in this country, and we all deserve representation in government. So when I stand up on the statehouse floor and the Speaker says, ‘the Gentlewoman from Manassas, LGBTQ kids everywhere will know they can succeed because of who they are, not despite it.”
The funds for this ad came thanks in part to some big donations from LGBTQ advocates across the country. We will see if that translates to votes on Nov. 7.
One such bill was proposed by Virginia’s House Delegate Robert G. Marshall. The bill eventually tanked, but what Marshall got instead was a political challenger. Her name is Danica Roem, and she is running to become Virginia’s first openly transgender politician.
Danica Roem Runs To ‘Inspire’ LGBTQ Youth
Danica Roem’s first six-figure ad buy strikes a calm, but defiant tone. The ad, titled “Inspire,” shows Roem going through her morning routine, putting on makeup in front of the mirror – and then reaching for a prescription bottle of hormone pills.“I’m Danica Roem. I’m running for office because my identity shouldn’t be a big deal,” she says. “Because this shouldn’t be newsworthy or political. This is just who I am.”
In a statement released with the video, Roem says her ad was a response to a comment that Marshall made to a reporter from the Prince William Times earlier this month, where he reportedly asked, “Why do you call Danica a female? Did Danica’s DNA change?”
Marshall says he was misquoted, adding “You can change your appearances, but your DNA fixes your bodily structures for your entire life… He [Roem] is making up stories all over the place, including about his sexual identity.”
Marshall’s “correction” wasn’t much better than his original quote, but in her response, Danica replied, “When Delegate Marshall said that, his lack of understanding and empathy weren’t just disrespectful toward me, personally. He once again attacked every person in our community, including the teenagers in this video, who he’s singled out and stigmatized through his 26 years of discriminatory social policies designed to tear our community apart instead of unite us around our common needs.”
Her ad echoes this same point. Using the cameos of three real-life teenagers from her area, Roem states, “There are millions of transgender people in this country, and we all deserve representation in government. So when I stand up on the statehouse floor and the Speaker says, ‘the Gentlewoman from Manassas, LGBTQ kids everywhere will know they can succeed because of who they are, not despite it.”
The funds for this ad came thanks in part to some big donations from LGBTQ advocates across the country. We will see if that translates to votes on Nov. 7.