Trans woman wins Democratic nomination for Michigan state legislature

Joanna Whaley, ex-megachurch pastor who endured years of conversion practices, comfortably bested her opponents

A former megachurch pastor who endured 15 years of conversion practices is set to become the first transgender member of Michigan’s state legislature after winning a Democratic primary election on Tuesday.

Joanna Whaley comfortably defeated Frank Liberati, a former state representative, and Gary Schlack in the primary for the second district of the Michigan statehouse, a Democratic stronghold.

Earlier this year Liberati sought to have Whaley disqualified from the ballot over her name change but the Wayne county clerk’s office dismissed the challenge , finding that Whaley’s candidate affidavit was legal and proper.

Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of the US Congress, posted on X on Wednesday : “So proud of my friend, Joanna Whaley! She faced indignities from her opponent, channeled the energy into knocking on doors, doubled down on her economic agenda, and she defeated that former Dem legislator (who took the low road against her) by 30+%! Way to go, Joanna!”

Whaley, 38, who grew up in a Catholic family, previously spent nearly two decades working as a pastor at an evangelical megachurch.

As she wrestled with her gender identity, the church forced her to undergo Christian conversion therapy with four different therapists over 15 years. In 2022 she was forced to quit when the church’s leaders discovered she was contemplating a gender transition.

Whaley went to work for a more progressive church, shared her story on social media and launched a podcast. She also found work as a hospital chaplain in emergency rooms, intensive care units and hospice. Since deciding to run for state office, she has had some unusual meetings with potential campaign donors.

She told the LGBTQ Nation website in April: “Some of those conversations go weird. We have a semi-pro hockey team in the area, and I was sitting down with one of the directors. In the middle of the conversation, he says, ‘So do you have a brother? I went to high school with someone named blah blah blah,’ and they said my dead name. I’m like, ‘That’s me.’ And they’re like, ‘Whoa, what?’”

Whaley added: “It happens all the time. I’m honored by it, but at the same time, it does turn into some really weird and uncomfortable conversations, especially with some of my old Christian friends who then try to save my soul and tell me that I’m living in sin.”

But in a separate interview with the Detroit Free Press newspaper, Whaley noted that some voters appreciate her historic candidacy: “It hits me when I’m talking to trans folks across the state. I’ll get in that conversation with someone across the state who just comes up and says, ‘Thank you,’ and I’m, ‘What are you thanking me for?’

“I understand in this moment in politics what it would mean to elect a trans woman could be monumental. I don’t take that responsibility lightly at all. I take it very seriously.”

Whaley has earned endorsements from groups including the LGBTQ Victory Fund, Run for Something, Her Bold Move and Families United for Trans Rights. She will run against Republican Ronald Kokinda to replace Liberati’s brother, Tullio Liberati , in the statehouse in the 3 November general election.