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Ore.Town Elects First Transgender Mayor in US

He wins easy victory in 'coolest town on Earth'

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 8, 2008 1:36 PM CST

(Newser) – A small town in Oregon has elected the nation’s first transgender mayor, reports News Channel 8 (Portland). “I identify mostly as a heterosexual male,” said Stu Rasmussen, who has breast implants and is partial to skirts and high heels. “I just like to look like a female.” Rasmussen has been mayor of Silverton twice before, but not as an openly transgender man. “I think it's amazing a small town like this can be so open-minded,” one voter said.

Rasmussen has a longtime girlfriend, and he explained his recent decision to have implants matter-of-factly. "Some guys' mid-life crisis is motorcycles or sports cars or climbing mountains or trophy wives or whatever. I always wanted cleavage, so I went out and acquired some.” He said his devotion to the town and knowledge of the issues won over voters. “I'm prejudiced, but I think this is just about the coolest town on Earth.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Stu Rasmussen, mayor of Silverton, Oregon. (sturasmussen.com)

Stu Rasmussen. (sturasmussen.com)

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The first 30 seconds they think, am I in a freak show? Is there a camera behind me? What's going on here? And then we get down to discussing whatever the issue is - city business or business or whatever.
- Stu Rasmussen, on talking with voters

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

Guest

Feb 7, 2009 7:24 PM CST

Lula, Google Tula, treansgenderism isn't a sin, it isn't new, it's they way god made some people, no one is absolutely all male or all female. We are all a mixture of both. And as america is supposed to be the mixing pot, land of freedom, one should be able to express themselves which ever, whatever or how ever they want, it's NOT hurting anyone else. To be so ethnocentric to think that in this day and age .....? So many people are so uneducated in the variations biologically and sociologically within the human condition. I've lived in Oregon, several times in the far past, it is a state that tries to be unCaliforinicated, or at least they see them selves that way. Truth is everyone is from everywhere these days. Tolerance Understanding Compassion Integrity Wisdom Knowledge are the stocks ya'll need to invest in and leave the sensationalism to People magazine. First Transgendered Mayor in America? Really? I think not.

Guest

Nov 20, 2008 3:35 AM CST

As a native Oregonian, all I can say is "cool!"

Shannonals

Nov 10, 2008 2:43 AM CST

I understand times are indeed changing, but I don't know about this one

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News Channel 8 Portland (Source Grid »)

Another look at Rasmussen
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Rasmussen's website
sturasmussen.com

What sort of place is Silverton?
Wikipedia

Politics • US

transgender • mayor • Oregon • small towns • election • Stu Rasmussen

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Ore.Town Elects First Transgender Mayor in US