William Brangham:
My guest is no stranger to both the triumphs and the vitriol surrounding transgender rights in America.
Two years ago, Leigh Finke became the first trans person elected to the Minnesota state legislature. And even though she endured numerous threats, she leveraged her position and a Democratic majority to help pass legislation protecting other trans people in her state.
Leigh Finke, so nice to have you on the program.
As I said, you have been in office almost two years now, but this is a seemingly very fraught time for trans rights in this country, with this past election and all of those attacks, the first openly trans member of the U.S. Congress, and now the Supreme Court case this week.
I just wonder how this is — how has this been for you the last few months?