Minnesota transgender legislator wins USA Today ‘Woman of the Year’ alongside Michelle Obama
A transgender legislator from Minnesota who was elected just three months ago was named the state’s “Woman of the Year” by USA Today.
Leigh Finke, a former academic, journalist and author, was voted in in her left-leaning district in the Twin Cities metropolitan area last November with 81 percent of the vote.
She was honored along with several others, transgender Assistant to the Secretary of Health Rachel Levine was one last year, including former first lady Michelle Obama and the United States women’s soccer team.
Finke is the first transgender legislator to be elected in the state, which is part of the reason the newspaper decided to honor her. Finke made the transition in 2017.
While the state’s lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan, praised the award, some weren’t so thrilled, including former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
Leigh Finke, a former academic, journalist and author, was voted in in her left-leaning district in the Twin Cities metropolitan area last November with 81 percent of the vote. She was honored along with several others as USA Today’s Woman of the Year.
Speaking in foxnews‘ Outnumbered, the former press secretary was baffled by the choice, wondering ‘What will be left for biological women?’
Fellow commentator Emily Compagno said Finke’s inclusion was pure identity politics at the expense of working women everywhere.
“It’s very tiring, in my opinion, to have immutable features or checkbox-checking features as the reason why someone gets amplified to that level,” Compagno said.
Fox commentator Guy Benson said he had no problem honoring a transgender woman, but noted that he had only served three months in the role.
‘President Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize for doing nothing, and it’s because people wanted to make a political statement. That’s what this is,’ he said.
Benson also said: ‘This isn’t about real achievement or accomplishment, it seems, as this individual seems to admit. It’s about ‘there’s a culture war, there’s a lot of controversy surrounding trans issues, so let’s find some and put them on these lists to make a statement.
Citing the inclusion of former First Lady Obama, McEnany asked, “What does it take to get a conservative woman on a list like this?”
Other liberals chosen for the list include new Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Finke is the first transgender legislator to be elected in the state, which is part of the reason the newspaper decided to honor her. Finke made the transition in 2017.
Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, speaking on Fox News’ Outnumbered, the former press secretary was puzzled by the choice, wondering, “What will be left for biological women?”
Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama was one of the honorees for the award
The entire United States women’s soccer team was also celebrated
Also honored was the entirety of the new United States House of Representatives, which elected a record number of women.
Finke even acknowledged how recently he had risen in politics in a cheep commenting on the award over the weekend.
‘As chosen, I recognize that I have just arrived. The faith that my district, the queer community, and my colleagues on Capitol Hill have placed in me has been life-giving. I have only begun to understand how much my life has changed, for the better, in the last year.
Sarah Fields, Texas delegate-elect and director of the pro-family group Texas Freedom Coalition, criticized the decision and refused to identify her as a woman in a tweet.
“Meet Leigh Finke, a transgender legislator in Minnesota,” she wrote. ‘She HE she is one of USA TODAY’s ‘Women of the Year’. So many wonderful women truly deserve this type of recognition. #USAToday can push your contempt for real women where the sun doesn’t shine.’
Another tried to reason with Finke, tweeting: “If you had any honor you’d turn it down.” You identify who you are to feel comfortable in your own skin and pursue happiness as such, not for attention. This denies a biological woman who succeeded with the challenges that biological women have.’
Another took aim at USA Today and wrote: “I wonder what woman was passed over just so @USATODAY could point out the virtue.”
Peggy Fleming, Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, praised the decision.
Finke, seen here in the Minnesota legislature, drew heavy criticism from some outposts for her choice.
Finke, who has two children, has fought for transgender rights at a time when her state has become a flashpoint in the culture war.
He is a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance, Human Services Policy, Judiciary Finance and Civil Law, and Legacy Finance committees.
When asked what she wanted other transgender women to know, she said: “The trans and LGBTQ community, we have to broaden our understanding of what it means to be successful and happy and prosperous, but also how to be creative and expansive in the way that we want to. May the future be sought for all.
“I think trans people are at the forefront of that. We’re here creating a path forward for everyone, and everyone will benefit from the work we’re trying to do for our youth.’
Two weeks ago, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, signed an executive order protect the rights of LGBTQ people in Minnesota and other states to receive gender-affirming health care.
Finke, who has two children, has fought for transgender rights at a time when her state has become a flashpoint in the culture war.
Two weeks ago, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, signed an executive order protecting the rights of LGBTQ people in Minnesota and other states to receive gender-affirming health care. Finke is featured in the background photo at the signing.
Finke was at the signing of the order and, unsurprisingly, supported the move in a tweet.
‘This executive order is necessary because the national attack on trans people is intensifying every day. Our rights are under attack, now. People are looking for security, now. And Governor Walz’s actions today will provide that assurance,” he wrote.
She has created controversy elsewhere, however, with the daily call criticizing her for dismissing an allegation of sexual assault against a member of the Honor the Earth indigenous group towards a minor as ‘irrelevant’ when debating funding.
USA Today described Finke as “an activist for transgender and LGBTQ+ rights, as well as Black Lives Matter, for most of her life.”