In 2017, transgender community sees record political gains – and violent hostility

Lisa Middleton ran for city council in Palm Springs, Calif., this year, she says, because she felt the time was right for her as a civil servant.

She had served her community for nearly a decade as a neighborhood representative and then member of the city planning commission. She built relationships with residents, business owners, and local leaders. She gained campaign experience helping city councilman Geoff Kors mount a winning bid for office in 2015.

She also ran because she felt the time was right for her as a transgender woman.

“I didn’t get into this to make a symbolic