Althea Garrison
Encyclopedia
Althea Garrison is an American
politician
from Boston, Massachusetts who was elected as a Republican
to the Massachusetts House of Representatives
in 1992 and served one term from 1993 to 1995. Both before and after Garrison's successful bid for office, she has run unsuccessfully in multiple elections for the state legislature
and Boston City Council
, as a Republican, Democrat
, or independent
, which has resulted in her being described in the media as a "perennial candidate
". Garrison is also known as the first transgender
or transsexual person to be elected to a state legislature in the United States.
, Garrison attended Hahira High School there. Garrison moved to Boston to attend beauty school, but went on to enroll in Newbury Junior College and received an associate's degree there. Garrison later received a B.S. degree in administration from Suffolk University
, an M.S. degree in management from Lesley College
, and a certificate in special studies in administration and management from Harvard University
.
According to records in the Suffolk County
Probate Court, Garrison petitioned for a name change from A. C. Garson to Althea Garrison in 1976. The petition stated that the name Althea Garrison "is consistent with petitioner's appearance and medical condition and is the name by which he will be known in the future."
Garrison ran for the Boston City Council, District 7, in 1991. During that campaign, the Boston Herald noted that she had run for office nine times, although Garrison herself later described the race as her 10th or 11th bid for office. In that race, Garrison finished in third place in the preliminary election.
In 1992, Garrison ran for the 5th Suffolk district in the Massachusetts House, representing the Dorchester and Roxbury areas of Boston. Garrison's 1992 election to the legislature was made possible in part by the fact that she challenged some of the signatures that the then-incumbent representative, Nelson Merced
, had submitted to qualify for the Democratic primary ballot. Her challenge was successful and meant that Garrison did not have to run against an incumbent in the general election. In the general election, Garrison defeated Democratic candidate Irene Roman, 2,451 votes to 2,014.
The fact that Garrison had been formerly known as a male was not widely publicized until shortly after she was elected to the legislature. When The Boston Herald asked her about her past, Garrison denied that she used to be a man but ended the conversation when asked about her name change.
In the state House of Representatives, Garrison consistently voted in favor of labor unions, resulting in her being endorsed for re-election by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO
and eight unions. On many votes, she voted with the Democrats in the legislature rather than with the Republicans. Garrison was defeated in her 1994 bid for re-election by Democratic candidate Charlotte Golar Richie
by a margin of 2,108 votes to 1,718.
Garrison's later runs for office, all unsuccessful, included a 2000 race for the Massachusetts House as an "Independent Progressive" candidate; a 2001 race for mayor of Boston; a 2002 race in a special election for the 1st Suffolk district in the Massachusetts Senate
as a Republican; races for the Boston City Council at large in 2003 and 2005; and a 2006 race for the Massachusetts House as a Republican.
Garrison ran again again for the 5th Suffolk district in the Massachusetts House in 2010 and finished third in the Democratic primary.
In February 2011, Garrison ran in a special election to fill a vacancy on the Boston City Council, District 7, and finished in fourth place in the preliminary election.
Besides her one term in the State House, Garrison has worked in human resources for the Massachusetts state comptroller's office, where she used her vacation time to run for office, and served for four years on the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Boston, Massachusetts who was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
in 1992 and served one term from 1993 to 1995. Both before and after Garrison's successful bid for office, she has run unsuccessfully in multiple elections for the state legislature
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
and Boston City Council
Boston City Council
The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councilors are elected to two-year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms an individual can serve...
, as a Republican, Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, or independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, which has resulted in her being described in the media as a "perennial candidate
Perennial candidate
A perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
". Garrison is also known as the first transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
or transsexual person to be elected to a state legislature in the United States.
Background
Garrison was formerly known by the name A. C. Garson. Born in Hahira, GeorgiaHahira, Georgia
Hahira is a city in Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. The estimate population as of July 2009 is 2,328. The population was 1,626 at the 2000 census. Hahira is led by Mayor Wayne Bullard and four members of the elected City Council...
, Garrison attended Hahira High School there. Garrison moved to Boston to attend beauty school, but went on to enroll in Newbury Junior College and received an associate's degree there. Garrison later received a B.S. degree in administration from Suffolk University
Suffolk University
Suffolk University is a private, non-sectarian, university located in Boston, Massachusetts and with over 16,000 students it is the third largest university in Boston...
, an M.S. degree in management from Lesley College
Lesley College
Lesley College is the undergraduate section, and founding institution of, Lesley University.The college was founded in 1909 by Edith Lesley as The Lesley School, a women's college which focused on early childhood education as a part of the international kindergarten movement established by...
, and a certificate in special studies in administration and management from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
According to records in the Suffolk County
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Suffolk County has no land border with Plymouth County to its southeast, but the two counties share a water boundary in the middle of Massachusetts Bay.-National protected areas:*Boston African American National Historic Site...
Probate Court, Garrison petitioned for a name change from A. C. Garson to Althea Garrison in 1976. The petition stated that the name Althea Garrison "is consistent with petitioner's appearance and medical condition and is the name by which he will be known in the future."
Political career
In 1982 and 1986, Garrison ran for the Massachusetts State House as a Democrat.Garrison ran for the Boston City Council, District 7, in 1991. During that campaign, the Boston Herald noted that she had run for office nine times, although Garrison herself later described the race as her 10th or 11th bid for office. In that race, Garrison finished in third place in the preliminary election.
In 1992, Garrison ran for the 5th Suffolk district in the Massachusetts House, representing the Dorchester and Roxbury areas of Boston. Garrison's 1992 election to the legislature was made possible in part by the fact that she challenged some of the signatures that the then-incumbent representative, Nelson Merced
Nelson Merced
Nelson Merced is a Massachusetts Latino activist and politician. He was the first Hispanic elected to the Massachusetts General Court, serving from 1989 to 1993 as Democratic representative from the fifth Suffolk District in Boston, including the Roxbury and North Dorchester neighborhoods.-Early...
, had submitted to qualify for the Democratic primary ballot. Her challenge was successful and meant that Garrison did not have to run against an incumbent in the general election. In the general election, Garrison defeated Democratic candidate Irene Roman, 2,451 votes to 2,014.
The fact that Garrison had been formerly known as a male was not widely publicized until shortly after she was elected to the legislature. When The Boston Herald asked her about her past, Garrison denied that she used to be a man but ended the conversation when asked about her name change.
In the state House of Representatives, Garrison consistently voted in favor of labor unions, resulting in her being endorsed for re-election by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
and eight unions. On many votes, she voted with the Democrats in the legislature rather than with the Republicans. Garrison was defeated in her 1994 bid for re-election by Democratic candidate Charlotte Golar Richie
Charlotte Golar Richie
Charlotte Golar Richie is a former American politician who currently serves as the senior vice president for public policy, advocacy and government relations for YouthBuild USA....
by a margin of 2,108 votes to 1,718.
Garrison's later runs for office, all unsuccessful, included a 2000 race for the Massachusetts House as an "Independent Progressive" candidate; a 2001 race for mayor of Boston; a 2002 race in a special election for the 1st Suffolk district in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
as a Republican; races for the Boston City Council at large in 2003 and 2005; and a 2006 race for the Massachusetts House as a Republican.
Garrison ran again again for the 5th Suffolk district in the Massachusetts House in 2010 and finished third in the Democratic primary.
In February 2011, Garrison ran in a special election to fill a vacancy on the Boston City Council, District 7, and finished in fourth place in the preliminary election.
Besides her one term in the State House, Garrison has worked in human resources for the Massachusetts state comptroller's office, where she used her vacation time to run for office, and served for four years on the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.