Lisa Middleton made history when she was elected to the Palm Springs City Council in 2017. On Dec. 9, she did it again, becoming the first openly transgender mayor of Palm Springs and the first in California history.
Middleton came out as a trans woman all the way back in 1995 when Americans were far less accepting of the concept. She credits her then employer, the State Compensation Insurance Fund, for supporting her decision.
Middleton’s priorities as mayor are ensuring timely trash collection services and stepping up the city’s response to homelessness. On the Palm Springs City Council, Lisa has championed public transportation, LGBTQ rights, environmental sustainability, and the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and PPE.
Middleton’s trailblazing is just getting started. She launched a state Senate campaign in October. She hopes to succeed Republican Melissa Melendez who is termed out in 2022. If she wins, she’ll become the first openly trans lawmaker to serve in the California Legislature.