News Item

Politician Announces He's Transgendered

April 6, 2004

Rapid City, SD -- South Dakota's only out politician announced Monday that he is preparing to undergo sex reassignment to become a woman. Tom Murphy said that he had "pretended long enough." The 48 year old Rapid City alderman said he will begin immediately living as a woman, but did not indicate what his new name will be.  Right now, he said, people can refer to him in the masculine

Murphy said that for the next year he will begin hormone therapy and dress as a woman, a prerequisite for reassignment surgery. But, he said that he will not wear women's clothing in the council chamber.  He said he will not seek reelection in 2005.  He has been letting his hair grow long and will soon undergo laser treatment for his beard.
Murphy said he has identified with females more than with males since he was young. He began visiting Internet chat rooms after he retired from a 22-year military career." I found out I'm not alone," he said. "It's just amazing, the common bond we have."

"From what I understand, people on the council have accepted me," he said.   Murphy was appointed to fill an unfinished term in 2000 and the next year won a spot on the council. He won another two-year council term last year.

In January Murphy testified against a bill in the state Legislature that would ban same-sex marriages. The measure eventually died in the House State Affairs Committee."It's a hate bill. That's what I see it as," Murphy said.
It is believed the Murphy will be first sitting transgendered politician in the United States. He said that once his reassignment is complete he will probably leave the community.

"I think I'll be discriminated against in trying to find a job," he said.