FLORIDA: Conservative GOP Transgender Woman Running For Congress

Donna Milo, 48, a conservative Republican transgender Cuban-American from Miami, has declared her candidacy for Congress.

"I'm an American. I make my way on the basis of ability. My triumphs are based on my abilities, not on a label or a crutch,'' said Milo, a Miami Planning Advisory Board member running to replace U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, one of the House's most liberal Democrats. Milo, 48, will speak Monday night at Fort Lauderdale City Hall, a guest at the monthly meeting of the Sunshine Republicans club, a conservative group of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender South Floridians. "Donna is a very unique individual,'' Sunshine Republicans President Benjamin Lewis said. "She brings a story with her candidacy. The story is of overcoming obstacles and desires to become the person she has wanted to be."

Milo, who transitioned ten years ago, is a licensed pilot, member of the NRA, and the owner of boat fabrication business. She is divorced with two grown children. While Cuban-Americans are one of the few minority groups that traditionally vote Republican, it will be interesting to see if they will back a transgender candidate, regardless of her conservative positions.

Donna Milo's campaign site is here. On her issues page, she states opposition to "socialist healthcare reform," over taxation, and government regulation of industry. Her GOP primary is August 24th.