Midgelle Regina Potts (b. Mitchell Eugene Potts in Springfield, MO) - known as Midge Potts - is a transgender peace activist[1] and Navy veteran primarily associated with Code Pink who gained media attention in 2007 after appearing in the background during Valerie Plame's testimony before a House panel on March 16, 2007. Potts sat a few rows behind Plame and repeatedly mugged for C-SPAN cameras wearing a shirt labeled "Impeach Bush Now." Plame was seen looking back at Potts after her testimony. Photos of the protest appeared almost immediately on the Drudge Report and Potts was interviewed the following afternoon on CNN. Potts is a Persian Gulf War veteran who served aboard the USS Yosemite (AD-19). Potts was injured by evaporated mercury in an engine room aboard the ship and was offered an honorable discharge after failing to get treatment. She now lives off of Social Security disability benefits.[2] Potts married and fathered a child after his discharge, but divorced in 2003. After the divorce, Potts began living as a woman full-time, and while she has been taking supplements to alter her body's hormones to be more female, she has not undergone conventional hormone therapy nor has she had surgery to alter her anatomy.[3] In February 2005, Potts was arrested on the lower steps of the Supreme Court, along with two other DC Anti-War Network activists, David Barrows and Pete Perry. The three were protesting the United States government's use of torture at places such as Abu Gharib and Guantanamo Bay detention camp, as well as the confirmation of Alberto Gonzales as U.S. Attorney General. Later that same year, she was arrested with Cindy Sheehan and about 370 others in front of the White House protesting the war and occupation of Iraq. She unsuccessfully ran in Missouri's primary for the 7th District Congressional seat[4] as a Republican in 2006 against incumbent Republican Congressman Roy Blunt. Potts received 7 percent of the vote in the Republican primary in the southwest Missouri district.
References
- ^ "Midge Potts seeks change", Columbia Daily Tribune, April 16, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-04-11. (English)
- ^ Alexander, David. "Transgender Navy vet protests war in Congress", Reuters, April 7, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-04-11. (English)
- ^ Kabel, Marcus (April 16, 2006), "Blunt's Bane: Transgender candidate answers call", Missouri Leadership, <http://www.missourileadership.com/story/2006/4/17/62425/2902>. Retrieved on 2007-11-20
- ^ "Transgendered Congressional candidate may be state's first", KY3 News, 4 October, 2007, <http://www.ky3.com/home/related/2532721.html>. Retrieved on 2007-11-20
