Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has been praised for giving transgender activists a voice at his rallies in front of thousands of people.
The Brooklyn-born candidate not only has a perfect 100 per cent score card from the Human Rights Campaign - Texas Senator Ted Cruz has 20 per cent - but he is also the first ever presidential candidate to be introduced at a rally by a transgender person. Twice.
Two transgender rights activists stepped out to support Mr Sanders this month in Oregon and Washington.
Andrea Zekis, Policy Director, Basic Rights Oregon, and founder of the Arkansas Transgender Equality Coalition, told the audience that she has faced unequal opportunity in employment and housing and she was “scared”.
“The biggest change in my life happened when I realised I have a voice,” she said. “There are lawmakers out there who care about what I have to say, and who care about when people are struggling, and their families are struggling, and they are struggling.
“We need a leader who is committed to economic justice for all people, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity,” she added.
Jenny Seibert, a transgender activist who introduced Mr Sanders at a rally in Spokane, wrote in her blog that his campaign has been "shaking the ground" - it is “sanderseismic” - and that he is “an incredible man”.
“According to my friend, Cammie, I am the first transgender person to ever introduce a presidential candidate. And all the trans people say, ”That we know of!”” she wrote.
Senator Sanders has publicly opposed a recent North Carolina law that has legalized discrimination against transgender people.
He said on twitter: “It’s time to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This law has no place in America.”
His spokesperson also told the Washington Blade that he - alongside Hillary Clinton - opposes a law passed this month in Kansas which allows faith-based student groups at publicly funded universities and colleges to reject LGBT members or members of other faiths.
Oft-quoted voice of the transgender community, Caitlyn Jenner, hit the headlines this month when she voiced her support for Republican Ted Cruz, arguing that Ms Clinton had a poor track record on women's rights.
Transgender rights groups are also increasingly backing Ms Clinton, however, with “Trans United for Hillary” launching in February.
Ms Clinton did not appear to win over Ms Jenner when the pair bumped into each other this month. In recent episodes of her reality television show, Ms Jenner called the Democrat "a f***ing liar".
