Joanne Conte
Encyclopedia
Joanne Conte served as a councilwoman in Arvada, Colorado
from 1991 to 1995. She earned her master's degree in political science
from the University of Colorado
. Conte was born male and underwent sex reassignment surgery
in 1973. She is noteworthy for being part of a small group of transsexual elected public officials. She was a guest on many national talk shows and remains active as a volunteer for KGNU
where she co-hosts a news and opinion call in show the last three Thursdays of each month.
about her identity as a trans woman
when she ran for, and was elected to, office in 1991. In 1993 Westword
had planned to "out" Conte, but she had learned of their plans ahead of time and disclosed her identity as a trans woman on her own. Although Conte was angry that the information had been leaked, she expressed relief at the opportunity to make her gender identity public. Conte had gone to great lengths to hide her sexual reassignment surgery, including changing her birth certificate. Conte called for an investigation in the leak of the information. In 1994, while serving as councilwoman, Conte filed a workers' compensation
claim which alleged that leaning on her desk during council meetings caused a staph
infection on her right elbow. Conte lost her race for Arvada City Council in November 1995, she attributed her loss to sex-change jokes made by her adversary's supporters during the campaign. Before leaving office Conte audited the city budget, questioning why non-essential services were included when the Arvada's revenue was declining. Conte, briefly, hosted a talk-show on AM news radio station 850 KOA
following her election loss with promotional ads asking "Is it a man? Is it a woman?"
in 1994, but through a dramatic turn of events was almost denied ballot access
. Conte planned to run as an Independent
and officially declared herself as such on August 2, 1993, the deadline to turn in her petition to be a candidate was August 2, 1994. Colorado law states that to run as an Independent you must be declared an Independent for a full year. Conte had asked the Secretary of State, then Natalie Meyer, if she could turn the petition in early to give her time to correct any mistakes that may be found, to which Meyer agreed, and Conte submitted the petition before the deadline. Later, Conte filled a lawsuit against Colorado law which stated the ballot order in which Democrats
and Republicans
appear should be random while stipulating other candidates always had to appear below the Democrat and Republican choices. After Conte filled the lawsuit Meyer reversed her decision to allow Conte ballot access on the grounds that she had not been an Independent for a full year when she turned in her petition. Conte appealed Meyer's decision to the Colorado Supreme Court
in the case the Conte v. Meyer. The Court reversed Meyer's decision by a vote of 5-2 with the majority opinion
interpreting the law, somewhat confusingly, as a petition being on file from the time it is turned in until the date it is due.
. In the 2006 election year, during a controversy about the salaries of City Managers in Colorado, Conte supported Arvada City Manager Craig Kocian but believed that his salary should be redistributed. Conte commented that Kocian made $165,000 a year, while each city council member made less than $10,000.
Arvada, Colorado
The City of Arvada is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties in the Denver metropolitan area of the U.S. State of Colorado. Olde Town Arvada is located northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver...
from 1991 to 1995. She earned her master's degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
. Conte was born male and underwent sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
in 1973. She is noteworthy for being part of a small group of transsexual elected public officials. She was a guest on many national talk shows and remains active as a volunteer for KGNU
KGNU
KGNU AM/FM is an independent radio, non-commercial radio, Community radio station for Boulder and Denver, Colorado, USA. KGNU is owned by Boulder Community Broadcast Association, Inc.-Programming and operations :...
where she co-hosts a news and opinion call in show the last three Thursdays of each month.
Term as councilwoman
Conte was closetedCloseted
Closeted and in the closet are metaphors used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and intersex people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and sexual behavior.-Background:In late 20th...
about her identity as a trans woman
Trans woman
A trans woman is a male-to-female transsexual or transgender person and the term trans woman is preferred by some individuals over various medical terms. Other non-medical terms include t-girl, tg-girl and ts-girl...
when she ran for, and was elected to, office in 1991. In 1993 Westword
Westword
Westword is a free alternative weekly newspaper based in Denver, Colorado.Westword was established independently in 1977. In 1983 it was bought by New Times Media. In 2005, New Times acquired Village Voice Media, and changed its name to Village Voice Media...
had planned to "out" Conte, but she had learned of their plans ahead of time and disclosed her identity as a trans woman on her own. Although Conte was angry that the information had been leaked, she expressed relief at the opportunity to make her gender identity public. Conte had gone to great lengths to hide her sexual reassignment surgery, including changing her birth certificate. Conte called for an investigation in the leak of the information. In 1994, while serving as councilwoman, Conte filed a workers' compensation
Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence...
claim which alleged that leaning on her desk during council meetings caused a staph
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. Under the microscope they appear round , and form in grape-like clusters....
infection on her right elbow. Conte lost her race for Arvada City Council in November 1995, she attributed her loss to sex-change jokes made by her adversary's supporters during the campaign. Before leaving office Conte audited the city budget, questioning why non-essential services were included when the Arvada's revenue was declining. Conte, briefly, hosted a talk-show on AM news radio station 850 KOA
KOA (AM)
KOA is a clear channel, news/talk radio station serving the Denver-Boulder and Colorado Springs, Colorado markets. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is nicknamed "the Blowtorch of the West" for its 50,000 watt signal.KOA was originally owned by General Electric and began...
following her election loss with promotional ads asking "Is it a man? Is it a woman?"
Conte v. Meyer
Conte ran for Colorado State LegislatureColorado General Assembly
The Colorado General Assembly is the state legislature of the State of Colorado.-Constitutional definition:The Colorado Constitution establishes a system of government based on the separation of powers doctrine with power divided among three "departments": executive, legislative and judicial...
in 1994, but through a dramatic turn of events was almost denied ballot access
Ballot access
Ballot access rules, called nomination rules outside the United States, regulate the conditions under which a candidate or political party is either entitled to stand for election or to appear on voters' ballots...
. Conte planned to run as an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
and officially declared herself as such on August 2, 1993, the deadline to turn in her petition to be a candidate was August 2, 1994. Colorado law states that to run as an Independent you must be declared an Independent for a full year. Conte had asked the Secretary of State, then Natalie Meyer, if she could turn the petition in early to give her time to correct any mistakes that may be found, to which Meyer agreed, and Conte submitted the petition before the deadline. Later, Conte filled a lawsuit against Colorado law which stated the ballot order in which Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
appear should be random while stipulating other candidates always had to appear below the Democrat and Republican choices. After Conte filled the lawsuit Meyer reversed her decision to allow Conte ballot access on the grounds that she had not been an Independent for a full year when she turned in her petition. Conte appealed Meyer's decision to the Colorado Supreme Court
Colorado Supreme Court
The Colorado Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Colorado. Located in Denver, the Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices.-Appellate jurisdiction:...
in the case the Conte v. Meyer. The Court reversed Meyer's decision by a vote of 5-2 with the majority opinion
Majority opinion
In law, a majority opinion is a judicial opinion agreed to by more than half of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision....
interpreting the law, somewhat confusingly, as a petition being on file from the time it is turned in until the date it is due.
Activism
In 1996 Conte restarted an organization she had begun in 1991, Save Arvada's Residential Areas (SARA), to oppose an annexation proposed by the Arvada City Council. Later that year Conte ran a petition drive to limit campaign contributions and cap spending in Arvada mayoral and council races. In 2003, Conte led a group of concerned citizens against storage of chemical waste in Arvada. Following the Arvada City Council's vote in favor of the storage, Conte began the process to get a referendum against the chemical storage on the ballot for the November 2003 election. In 2004 Conte called for a public investigation in to accusations that Arvada Mayor Ken Fellman may have unlawfully removed his opponent's campaign signsLawn sign
Lawn signs are used for local advertising. They can be used by business such as real estate and are popular in election campaigns in some countries. They are small signs that can be placed on the property of a business or on the lawns of a candidate's supporters...
. In the 2006 election year, during a controversy about the salaries of City Managers in Colorado, Conte supported Arvada City Manager Craig Kocian but believed that his salary should be redistributed. Conte commented that Kocian made $165,000 a year, while each city council member made less than $10,000.
External links
- Thursday Call In - Joanne Conte's radio show on KGNU
- Articles about Joanne Conte written in WestwordWestwordWestword is a free alternative weekly newspaper based in Denver, Colorado.Westword was established independently in 1977. In 1983 it was bought by New Times Media. In 2005, New Times acquired Village Voice Media, and changed its name to Village Voice Media...
.