A transgender social worker has become Scotland’s first transgender election candidate.
Carol Mapley, 53, will be running for the Castle Douglas and Glenkens seat in next year’s council elections, according to the Dumfries & Galloway Standard.
Mapley, who lives near Newton Stewart, described the decision as the first step on her journey to raise the profile of transgender people, as well as lesbians and gay men.
Speaking to the the Dumfries & Galloway Standard, she said: “We are pretty marginalised. Society is more accepting of gays than transgenders. I want to bring people out of the shadows.
“There are 14 and 15-year-olds out there who are scared to be who they really are because they fear being picked on.
“I’ve been there. I know what it feels like – and attitudes need to change.”
Mapley, who is currently the Labour Party’s UK transgender officer, wants to challenge the attitude of the other political parties.
If successful at next May’s elections, she has not ruled out later running for the Scottish Parliament.
