D.C. Council approves trans women to Human Rights Commission

Alexandra Beninda (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The D.C. Council on Tuesday approved the nomination of transgender activists Earline Budd and Alexandra Beninda to the D.C. Commission on Human Rights.

“I am very pleased,” said Budd, a treatment and healing specialist for Transgender Health Empowerment, upon learning that the Council had approved her nomination. “I’m going to do all I can to do what the community expects of me, which is keeping my eyes open and making sure the rights of everybody are protected.”

“I’m very happy the entire Council approved it,” added Beninda, who is a D.C. Center board member and former treasurer of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club.

Gray nominated Budd and Beninda in April to sit on the 15-member body that rules on discrimination complaints filed under the D.C. Human Rights Act. They are the first trans Washingtonians ever on the commission.

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) described the vote to the Blade as “absolutely right on target.”

“This is the kind of breakthrough we can commend the mayor for because we need this type of representation on the Human Rights Commission,” he said. “It was a very positive thing to be a part of.”

The Council also confirmed Gray’s reappointment of gay commissioner Michael E. Ward.