Seattle transgender activist drops out of race for state House seat

SEATTLE (AP) — A transgender woman who was running to be a state representative in Washington has dropped out of the race.


Danni Askini announced in a statement Friday she would leave a crowded race for the  position in the 43rd District representing Seattle to focus on fighting a ballot measure that would, in part, let buildings open to the public bar transgender people from using the bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

Askini is the executive director of the Gender Justice League, a transgender civil rights organization. She was a prominent organizer battling attempts in the Legislature this year to repeal a part of the state's civil rights law allowing transgender people to use sex-segregated facilities that correspond with their gender identity.

Below is an earlier Q13 News video report on Askini when she had decided to run for the House seat.