Republican congresswoman promotes LGBT rights in video with transgender son


Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.) released a public service announcement Tuesday advocating for transgender rights. The first Cuban-American and Latina to be elected to Congress, Ros-Lehtinen continued her groundbreaking legacy by rejecting the beliefs of many in her party to speak at her kitchen table with her husband and trans son, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, about acceptance and family values.
"Every transgender person is part of someone's family and should be treated with compassion and protected from discrimination. Family is about acceptance and love," the congresswoman said.
The family also released the same PSA in Spanish on the behalf of SAVE, a South Florida organization that advocates for lesbian, gay, transgender, and queer rights. Watch their message, below. Jeva Lange
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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