Ben Dover - Polish transsexual politician runs for speaker (pro-Gay & pro-Abortion platform)

[link to www.scotsman.com]

A transsexual politician is challenging Poland’s reputation as a bastion of conservative Catholic mores by making a bid to become deputy speaker of the country’s parliament.

Anna Grodzka, who lived life as Krzysztof Begowski for most of her life before undergoing surgery in 2010, is one of just a handful of trans-gender politicians in the world, and, if she wins the vote, she will become the most powerful.

The nomination of the MP, who stands over six-foot tall, was put forward by her party the Palikot Movement. Led by Janusz Palikot, an idiosyncratic politician, it has pursued clear anti-clerical and socially liberal policies, calling for crucifixes to be removed from public buildings and a relaxation of the Polands strict abortion laws.

In a country where some 93 per cent of the population declares itself as Catholic and regular church attendance still manages to hit 55 per cent, the prospect of Ms Grodzka stepping into one of the most high-profile jobs in Polish politics has caused a stir.

Its not like a man can stuff himself full of hormones and turn into a woman, said Krystyna Pawlowicz, an MP from the socially conservative Lawn and Justice party. The genetic code is the decisive factor.

When I see a man next to me, how can I address him? Mrs ?

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