Interview with Olivia Hill

Before stepping into the halls of government, Olivia Hill had already lived several lifetimes’ worth of determination, service, and resilience. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Olivia comes from a legacy of community roots, she is the great-granddaughter of Horace Greely Hill, founder of H.G. Hills Food Stores. Yet her own path has been uniquely hers: one marked by bravery, transformation, and an unwavering commitment to justice. After graduating from Hillwood High School in 1983, Olivia joined the United States Navy, where she served as an engineer from 1986 to 1995, including during combat in the Gulf War. Her technical expertise and quiet strength later led her to Vanderbilt University’s power plant, where for over 25 years she took on physically demanding roles as a plumber, pipe-fitter, welder, high voltage electrician, and more. Eventually, she rose to become senior supervisor and acting manager of the entire self-contained facility.

 

In 2019, Olivia came out as a transgender woman, an act of personal truth that set off both hardship and history. Facing discrimination in the workplace, she took legal action to stand up not just for herself, but for others who come out at a cost. That same courage would soon find a new outlet in public service. Encouraged by trailblazer Danica Roem, Olivia stepped into the political arena, and in September 2023, she made history as the first openly transgender person elected to public office in Tennessee. As a member-at-large of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, she now uses her voice to uplift others and push for equality, sustainability, and dignity for all. Olivia’s story is one of fierce perseverance, a Navy veteran, a skilled engineer, a proud trans woman, and now, a public servant changing the face of leadership in the South. Her journey reminds us that visibility is powerful, advocacy matters, and that it’s never too late to become the woman you were meant to be.

Interview with Lisa van Ginneken

Monika: Today I am going to introduce you to Lisa van Ginneken, a Dutch politician, human rights advocate, and LGBTQI+ activist. Lisa is the President of Transvisie, an organization that supports the trans community in the Netherlands. This year she is running for a Member of Parliament seat, representing D66, a social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. Hello Lisa!

Lisa: Hello Monika! I feel very honored to be here today with you and your readers. 

Monika: We are meeting a couple of weeks before the General Elections in the Netherlands. Our whole trans community is keeping fingers crossed for you, and I am very grateful that you have found some time to present yourself to the readers of my blog. Why do you want to enter the world of politics?

Lisa: Politics might feel a world apart from our own daily lives sometimes, but it is not. It affects our lives hugely, not only through the decisions politicians make but also by the example they set with their behavior. The tone of public debate really worries me, in the Netherlands and worldwide. In my years of advocating transgender rights in the Netherlands, I got familiar and intrigued with the ways of politics. And it felt like this is the right point in my life to put forward this and other experiences I have.

Interview with Alexandra Chandler

Monika: Today I am hosting a very special woman. Alexandra Chandler is an American politician, lawyer, and former senior analyst at the Office of the Naval Intelligence. She is also an advocate for equality for LGBT people, especially transgender youth, immigrants, and people of color.

Currently, she holds the position of Policy Advocate at Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization with an urgent mission: to prevent democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government.

In 2018, she took part in the Democratic Party primary, running for election to the U.S. House to represent Massachusetts' 3rd Congressional District. Alexandra is married to Catherine, her high school sweetheart, and they have two children. Hello Alexandra!

Alexandra: Hello Monika! So glad to virtually meet you and those reading, wherever they are and whenever they do! 

Monika: How are you holding up in the pandemic times?

Alexandra: Relatively well, thank you. The truth is, we (speaking of our family) are very fortunate. My wife and I both have flexible (if intense this year!) and secure jobs that allow us to work from home and with some ability to reshuffle our hours around. We are both in good health with no major risk factors for COVID, as are our kids.

Yet that said, it is hard, as it is for all of us. There are so many moments where I feel I cannot be fully present as a mom or as a professional, because even with an amazing employer, there are times when I have to do both, with the addition of trying to be a halfway decent part-time elementary school teacher and IT support for my son doing remote school. I am also such an extroverted person, and I miss the in-person interaction with friends, I miss seeing bands in concert and dancing, I miss eating in restaurants.

Interview with Danielle Pellett

Danielle J. Pellett is not just a trailblazing political figure, she is a symbol of what it means to lead with both conviction and compassion. A proud Texan born in Brownsville to a mixed-race family, Danielle embodies the spirit of resilience inherited from her mother, a woman who never let adversity define her limits. From her earliest days as the founder of the first transgender student organization at a Texas university, to her passionate work with the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and the Progressive Alliance, Danielle has stood at the intersection of courage and advocacy. In 2018, she made history by running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas’ 32nd district, bringing a bold and inclusive vision to the national stage.

 

Her political platform championed environmental justice, economic fairness, and the removal of corporate influence from democracy, all while unapologetically defending LGBTQ rights in the face of growing backlash. But behind the headlines and campaign photos is a woman of deep introspection and warmth. Danielle is a loving wife, a dedicated chemist, a self-proclaimed sci-fi fan with a penchant for pop culture tees, and a fierce believer in the power of community. Whether rallying for healthcare reform or quietly mentoring other trans women navigating gender dysphoria, Danielle radiates a belief that life’s truest purpose lies in the paths we carve for others. As we sit down for this interview, we meet not only a political visionary, but a woman of grace, humor, and hope, a woman who reminds us that the journey matters just as much as the destination.

Interview with Pam Bennett

Pam Bennett’s life reads like a testament to resilience, public service, and the quiet courage of showing up as oneself in spaces that were never designed with you in mind. A military veteran shaped by discipline and a sense of duty, she later stepped into politics with the conviction that representation is not just symbolic, it changes what becomes possible for those who follow. Her years in Colorado and now Maryland have been marked by advocacy, community work, and a willingness to take risks even when the odds were stacked against her. What makes Pam compelling is not only her political experience but the emotional clarity with which she reflects on it: the loneliness of being one of the first, the pressure to carry a community’s hopes, and the joy of discovering unexpected allies along the way.

 

She speaks openly about the challenges facing transgender Americans, yet she never loses sight of progress, whether in media portrayals, workplace protections, or the growing number of trans people stepping into public life. Away from politics, she is grounded by the simple pleasures of her Chesapeake Bay home, her beloved sailing cat Boo, and a life that has taken many turns but always returned to service, honesty, and connection. Her voice is warm, candid, and often disarmingly funny, shaped by decades of navigating institutions, rebuilding herself, and helping others do the same. Introducing Pam means introducing someone who has lived boldly, questioned deeply, and continues to believe that visibility and leadership matter, not in theory, but in the everyday lives of people who are still searching for a path forward.

Interview with Petra De Sutter

Petra De Sutter is one of Belgium’s most respected figures in both medicine and politics, admired for her intellect, integrity, and commitment to social justice. Born in Oudenaarde in 1963, she built a distinguished career as a gynaecologist and academic long before entering public life. After earning her medical degree and PhD from Ghent University, she became a professor of reproductive medicine and later headed the Department of Reproductive Medicine at Ghent University Hospital. Her scientific expertise and ethical insight led her to address complex issues such as surrogacy, fertility treatment, and biomedical ethics, always guided by compassion and respect for human dignity. Her transition in 2004 marked a deeply personal milestone, but also inspired countless people who saw in her a role model of courage and authenticity.

 

When Petra De Sutter entered politics with the Flemish Green Party in 2014, she became the first openly transgender candidate on a Belgian election list. As a senator and member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, she worked tirelessly on matters of public health, refugee protection, and human rights. Her advocacy extended across national borders, and her contributions helped shape discussions on genetic technology, surrogacy ethics, and the rights of vulnerable communities. Petra De Sutter embodies a rare blend of scientific precision and human empathy. Whether in a laboratory, a lecture hall, or a parliamentary chamber, she has continued to promote fairness, equality, and evidence-based policy. Her journey reflects the power of authenticity and the belief that one’s identity should never limit one’s ability to serve and lead.