Archive for May 2022

When we advocate for one community, we uplift the voices of other communities.

Kendall Martinez-Wright is an Afro-Puerto Rican transgender woman advocating for transgender rights in the Missouri Legislature. Amidst nationwide transphobic legislation in 2021, Kendall ran a historic campaign for Missouri’s Fifth District. She has a long career in advocacy, politics and legislative work. The campaign’s website was admitted to the Library of Congress, as she became the first Afro-Puerto Rican transgender woman to run for Missouri’s House of Representatives.

In this episode you’ll discover:

• What challenges Kendall faced around identity, “Am I being Latina enough?”
• What drives her advocacy to bring a more just environment to the LGBTQIA+ community in Missouri
• More about Kendall’s historic campaign, her interest in getting involved in politics and what drove her to end her quest for the capitol seat

You can find Kendall on Twitter at @KendallKaniMW

When we advocate for one community, we uplift the voices of other communities.

Kendall Martinez-Wright is an Afro-Puerto Rican transgender woman advocating for transgender rights in the Missouri Legislature. Amidst nationwide transphobic legislation in 2021, Kendall ran a historic campaign for Missouri’s Fifth District. She has a long career in advocacy, politics and legislative work. The campaign’s website was admitted to the Library of Congress, as she became the first Afro-Puerto Rican transgender woman to run for Missouri’s House of Representatives.

In this episode you’ll discover:

• What challenges Kendall faced around identity, “Am I being Latina enough?”
• What drives her advocacy to bring a more just environment to the LGBTQIA+ community in Missouri
• More about Kendall’s historic campaign, her interest in getting involved in politics and what drove her to end her quest for the capitol seat

You can find Kendall on Twitter at @KendallKaniMW

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, House Minority Leader Crystal Quade talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum about the final week of the 2022 Missouri legislative session.

Quade represents Missouri’s 132nd District, which takes in a portion of Springfield. As the House Democratic leader, Quade is the chief spokeswoman for her caucus’ messaging and also provides a point of opposition to the GOP majority.

Here’s what Quade discussed on the show:

• She predicted lawmakers will fail at passing a congressional map, which means that federal courts will likely redraw Missouri’s eight congressional districts.
• Her caucus opposes ballot items that would make it more difficult to get initiative petitions placed before voters — and another proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to defund certain parts of the state’s Medicaid program.
• Some opponents of abortion rights are trying to get a proposal before voters this year that would say the Missouri Constitution does not provide a right to an abortion. Quade doubts that measure will have traction in the last week of session.

She was elected House minority leader after the 2018 election and was reelected to her post in 2020. While the minority leader is less powerful than the House speaker, Quade appoints her fellow Democrats to serve on standing committees and make recommendations on who serves on special committees. She is running for one more term in the House this year.

Follow Sarah Kellogg on Twitter: @sarahkkellogg

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Crystal Quade on Twitter: @crystal_quade