Last week, we talked about trans man visibility and role models. Diego Sanchez is one of many trans men whose visibility and achievements are providing a model for others.
Sanchez is the first trans person to hold a senior congressional staff position on Capitol Hill, working for Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), and he has a long history of impressive achievements in the corporate and nonprofit worlds. 
Sanchez is currently in the news with regard to theEmployment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that is being considered in Congress. This version of ENDA would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. A 2007 version of the bill, which included only sexual orientation, did not make it through Congress.
Rep. Frank, the longest-serving openly gay member of Congress, introduced the inclusive version of ENDA in the House this year.
And Sanchez’s presence and visibility is likely to sway some members of Congress as they consider the bill. Frank told the Associated Press that Sanchez’s face-to-face lobbying efforts have allowed some members of Congress to get to know a transsexual person for the first time.
“He interacts with a lot of people,” Frank told AP. “Prejudice is literally ignorance.”
In 2007, Frank and others, including some national GLBT representatives and organizations, had concerns about adding gender identity protections to the bill, fearing it would not receive enough support, even though it was likely to be vetoed by President George Bush had it passed. Frank told AP that he does not feel now that the bill will be voted against simply because it includes gender identity protections.
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