Courtesy of 365gay, this story profiles the work of Congress’ first openly transgender person to work as a senior staff member on the Hill.  Diego Sanchez was hired by Barney Frank, who faced criticism from the transgender community about his effort to pass ENDA in 2007.  Sanchez has made passing an trans-inclusive ENDA his top priority.

Sanchez is a longtime activist who worked for the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention last year before joining Frank’s staff. Back in 2007, he was among a minority of transgender activists who accepted Frank’s tactical decision to drop gender identity from that version of ENDA.

“He’s called on the entire community since then to lobby, work – and the community has said, ‘OK, we’ve got one game plan, and it’s Barney,’” Sanchez said. “There’s broader support this time.”