the special session convened. Herbst was an active participant in One Texas Resistance, a broad coalition of human rights organizations and grassroot activists. One Texas Resistance organized protests every day of the session, objecting to anti-immigration, anti-adoption, anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ and other bills encroaching human rights. The process began as in the regular session with the Senate Committee on State Affairs again holding a hearing. Herbst testified first in a full day of testimony, followed third by Ashley Smith, the transgender architect who posted the famous photo of herself with Governor Greg Abbott. Testimony this time was 93% against. The Committee passed the bill as expected and a few days later the Senate took up the debate, this time lasting six hours. A one-point testimony from Libby Gonzales and Mayor Herbst was read verbatim on the senate floor. In the following weeks on the Capitol steps were press conferences by state law enforcement officials and business and religious leaders stating their opposition to the bathroom bill. The House, led by a staunch opponent and House Speaker Joe Straus III, declined to give the bill consideration, allowing the bill to die again. Transition Herbst recounts being drawn to women's clothing as early as three years old. In 2015, Herbst began hormone replacement therapy. Toward the end of September 2016, Herbst began living full-time as a woman. In February 2017, Caitlyn Jenner, herself a transgender woman, commented on Herbst's transition. In a statement to Fortune, Jenner stated "Everyone's journey is unique and different. I'm so happy for her." Personal life Herbst attended East Texas State University. At a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Herbst met Debbie Gray, who would eventually become her wife. Their first daughter was born in 1989, with a second daughter following 18 months later. In 2018, Herbst completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow. Through her transition, Herbst and her wife Debbie Gray Herbst have stayed married. They have two adult daughters. References Transgender politicians LGBT mayors of places in the United States LGBT people from Texas Transgender women Women mayors of places in Texas Living people 1958 births