She is one of my inspirations. And I have been fortunate to have an interview with her for my blog The Heroines of My Life. Petra De Sutter is a Belgian gynecologist and politician. On 1 October 2020, she was appointed Belgium's new Deputy Prime Minister, making her the highest-ranking transgender politician in the world.
This is what she told me when asked about whether transgender women can make a difference in politics: "In most countries they are still subject of some degree of discrimination, so they know what it is to belong to a minority. Minorities must be protected, this is a sacred duty of all politicians.
Also, having travelled an often painful personal journey makes you strong and gives you the abilities to be smart and strategic in obtaining your goals. It simply gives you a lot of perseverance. Finally, transgender women understand as no one else the sensitivities of both genders and can therefore be good diplomats and hence politicians."
What does she think about the present situation of transgender women in Belgian society? She said: "At a general level, transgender people are well accepted. They are protected by law, can live normal lives and have ample access to health care. However, there is still a lot of transphobia (and homophobia) in the streets. So, even if our government protects us, our environment may not…" I guess the last sentence is relevant for all the countries where we live. Hopefully, such women as Petra de Sutter can change our lives for the better!
Petra de Sutter is a Belgian gynaecologist and politician, who is currently serving as the Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium and the Minister of Civil Service. She is the first transgender minister in Europe and a member of the Groen party. She was previously a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2020 and a Senator from 2014 to 2019. She is also a professor of gynaecology at Ghent University and an expert in reproductive medicine. Petra de Sutter became a politician in 2014, when she was second on the list for the Flemish Green party in the European elections. Although she did not win a seat in the European Parliament, she was co-opted by her party for a seat in the Belgian Senate.
She was the rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on several important topics, such as children's rights in relation to surrogacy arrangements, the use of new genetic technologies in human beings, and the conditions of reception of refugees and migrants. She received the Justice & Gender Equality award at The Parliament Magazine's annual MEP Awards in 2020, for her work as an MEP on sexual and reproductive rights. She became the Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium and the Minister of Civil Service in 2020, with a large portfolio that includes public administration, public enterprises, telecommunications, and postal services.
Post a Comment