Althea Garrison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Althea Garrison
Official portrait, circa 1993
Member of the Boston City Council At-Large
In office January 9, 2019 – January 6, 2020
Preceded by	Ayanna Pressley
Succeeded by	Julia Mejia
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 5th Suffolk District
In office 1993–1995
Preceded by	Nelson Merced
Succeeded by	Charlotte Golar Richie
Personal details
Born	(1940-10-07) October 7, 1940 (age 84) Hahira, Georgia, U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Independent (1988, 2000, 2008, 2012-2015; 2017-present) Democratic (1982–1986, 1998–1999, 2010–2012) Republican (1990–1996, 2002–2006, 2016)
Residences	Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts
Alma mater	Newbury Junior College Suffolk University Lesley College
Occupation	Human Resources Politician

Althea Garrison (born October 7, 1940) is an American politician from Boston, Massachusetts. She served one term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995. She also served a short time on the Boston City Council from 2019 to 2020.

Althea Garrison is known as the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature in the United States. She has run for political office many times, even if she didn't always win. She has run as a Republican, a Democrat, and an Independent. In the 2010s, she described her political ideas as "independent conservative."

Garrison became a member of the Boston City Council in January 2019. This happened because Ayanna Pressley left her seat after being elected to the United States House of Representatives. City rules allowed Garrison to take the open spot because she had finished next in the 2017 Boston City Council election. Garrison ran for re-election in November 2019 but did not win.

Early Life and Education

Althea Garrison was born in Hahira, Georgia, on October 7, 1940. She was the youngest of seven children. She went to Hahira High School.

Later, she moved to Boston. She studied at Newbury Junior College and earned an associate degree. She also earned a bachelor's degree from Suffolk University. She received a master's degree in management from Lesley College. She also earned a certificate from Harvard University.

Besides her time in the Massachusetts House, Garrison worked as a clerk. She worked in human resources for the Massachusetts state government. She often used her vacation time to run for political office. She also served for four years on the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Political Journey

Starting in Politics

Althea Garrison first ran for the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1982 and 1986. She ran as a Democrat but did not win. She also ran for the Boston City Council several times. These attempts were in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1991.

During her 1991 campaign, it was noted that she had run for office many times. She herself later said it was her 10th or 11th try. In the 1991 race, she finished third in the first round of voting.

Time in the Massachusetts House

In 1992, Garrison successfully ran for the 5th Suffolk district in the Massachusetts House. This district covers parts of Dorchester and Roxbury in Boston. Her win was partly because she challenged some paperwork from the person who held the seat before. This meant she didn't have to run against that person in the main election.

In the general election, Garrison, running as a Republican, won against the Democratic candidate. She served one term from 1993 to 1995.

While in the Massachusetts House, Garrison often voted to support labor unions. This led to her being supported by many unions for re-election. She often voted with Democrats, even though she was a Republican.

Garrison lost her re-election bid in 1994. She was defeated by Democratic candidate Charlotte Golar Richie.

Serving on the Boston City Council

Garrison became a member of the Boston City Council in January 2019. She took the at-large seat that Ayanna Pressley left open. Pressley had been elected to Congress. City rules state that if an at-large council seat becomes empty, the person who finished next in the previous election gets the first chance to take it. Garrison was that person from the 2017 election.

Garrison's political views were different from most other city councilors. She was known as the only strong conservative on the Boston City Council. She supported then-President Donald Trump and was a strong supporter of the Boston Police Department. She described herself as an "independent conservative." She said she was "basically a conservative, but I also have some liberal ideas."

As a city councilor, Garrison supported bringing back rent control in Boston. She also supported efforts by the police in August 2019. She was against a plan to charge fees for residential parking permits. She believed that city planning should be "community based."

In early 2019, Garrison suggested a meeting to discuss not paying the city's fees to the MBTA. This was because of problems with the MBTA's service. Many other councilors agreed with her idea.

City Councilors can invite religious leaders to speak at meetings. Garrison invited pastor Roy Owens, who has strong views against LGBT rights.

Garrison ran for re-election in the November 2019 election. She finished seventh out of eight candidates and did not win. In December 2019, she was one of only three councilors to vote against a plan to allow the city to add a real estate transfer tax.

Personal Life

Althea Garrison is a transgender woman. After her identity became public in 1992, she did not talk about it publicly until 2023. In 2023, she shared that she identifies as trans. Before 2023, she simply identified herself as a woman.

Garrison is known for not using much technology. In 2018, she said, "I don't do computers, I don't do technology." She also tends to avoid talking to the news media.

Images for kids

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  Official portrait, circa 1993

See also

In Spanish: Althea Garrison para niños