Goodbye, Georgie Girl.

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Author: Unknown

NEW ZEALAND

Georgina Beyer achieved a milestone in 1999 when she became what many believed was the world's first transsexual lawmaker, but that's about all she was prepared to do. "Politics and I don't seem to sit too well together," Beyer said on March 4 after announcing that she would not seek another term in New Zealand's parliament in 2005.

The Labor Party lawmaker had threatened to quit national politics before. In 2001, Beyer said she had not been prepared for the nastiness of parliament's debating chamber and was leaving to pursue transgender issues. But she stuck it out and in 2002 won again, doubling her majority in a rural constituency where she first entered public life in 1992 as a councilwoman.

Beyer's life and career were the focus of a 2001 documentary titled Georgie Girl. She said she hopes to work in entertainment after leaving politics.

Transgendered lawmaker Georgina Beyer