Hizzoner Becomes Itzzoner

Some stories just write their own punchlines:

SILVERTON, Ore. (AP) - Plenty of politicians reinvent themselves. But none quite like Mayor-elect Stu Rasmussen.

Rasmussen, 60, has been a fixture in Silverton politics for more than 20 years, and had twice before been the mayor of this small city 45 miles south of Portland. Those terms, however, were before the breast implants and before the once-discreet crossdresser started wearing dresses and 3-inch high heels in public.

In a week when America loudly chose its first African-American president, Silverton quietly made Rasmussen the country's first openly transgender mayor, according to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that works to help openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people win elected office.

The story just isn't complete without the picture:

As long as we're on this fascinating subject, I saw my first transgendered Disneyland employee last night. In one of the Main Street stores was a tall Asian clerk in the dress common to female Main Street shop employees, but this one was almost as tall as me, had a voice nearly as low as mine, and clearly did not start out in this world as a female.

If Goofy starts wearing a dress to work, I'm outa there.