Palm Springs City Councilwoman Lisa Middleton will be sworn-in as mayor Thursday, making Middleton the first out transgender mayor in California and just the third out transgender mayor in U.S.
history. The city’s current mayor, Christy Holstege, also is historic. She is the city’s first female mayor and the city’s first bisexual mayor.
Palm Springs mayor is largely a ceremonial position and rotates every year among the council members. Middleton was elected to the council in 2017, and reelected in 2020.
Middleton told KESQ TV that some of her goals during her term will be to “deliver the highest quality of services to this incredible community” and “see some tangible improvements in the number of people who are unhoused” in Palm Springs.