InsideNOVA: Col. Bree Fram, a transgender servicemember forced out under Trump, planning Northern Virginia congressional bid
Col. Bree Fram, a Democrat and transgender servicemember who was ousted under President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender people from the military last year, is planning a Northern Virginia congressional bid.
Fram, a Reston resident, would challenge 11th District Rep. James Walkinshaw in a Democratic primary under Virginia’s current congressional district alignment. The 11th District, which includes the city of Fairfax and most of Fairfax County, is a Democratic stronghold that has not elected a Republican since 2006. U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, who held the seat since 2009, died from cancer in May.
Walkinshaw, Connolly’s former chief of staff and a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, claimed nearly 75% of the September special election vote to succeed the late Connolly………
……A U.S. Air Force and Space Force veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Fram said her service has always been about reaching for the stars.
"I grew up wanting to be a paleontologist," Fram said, "but a friend of mine dragged me – over my objection – to watch an episode of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' with him."
Fram said the opportunity to join the U.S. Space Force when it was established in 2019 was a chance to build "a 21st-century military" while realizing the "24th-century ideals" the popular TV show instilled in her.
That love of “Star Trek” helped spark the pursuit of aeronautics and engineering.