Digital Transgender Archive

Dana Beyer fonds

Dana Beyer, M.D. is an American activist, politician, and retired eye surgeon. She was born February 2, 1952 in New York, New York. She currently resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland and has two sons. After retiring from her career as eye surgeon, Beyer became involved in activism and politics. She is a transgender activist and has sat on boards of many LGBTQ rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, Equality Maryland, the National Center for Transgender Equality, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the Civil Rights Coalition of Maryland. Beyer has fought for anti-discrimination legislation in Maryland which would increase protections and rights of transgender people. She was part of the DSM-V Task Force for Gender Identity Disorder, which was renamed Gender Dysphoria in 2012. In 2011 she co-founded Gender Equality Maryland and operated as the executive director until 2018. She won the 2010 Community Advocacy award from the Capital Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the 2011 Best Transgender Advocate award from the Washington Blade, and was inducted into the Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame in 2014. Beyer is Jewish and has also been involved with Jewish LGBTQ organizations. She sat on the Keshet Board of Directors. She currently sits on the board of A Wider Bridge, the North American organization which promotes LGBTQ inclusion in Israel and equality for Israel, through cultivating constructive engagement. She is also Regional Advocacy Chair for J Street, a national organization which advocates for diplomacy with Israel and a peaceful two-state solution. Beyer identifies as a Progressive Democrat and was the first transgender candidate for State Senate in American history. She ran three unsuccessful campaigns for public office: State Delegate in 2010, and State Senator in 2014 and 2018.