The contest to choose the new Democratic candidate for the state Senate in Maine has taken an unusual turn after ''Ashley Webb'', a transgender activist, announced her candidacy to replace Graham Platner, who formally suspended his campaign after a rape accusation against him came to light. However, Webb's candidacy launch has also sparked intense controversy due to old posts on Reddit in which she made claims about her physical condition that have been widely questioned.
Webb identifies as a ''trans and intersex'' woman and claims to be running her campaign practically without institutional support. In a message posted on Reddit, under the username ''sparky603'', she explained that she is the candidate and treasurer of her own campaign, without major donors or the backing of a traditional political structure.
In that post, she asked registered Democrats in Maine to sign in support of her candidacy, acknowledging that she faces tough competition and that her chances are limited due to the number of candidates in the race.
A transgender Democratic candidate for the Senate urged party members to support his candidacy and vote for him
During a recent candidates' debate, Webb stated that the transgender community has been dehumanized in political discourse and argued that many public discussions reduce these individuals to issues related to the use of public restrooms.
As she explained, she would be willing to use the men's restroom, as required, if that is what the rules demanded, although she expressed fear of being a victim of physical assaults in that situation. With those statements, she sought to argue that the debate about transgender individuals should focus on safety and respect, rather than becoming a topic of political confrontation.
However, much of the public attention has focused on a series of messages previously posted on various Reddit forums, where Webb extensively described what she considers her ''intersex'' condition.
In those posts, she claimed that she has an XY karyotype, a typically male chromosomal configuration, and acknowledged having male external genitalia. However, she maintained that she ''suspects she has female internal reproductive organs'', although she admitted not having conclusive medical evidence to support that claim. She also raised the possibility that the physical sensations she experiences could correspond to another medical condition.
Among the most striking claims is the assertion of experiencing monthly menstrual cycles. Webb claimed to feel recurrent pain in the lower abdomen and on both sides, similar —according to her description— to the symptoms of a menstrual period.
Additionally, she stated that the bleeding associated with those episodes occurs through the rectum due, according to her hypothesis, to an anomalous anatomical connection between her supposed internal reproductive organs and the colon.
In one of her posts, she explained that doctors have not found a definitive explanation for those episodes. She noted that she has undergone colonoscopies, but those studies have not identified any anomalies that explain the bleeding. She also stated that imaging studies, such as CT scans, have not detected the presence of a uterus or ovaries when her biological sex is recorded as male.
The insecure candidate for legislator claimed that doctors have been unable to find evidence of the feminine characteristics he describes
Webb also expressed that she avoids talking publicly about this matter due to the discomfort it causes her and the frustration she claims to have experienced for years from not obtaining a definitive medical diagnosis. In her posts, she stated that some health professionals have only treated her symptoms with painkillers without thoroughly investigating the causes of her pain.
Furthermore, she shared results from hormonal tests that, she claimed, show elevated estrogen levels along with testosterone levels within male ranges. She also indicated that she developed breasts and wider hips during puberty, although she asserted that her male genitalia did not undergo significant changes.
The statements made by Webb on Reddit have sparked intense debate on social media, where numerous users have questioned the veracity of her medical claims and pointed out that she has not presented public clinical evidence confirming the existence of internal female reproductive organs or supporting her hypotheses about the bleeding episodes.
Webb noted that he usually does not talk about his physical-psychiatric condition due to the discomfort it causes him
Despite the controversy, Webb insists that her gender identity is not the main focus of her political campaign. In another post, she stated that she does not seek voter support for being a trans person, but for the proposals she promotes for the state of Maine.
Among her main priorities, she mentioned greater accountability in the healthcare system, investments in infrastructure for rural communities, greater control over large corporations, government transparency, and a foreign policy defined by clear principles.
As the campaign to fill the vacancy left by Platner continues, Webb's candidacy remains under intense public scrutiny. The debate now revolves not only around her political proposals but also around the personal statements she made years ago that have now returned to take center stage in the discussion about her aspiration to represent the Democratic Party in the state Senate of Maine.
Webb has applied to fill the vacancy left by the candidate, the accused Democrat Graham Planter
