We suspect the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., would have been gratified to see the Golden Globes and the heap of awards given to “Transparent,” the groundbreaking television series about a man’s embracing his transgender self.  

A pioneer for minority rights for decades, Kennedy did more than just pursue legislation. When given the opportunity, he even walked a mile in a woman’s heels, as we observed in our Jan. 17, 1988, edition in HOH: “Teddy the K in Drag: Now that he’s free of the pressure to run for higher office, Sen. Ted Kennedy may at last be coming into his own. At his annual Christmas party on the Hill, where Rep. Joe Kennedy II (D-Mass.) showed up dressed as Ollie North, host Ted arrived in drag, claiming to be Fawn Hall.  

Said one startled attendee: ‘He wore a dress, a wig, lipstick, eye make-up, and a bra stuffed with paper …. What I remember most about him were his huge breasts.’  

Also reported to have been at the party for about 200 in the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee hearing room: Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D-Ohio) and Gordon Barnes, the TV weatherman.”  

Jeffrey Tambor, eat your heart out.  

The 114th: CQ Roll Call’s Guide to the New Congress


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