Bigotry In Mayoral Race ?

A few days ago I posted about a new candidate that entered the race for mayor here in Amarillo. That candidate was a transgendered woman named Sandra Dunn -- at least that is the name she is living under and the name she is called by all her friends and acquaintances. But it seems that that name is not acceptable to the powers that control Amarillo elections.

It seems that while Ms. Dunn is living as Sandra Dunn she has not completed the legal court process to officially change her name. Now the election officials are saying she must use her old name on the ballot. They said it was a state law and they tossed her off the ballot. OK, maybe that's true. Ms. Dunn complied with their wishes and completed new paperwork to get on the ballot. She filed as F.E. (Sandra Dunn) Dunaway.

But that was not good enough for the election officials either. Now they don't like the space between Sandra and Dunn. What the hell!? They don't like a space? That sounds more than a little picky to me. If she takes the space out, which she probably will do, what are they going to find to complain about next?

This is one of the reddest cities in Texas, and its chock full of right-wing fundamentalists (who are probably horrified at Dunn's candidacy). I hope this isn't just the start of repeated efforts to keep her off the ballot. I may be wrong, but it's starting to have the rancid smell of bigotry.