A lot of times the "perception" of transgender is someone like Laverne Cox or Chaz Bono. I was leaning more towards those who aren't open about it or haven't even begun to think about any reassignment surgery. You've probably seen some of those heartbreaking documentaries about kids struggling with gender identity and having to put on fronts just to appease their parents and classmates.
Oh good old Sheriff Joe! Well, my county is red albeit my state's nearly all blueness. We've got a gay republican "write-in" trying to unseat the incumbent commissioner who accepted his biggest donation this year from a known secessionist! ARGH!