- How my life becomes better is politics.
- We're going to change City Hall.
- I'm formally announcing my candidacy for City Council District 8.
[audience cheers] She looks out into the audience and says, "I am here, I am her, I am trans-visible."
[audience cheering] [ambient music] - [male announcer]: Support for Reel South is provided by: Additional funding for "A Run for More" is provided by: And others.
A complete list is available from PBS.
[Jeff laughs] - We have so many signs in the car.
It's crazy.
- I want to see.
- I have no clue on what I want.
I don't even know where we're looking at colors-wise.
- [Designer] 'Cause you're running for- - [Frankie] City Council District 8.
- City Council District 8, okay.
See, I had all this background.
City Council... - It's Texas, and Texas loves signs.
It's an important part of tradition here.
They are not cheap.
- [Jeff] I think that Frankie should be the big part.
- [Designer] I agree.
- I think it's important for people not just to see my name, but to see my face.
- One-ones, that might be too crowded, but on the four-by-eights, it'd probably look just right.
- And this is Javier Salazar's.
- [Jeff] I mean, it's busy and there's a lot in there, but that's pretty much boring.
Simple.
- [Frankie] My girl.
I know about politics.
I know what I want to see happen in our community.
Like, I know my colors.
I know what I like.
- What do you like?
- [Frankie] The trans flag color.
- I don't know- - Light blue, like a light pink, and a white?
- Just really just dawned on me right now.
- [Jeff] That's the trans pride flag.
- It's cute.
I'm now feeling the urge to be the voice of the community that needs someone like me.
What the hell?
- How gorgeous are they?
- I never thought that I'd see my face like this.
- It's real.
[laugh] It's real, mama, are you ready?
- I can't believe it.
I am.
[sighs] #*#*#*#*#* Christ.
- It's gonna be amazing.
We're gonna change City Hall.
[emotional music] [guests conversing] - [Host] Hello, everybody!
- [Attendee] Hi!
[group clapping] - It's really incredible, because not too many years ago, being transgender would basically disqualify you from running for public office.
We live in a state that is openly hostile to our community with a president who has attacked us from the very outset of his administration, but as we have seen recently, more people like us are stepping up.
[attendees cheering] - I did meet Frankie in January of 2012, and about 30 minutes later, I was hopelessly head over heels in love, [crowd cooing] and as anyone that's spent more than five minutes in a room with her probably can understand, that's all it takes to see the glow that comes off of her.
I'm so proud of her, but at the same time, terrified.
It's just the fear of the unknown, an old chivalrous fear of not being able to protect somebody from whatever mystery lies around the corner.
But those fears are tiny compared to the joy that I feel in having the privilege of sharing her, not only with our neighbors in District 8, but with the entire city of San Antonio.
Please help me welcome Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe.
[attendees cheering] [attendees continue cheering] - Thank you, thank you, thank you.
This is really different.
My commitment to service started a very long time ago.
It really stemmed from my mother.
It strengthened the courage that my mother gave us, but she would work two, three jobs in order to provide food for us, and she would go without eating so that we could eat, and she taught me to help and teach and give to others.
That service that I keep saying that my mom provided is what I have been trying to give back to the community for a very long time.
I want to be just like my mother, and I'm proud to be here today saying that I'm a replica of this amazing woman.
[attendees clapping] This is my home.
For the last 23 years, I saw politician after politician who just didn't look like me, didn't speak like me, wasn't like me, but I supported them because I always felt like these were the right candidates that was going to represent me and be my voice at the table.
[chuckles] [attendees laughing] Well, it's ending because now, I am going to be my own voice at the table.
[attendees cheering] I'm formally announcing my candidacy for City Council District 8.
[attendees cheering] Thank you.
- [Attendees] Frankie!
Frankie!
Frankie!
Frankie!
Frankie!
Frankie!
Frankie!
Frankie!
Frankie!
[energetic electronic music] - Politics in my life is like food.
I need it in order to survive.
[hammers striking] I may not win, but I don't know if I can live with myself if I didn't at least try.
[energetic electronic music] What do you think?
It's cute, right?
For a campaign office?
And then we have kind of like our war room.
- Hi.
- Hi, how are you?
- [Janie in Spanish] Mija, vente para acá.
Siéntate aquí mija.
- Aww.
- [Janie in Spanish] Mira aquí.
- Mom, I'm gonna break your - - [laughs] I really don't know where her personality comes from, okay?
She's something else.
- We can put one of 'em, I guess, we can use this for people to sign in?
- Perfect.
- There's tape right there.
- Frankie, like any challenger in a city council race, has an uphill battle.
When you're trying to evaluate the competitiveness of an election, money is what you look at.
Usually the recipe to overcoming a financial disadvantage is just kind of sheer work.
- When she sets her mind to do something, she takes it by the horns, really, and takes it by the horns.
- Hello.
- [Person In Crowd] Yay!
- My name's Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe, and I am your candidate for City Council District 8.
You're in my district right now.
Have a little bit about me for those... - District 8 is on the northwest side of town.
It's one of the fastest growing and most diverse pockets of San Antonio.
It's got the University of Texas at San Antonio.
- I want to get more young people involved in politics.
I can't help you cheat on your exam, but I can do whatever I can to help steer you in the direction that you want to go.
- [Student] Thank you so much.
[students clapping] - [Frankie] Thank you.
- [Dylan] District 8, it's got all kinds of interesting businesses and kind of growth in that respect.
It's also got the largest population of refugees and immigrants.
It's all these kind of different melting pots of people coming together.
- What I'm trying to get his more civic engagement.
I want more people to have a seat at the table, so I'm doing something a little different than what City Council has seen in the past.
Right now, there's 53 precincts that make up District 8.
I want to make sure that there's a representative of each precinct.
I think more voices at the table means that we're going to get a lot more done.
There's a lot that needs to happen in District 8, and it's time that we stand up and we make a change, and that is why I am here now.
[knocking] Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe.
I'm running for City Council District 8.
- Oh, okay.
- Beautiful dog.
I worked for Wells Fargo as a VP in HR, Learning and Development, so my background is taking an organization from its current state and moving them into their future state.
That is what I do.
- [Dylan] Julian Castro, the former mayor, has said that San Antonio and its makeup and demographics represents what the country will be in the next 10, 20, 30 years, and I think District 8 is the embodiment of that.
- I'm a proud wife to a military veteran.
I am a proud Latina, but most of all, I'm very proud to be a trans woman.
[crowd cheering] [kisses] I love y'all.
- Good luck.
- Go Frankie.
- Go Frankie!
- [Frankie] Thank you.
- Yay, Frankie.
[crowd conversing] - Do you know how many lies I had to tell today?
The amount of volunteers...
I think that was the only thing.
[laughs] But we got to look like we're moving.
- [Jeff] What are you going to do to your hair?
- Curl it.
Running for office is a big performance.
I'm really aiming toward the skirt.
- [Jeff] With boots or shoes?
- [Frankie] Probably my heels.
- [Jeff] Just make sure you're comfortable.
- [Frankie] I know I'd be more comfortable in slacks, but I kind of femme'n it up.
- Be pretty.
- It works, right?
It's a performance that I've learned since the very first campaign when I walked into a rally in '96.
I was in high school and I had a teacher who wanted us to be more involved in democracy.
She took me to a local rally.
- Good morning, San Antonio.
- [Frankie] People want to hear that you are a formidable candidate.
- It's really [inaudible].
[Former President Clinton playing with band] - [Frankie] It's a huge show that leads up to the goal of being able to work for the community.
- To the working people of America, we owe you affordable healthcare, a good education system, and a growing economic environment.
[crowd cheers] - [Frankie] I saw the way the audience was just captivated by his words then the hope that he was giving each and every one of us.
- How can we roll up our sleeves and work together to make life better for everyone?
That's what I am trying to do.
[crowd cheering] - It's the empowerment that these people felt, this need to come together and make a difference.
I just knew in that moment that politics was for me.
[workers conversing] Y'all are doing okay?
Y'all need anything?
Doing good?
- Good.
- Okay.
Tell me these expenses.
Hold on.
Hillary Campaign, this is Frankie.
Being a volunteer and being a staffer for all these campaigns...
Okay.
[claps] That was my way of being able to give back to my community.
I felt at that time that what I was doing was enough.
Election day, so following, it's gonna be on one of those days.
Bexar County Democratic Party.
How can I help you?
But over the past 10 years, the Texas Legislature has been a complete and utter mess.
- [Fox 7 Reporter] With more than 20 bills filed, Texas has introduced more anti-LGBTQ legislation than any other state this year.
- Leaders from across Texas are at the State Capitol urging lawmakers not to pass the so-called Bathroom Bill.
- We need a law that protects the privacy of our children and our public schools.
- The bill can do nothing to reduce the number of safety problems in public restrooms caused by transgender people because you can't go lower than zero.
[crowd cheering] - [Frankie] A politician makes decisions at the table.
An activist pushes the politician to make policy.
- [Protestors] Protect trans youth!
- It seems like the more that the trans community has become visible, the more they seem to be wanting to work against us.
I want to be able to make the decisions because that is where we lack representation.
[emotional music] [engine humming] - Here's my Donald Trump hurricane relief impression.
[chuckles] - [Jeff] The epitome of empathy, that #*#*#*#*#*#*#* guy.
[Frankie chuckles] - When we started dating, of course, one of the very first questions I had to ask him was, "Are you a Democrat?"
- [Jeff] You make homemade spaghetti class?
Yes, baby.
- [Frankie] Do you remember the very first lasagna I ever made you?
- [Jeff] I sure do.
- I made that sauce.
I spent six hours on that sauce.
I am blessed that I met someone who supports me.
- You're in a rare reposition.
Like, for me, it's hard to imagine somebody being in the city that they were raised in.
You grew up here.
You know this city like the back of your hand.
You literally spent your whole life here.
It's got to feel good to be able to affect the community that you've spent so much time in.
I kind of feel nomadic, in a way, like I don't really belong anywhere.
- [Frankie] You belong to the Air Force.
He's the one that I've been waiting for for 40 years.
[emotional music] - Frankie began her transition pretty much the time we met.
[emotional music] I fell in love with the person, and that hasn't changed one bit.
What has changed is she's happier.
[Janie gasps] - You look beautiful.
- [Attendant] Tissues?
[laughs] Yeah.
- See, you look like me.
- So, do the honors.
This makes it official.
[Janie sniffles] [emotional music] [emotional music continues] [emotional music continues] [emotional music continues] - Jeff.
- Jeff.
- [Officiant] I place this ring on your finger.
- I placed this ring on your finger.
- With my everlasting love for you.
- My everlasting love for you.
- As my best friend.
- As my best friend.
- And as my husband.
- And as my husband.
[sniffling] [gentle music] - By the authority invested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife.
- You're stuck.
- That's it.
[guests laughing] [guests applauding] [guests cheering] - Introducing the Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Wolfe.
[guests cheering] - Thank you so much, everybody, for being here.
I'm so grateful for everyone that fought for my right to marry the love of my life, and I promise all of you and I promise her we're not stop fighting for that right.
There's no going backwards.
We're gonna be together forever.
Thank you for being here.
[guests applauding] [gentle music] - [Camera Operator] Count to five for me real quick.
- [Frankie] One, two, three, four, five.
- [Interviewer] I'm good.
I'm clear.
- Okay.
- If the airport concession vote came up again, where would you have voted on that issue?
- Part of my platform really has to do with small businesses.
I want to be able to find a way to be able to promote small businesses in San Antonio, especially at the San Antonio airport.
I think that is a great opportunity for us.
Our culture as a city should be represented more at the airport, and that's one of the biggest reasons why I would have voted against... - Including Chick-fil-A.
- [Frankie] Including Chick-fil-A, correct.
- Okay.
In your opinion, what makes you a stronger candidate to represent District 8 than the current incumbent Manny Pelaez.
- I'm not running against anyone in this race.
I'm running for the constituents in District 8.
What I'm hoping to accomplish at the very end of this is bringing more voices to the table.
I want people to have a stake in their community.
This is my home.
I just want to be able to give back to this community that has provided me so much.
That's what I'm hoping to do.
- [KSAT Reporter] In the race for District 8, Manny Pelaez faces two challengers, Tony Valdivia and Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe, who has worked on more than 50 campaigns dating back to the 1990s.
She would make state history if elected.
- I'm a very proud trans woman running for office in San Antonio.
- [KSAT Reporter] Chick-fil-a's exclusion from the city's airport... - [Frankie] Friggin' 35-minute interview and they played like eight seconds.
- That's says, "Tony Valdivia gets my vote."
"The one in the middle looks like a dude in a dress."
[Frankie laughs] - [Frankie] That's so cute.
- [Jeff] And then the reply was, "The one in the middle was a dude in a dress."
[Frankie laughs] "Anti Chick-fil-A, too."
- It's funny.
- No, it's not.
Those #*#*#*#*#*#*#* cowards.
I don't know what motivates somebody to take your time to do that.
[gentle music] - [Frankie] It doesn't bother me.
- [Jeff] Mm, should, though.
[birds chirping] - Hi, guys.
- [Sloan] ABB's not updated yet.
- Okay.
Those are the doors that we're knocking on, so when you start walking, you just say, "Hello, my name is so-and-so.
I'm a volunteer for the Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe campaign.
Can I speak with," and say the voter's name.
"Frankie is focused on easing traffic congestion, improving road and sidewalk infrastructure and technology infrastructure, finding ways to help locally-owned small businesses expand, public safety, and property tax reform."
- I know people have been asking, "What are you going to be focused on?"
It's now in here.
- A lot of people might ask, "How does she feel about gun rights?
How does she feel about guns in schools?
How does she feel about abortion?"
She will never have to actually vote on that at City Council.
You just tell them this is a nonpartisan race.
Those issues typically don't come before City Council, and if they push you, you say, "Well, typically Frankie has voted in Democratic primaries, but she does cross over in the general election."
There's a lot of us conservative Democrats out there and we don't want to turn her off for anybody, okay?
Focus just on her.
- So, let's go 'head and move on to 13130.
[phone ringing] - [Elita] Hello?
- Hi, is this Elita?
- Hello, I'm a volunteer with Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe.
I was just calling to check in with you and see if you voted yet or know who you're voting for.
- Yay.
Okay, okay.
[gentle music] - We want every part of government to look like us, and everyone else deserves that, too.
Hello, is this Alexia?
- San Antonio doesn't look like just one person.
If a town in Texas can do it, then anybody can do it.
[heels clicking] [engine humming] - How's everybody doing?
Make some noise up in here.
Makes some noise.
[crowd cheers] There's a reason why we're up here, you guys.
You are an ally to this beautiful woman, so please, please make some noise, because if she makes history, she would be the first in San Antonio to be a trans city councilwoman.
[crowd cheers] Y'all ready to get messed up with me today?
- [Crowd] Yeah!
["Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift] - These people are giving cash donations, so at the very end, since they're physically tipping Lindsay, whatever she collects, she has to sign for as her contribution.
- Okay.
- Does that make sense?
Okay.
♪ 'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play ♪ [crowd cheering] - [Lindsay] We have a friend of hers.
Denise has been Frankie's friend for many, many, many, many years.
I think it's better for you to say from your heart what you think about your friend.
- Frankie, you are a light, a joy to be around.
You have a biggest heart and I need everyone to know and how strong of a person that you are and how much you're going to do for this city.
I love you.
[kisses] [crowd cheers] Please, everybody, stand up and make some noise.
The pioneer of the trans community for here in San Antonio, the very beautiful Ms. Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe.
[crowd cheering] [gentle music] [crowd cheering] - Yay, Frankie!
- [Frankie] Having my trans brothers and sisters surround me with that energy and that love, it means everything to me.
[gentle music] I've never considered myself to be a trans activist.
I've always been more of a trans educator.
I've been a person that has always been willing to sit down, have a conversation with anybody who's willing to ask those questions.
- I don't know what's in people's hearts, but I got a feeling from the way certain people would react to her and her candidacy that the instant they realized she was trans, that was it.
Her degrees, her history in the corporate world, her capabilities, her personality or intellect, none of that was even part of the equation.
"She's a trans woman.
She's not for me."
I do have concerns about her safety, and it's hard to say that out loud.
We're both aware that there's a risk involved in stepping forward, but her passion to make a difference overrides that fear.
I'm proud of her for it, but I'm scared at the same time.
[phone buzzing] [caller conversing] - That's correct.
[caller conversing] UTSA and Vance Jackson.
Okay.
I appreciate that so much.
[caller conversing] Absolutely, it's against the law.
[caller conversing] Okay, thank you so much for letting me know.
I appreciate it.
Uh-huh.
Bye-bye.
This lady that just called said that she's a supporter of mine.
She was at the stoplight at UTSA and Vance Jackson and she caught a woman ripping our four-by-six.
- What?
- Tearing our four-by-six.
[suspenseful music] [engines revving] - Should I just bring it, one of the small ones?
- It looks like we can just put it back up.
- Yeah.
- And I think I have ties in the car.
[engines humming] [cars passing] This is really sad.
[cars passing] Okay, we have to find ways to be able to now raise- - Money.
- Money.
I'm gonna talk to Linda Alaniz, Bexar County Democratic Party.
We need to talk to Gloria Gutierrez.
- Gloria Gutierrez.
- We need to see how we can convince them to help.
They're really good friends of mine.
I don't know why they haven't shown up to any of our things or helped at all.
Teresa was like, "Hey, I have a question for you.
Y'all haven't really volunteered."
And she said, "No, I'm gonna be honest with you, girl."
She said that they're afraid to go out there and hurt my chances, that they know that they look really androgynous.
You know, and I was like, "Girl, but I'm trans just like all of y'all."
She said, "Yeah, girl, but you're like a pretty professional trans woman, and..." - [Julian] You're the exception.
You're like- - Yeah.
And I was like, "Well," I just said, "No, I get it."
But I would never deny these are my sisters.
I love them.
We have to start talking to anybody who is willing to help.
The truth of the matter is we don't have time.
- We're going to go around the room, have the candidates introduce themselves, get to know them, and for them to earn your vote.
[crowd conversing] - Have any of you ridden the scooters yet?
You haven't?
- Something's wrong somewhere where the majority of people can voice their opinion and they're just not heard.
- So- [resident speaking] Yeah.
- What's something that you kind of already anticipate and something you'd like to take and bring forward?
- [Resident In Blue] What do you think about transportation?
What solutions?
- Oh, that- - Just like that.
- What do you think about walkability?
What about the people here that live here that don't make it?
We need to help those people, not other people from other countries.
- No, I appreciate that.
- They don't come in the right way like my mother came in.
I'm really strong on this.
- No, no, no.
- I really am, and I feel sorry, and believe me- - Oh, I'm so sorry.
- The family services, they need help.
- That's correct, And that's why I'm saying- - And I understand that.
I don't know if we can compromise.
- Yeah.
- We adore- - I'm bad.
I am bad.
- Well, good luck.
- No, thank you so much.
[crowd conversing] - Have a great weekend.
[Frankie speaking Spanish] - [Frankie] Manny, [speaks Spanish], it's almost over.
♪ And the way you look tonight ♪ Give her the crown.
- [Pageant Announcer] Here we go.
- [Pageant Host] The first contestant in the final five is... [suspenseful music] New Mexico!
[Frankie clapping] - [Frankie] Latina pride.
- [Pageant Announcer] Joining her in the finals is... North Carolina.
[audience cheering] - [Pageant Interviewer] The 2020 election is right around the corner.
- Come on, New Mexico.
- [Pageant Interviewer] What is one issue you would like all candidates to address and why?
- Being from a border state and being born and raised in a border city, immigration is something that is very important to me.
There's so many people out there wanting the American dream, and my parents immigrated here from Monterrey, Mexico.
[Frankie and audience clapping] And I am their representation of their American dream.
- [Pageant Interviewer] Thank you, New Mexico.
- She has to win.
- North Carolina, come on down.
[audience cheering] - [Pageant Host] All right, North Carolina- - I didn't mean to cry.
She has to win.
Come on.
- [Pageant Host] Give it up again for our top three finalists.
[emotional music] [emotional music continues] [emotional music continues] - [Frankie] Growing up, I believed that if I came out as a gay man, it was going to be easier for my family to accept.
I became a showgirl.
It allowed me an opportunity to be able to feel feminine, look feminine, and I really enjoyed the energy that was coming off of me.
[emotional music] It was my outlet of me being able to feel more like the real me.
[emotional music] [emotional music continues] [emotional music continues] After a year, I started getting a little more comfortable.
My hair starting to grow out.
I started feeling a little more me.
One night after a show, I was leaving the club that we were working at.
The next thing I remember was my head was being smashed against the trunk of the car.
There was three men.
At first I thought they were just going to beat me up.
One of the men got close enough to my ear to tell me, "If you want to dress like a woman, I will treat you like a woman."
[somber music] Taking turns, they proceeded to rape me.
[somber music] I remember praying.
I remember thinking of my family.
And in my head, I was thinking, "This isn't how I'm supposed to leave this world."
What saved me in the moment was my friends coming out and protecting me.
The words that were whispered in my ear the night of my assault gave a whole new meaning of how women are seen and treated in the community.
[somber music] I no longer felt safe.
I needed help.
I asked my family, and started seeing a therapist.
It took years to rebuild my life.
[somber music] Because of that unfortunate circumstance that happened in my life, I know that I'm able to fight.
It's gonna be on that side?
- [Ms. Pena] Hi.
Hello.
- Ms. Pena?
- Yes?
- Hi, I'm Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe.
I'm ready for City Council District 8.
How are you?
I trained myself to be able to move forward.
Just going around the neighborhood.
I'm using my inner strength to help me in this campaign.
You might be seeing me again before then.
- Come on by.
- All right.
Nice meeting you.
- Nice to meet you.
Good luck.
- Thank you so much.
[gentle music] [cars passing] [gentle music] - I just made minor changes to the walk script.
Today we're gonna focus on Democrats, but we will be walking those Rs and those Independents.
That's the only way that she is going to win.
- I got it.
- So, it should be good today.
Have at it.
- [Campaigner] 105, Jesus.
- [Veronica] Gon' be good.
It's gon' be good.
- [GPS] The destination is on your right.
- [Sloan] So, we can just park somewhere.
That was 3427 right here.
- Hi, Mr. Blake.
Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe running for City Council District 8.
How are you?
- Hello.
- Any questions?
- [Blake] No, people like you get all their news from CNN- - MSNBC.
- MSNBC, and those are such bias.
- I do watch all the networks.
- [Blake] You sort of do, but you don't focus.
- [Frankie] No, no, no.
I will not lie and say I watch it all the time.
I do not.
- [Blake] If you're not listening to what the conservative voice is, you are uninformed and you're ignorant.
[door slams] - [Frankie] There was nothing Democratic about him.
How is he on the list?
These are not Democrats.
R, R, R, R, R. - [Sloan] She said pulled all Dems.
- [Frankie] No, these are all Rs.
This just did not, it didn't go well.
- [Drive] The both doors that you knocked on?
- The second one, he just wanted to close the door in my face.
- Oh, Jesus.
- I'm done.
- What happened?
- It's already happened.
And I tried to play that middle ground.
It didn't really frickin' work.
Then he called me ignorant, and so then I was kind of like, "I'm done."
This is the only list we have.
- Yes, so let's call it.
- You want to just make this a phone banking?
- Sure.
- Okay.
- Karen, I'm calling on behalf of my friend and your neighbor.
- [Frankie] Hi, Susan, this is Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe.
How are you?
- But Frankie is an established corporate manager and executive who represents our community, and- - Well then, he understands completely, and you understand exactly what we're doing.
[laughs] Well, good, good.
Well, yeah, that's the- - I'm calling on behalf of my friend and your neighbor, Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe.
- 210-742-2255.
You can also find her- - No, thank you.
You have a great day.
Uh-huh.
Bye-Bye.
- [Sloan] Or at FrankieFor8.
We're also on Facebook.
- That was actually a good call.
- Thank you so much.
- Today is Saturday May 4th.
- Okay, we got a vote.
- Okay.
- We got one?
- We got one.
- All right, y'all.
- I am, I am from District 8.
I'm running against the current councilman.
Correct.
- [Sloan] Frankie is focused on easing traffic- - Yes, hello.
My name is Robert.
I'm calling to speak with Sergio Santo Leon.
I'm calling on behalf of the Frankie- - Holy Hell.
- [Robert] City Council District 8 campaign.
- [Julian] And the number eight dot com.
If you have any questions for Frankie or [indistinct], [Frankie scoffs] - [Sloan] My name is Sloan, and I'm calling on behalf of my friend... - [Robert] It sounds better like that.
- [Julian] Okay, then.
Let that be your blanket.
No, I keep getting cold.
- [Robert] Was I not right about that last night, though?
You were cold.
- [Julian] It was hot.
- [Robert] It's hot?
- [Julian] Yeah, compared to- - That upset me.
- [Sloan] What happened?
- I asked to speak to Caleb.
They gave him the phone.
I told him that my name's Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe, candidate for City Council District 8, and then he asked me for my name again.
I said, "Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe."
He said, "Oh, you're that #*#*#*#*#*#*#* tranny that's running for City Cou-" Tranny.
And I said, "It's inappropriate.
Yes, I'm a trans woman, and not," he goes, "No, you're a tranny," and then he hung up on me.
- What?
- Sorry.
- [Frankie] This dude that called me a tranny, I would've knocked on his door.
- [Robert] These there a lot of Republican houses.
- So, does Veronica know that point?
No, she don't, because she has never dealt with a candidate as yourself.
- Someone that's transgender.
It's very different from- - It's very different, so you get a lot of people who are gonna just be haters.
They might come at you.
She needs to know that.
[doorbell rings] - Hey, girlie.
- Like they were being a little... - Okay, so I have to ask, why did the team do their own thing?
I have to know that.
Or what were the things that they asked?
- [Frankie] Doors closed.
No, really, no opening doors, and it was just, yeah... - [Veronica] They just looked at you and said, "You're an idiot.
You're a tranny"?
- The dude actually called me a tranny.
He pissed me off.
I would always tell a candidate, "It's okay.
It's okay.
Look, we're gonna get through this today.
That was just one frickin' door."
My job was to do that.
And it was different when it was me because they were attacking me this time, and I felt belittled.
You know, I was called ig, calling me a tranny on the phone.
Like, it frickin' hurt my heart.
I've never felt like this before.
Som I'm just, you know- - I know.
- It was just ugly.
It's ugly when it's you.
- It's just always better to walk away.
Just walk away.
But as a team, it can't be emotional for us, because if we're choosing to remind people that her winning is historic because she's transgender, we can't turn around and get pissy when people want to throw that as an attack, 'cause we can't change the fact that she is transgender and we can't move every Republican out of District 8.
[somber music] [somber music continues] [somber music continues] [somber music continues] [somber music continues] [somber music continues] - [Frankie] Julian drove around with his friend.
He said that like 80% of my signs are gone.
[somber music] I told you it was gonna happen.
Who's doing it?
I don't know.
[somber music] [somber music continues] [somber music continues] [hammer tapping] - Scaring me.
- [Frankie] I've come to the realization that I am still running a campaign like I would run for any cisgender candidate.
I'm not, and I haven't accepted that about myself.
I'm disappointed in the path that it's taken for me to realize that.
[engine humming] I don't typically attend events like Lobby Day, but because I have been so public about running for office, people are reaching out to me and telling me, "Hey, did you know that this existed?"
And there's so many trans people all over Texas doing great work and I've never met them, and I think it's about time that I do.
- Raise your hands if this is the first time you've ever participated in a Trans Lobby Day.
[crowd cheering] Woo!
Transgender people and drag queens cannot be hidden without our cooperation, and we refuse to hide.
We are undeniably a part of the beautiful diversity that you see represented here.
We are Texas.
[crowd cheering] And let Ms. Moni tell you something, trans youth.
I and your trans elders will fight tooth and nail for you to make sure you get to grow up in Texas and you don't have to spend your twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, and sixties lobbying for basic human rights coverage.
[crowd cheering] - I'm embarrassed right now.
That's what it is.
I'm more embarrassed.
For the past 20-plus years, I've stayed away from the...
When I left being a showgirl, I left being the showgirl.
Like I was done with that, and so I never had really gone back, and I've never been an activist.
I've been in politics, but I've never been an activist within the LGBTQIA community, especially on trans issues.
I can't lie about it.
- Don't be ashamed of your story.
That's your life.
You can't be judged for your life.
- This group knew each other.
They were hugging and they knew each other there.
This is their sisterhood.
I felt, me as a trans woman in a group of trans women, I was a visitor into their sisterhood.
I learned about my privilege because I saw just the pain.
I'm gonna start crying again.
Just saw these women, you know, these men and women, they're just trying to find a place.
It can't be like that.
One gave me $10 and said, "I'm sorry I don't have a lot."
I was like, "I don't even want your $10," like... - Leadership isn't always giving a speech.
Leadership is often listening, and that's all you can do at this point is hear and take it in.
It's something you haven't been exposed to before, but take it in and hear it.
I think you did.
So, what you need to remember is the next day, you even have a hint that you don't have an in you to work hard or you even think about quitting, think about those people that are counting on you.
And you may not win, but you better #*#*#*#*#*#*#* fight as hard as you can.
Think of those people that need your voice.
[suspenseful music] [suspenseful music continues] - Today is the first day of early voting.
We are still making phone calls, texting voters in District 8.
Make sure you go out and vote and support your candidate.
We're going to be here all week long, and I look forward to seeing you at the polls.
[parade attendees cheering] [rhythmic drumming] [drumming continues] San Antonio right now is celebrating Fiesta.
It's supposed to be a time to celebrate and just have fun, but early voting runs the rest of the week, and we are now going to see what the residents of District 8 decide.
I'm nervous, hence why I'm cooking and cleaning a lot.
[rhythmic drumming] [drumming continues] Frankie, Frankie, last name on the ballot.
[Pelaez speaking Spanish] [laughs] Thank you for coming out and voting.
Taking the time, and it's fiesta, so, you know.
[rhythmic drumming] - [Parade Participant] Come on, guys, let's go!
[crowd cheering] [rhythmic drumming] - What?
- It's the queen.
- [Frankie] Is it Frankie?
Yes, that's me.
- Hi.
Hi, I gotta hug you.
- Absolutely.
- Oh my God.
- Hi.
- Last name on the ballot.
You cannot miss me.
[volunteer laughing] Hi, there.
- Are you Frankie?
- I am Frankie.
[rhythmic drumming] [parade attendees cheering] Hi, how are you?
- This is my daughter, Izzy.
- Pleased to meet you.
- Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe.
Nice to meet you.
Hi, gorgeous.
Frankie, nice to meet you.
- [Child] Hello.
- How are y'all?
Welcome.
Have seats.
Have seats.
- [Lauryn] You don't remember the first time we met, do you?
- [Frankie] I don't.
- So I've been involved for a lot of years.
When we were introduced, I didn't realize you were trans right at first, and I was in the fight of my life, I mean in terms of what we were fighting for, and you avoided me the rest of the day, the rest of the night.
No, I'm not being critical.
It is true.
- No, what you're telling me, you're right.
I was broken.
'Cause I'm gonna be honest.
I just wanted to be a girl.
"Just leave me alone.
I just want to be a girl."
I didn't realize how important it was for me to be me.
I didn't realize that.
- You know, sometimes it's just not time.
I'm glad you were where you were doing what you were doing.
Having been an executive, having been a campaign manager, all the things that this 21-year-old and nine-year-old get to see.
Don't you ever think "Maybe I should have been there.
Maybe I should have learned sooner," because- - I do.
- It's not true.
Don't ever feel like you should have been there then, 'cause now is the time that the world needs you.
[emotional music] [emotional music continues] I never thought my girls would live to see, I never thought I'd live to see, when my girls could have a role model like... [emotional music] - [Frankie] I was overwhelmed with emotion.
I feel now that I need to own this activist part of me because it has an impact to the greater public.
[vehicles passing] - Hi.
How are you?
- Good.
- I know she's tired.
- I finished [voice drowned out].
- Hi, mija.
You look nice, ooh.
- Well, thank you so much.
[attendees conversing] In five minutes, we're gonna get the early voting results.
- Oh, nice.
- Oh, don't you look gorgeous?
- [Frankie] Thank you.
- You now, they're already on my phone, like I'm... Four minutes.
- It's reflecting zero.
- #*#*#*#* - [Friend] Oh my God.
- [Frankie] #*#*#*#*#* Christ.
- I'm proud of you.
- Do what?
- I'm proud of you.
- [Frankie] One minute, 20 seconds.
When it hits zero, just hit refresh, and then we'll see if they posted.
[attendees conversing] - 30 seconds.
- Oh, don't feel excited.
- [Friend] I'm already here and I'm refreshing the number.
[dramatic music] - #*#*#*#* - They're out.
They're out.
- [Supporter] What's them?
- It's okay.
It's okay.
- [Friend] What's it looking like?
Let me see.
- I'm not gonna make it.
It's okay.
- Still a ways.
- [Frankie] Yeah, Manny's gonna win tonight.
He's at almost 59%, yeah.
I'm sorry that I wasn't able to pull this off, but- - Just running is a big deal, and your visibility basically gives those trans kids hope, 'cause when they see their elders running for office or doing other things in society, it gives them hope and expands their horizons that "One day I can do it."
[gentle music] - I want to thank all of my supporters.
Thank you to each and every one of you.
My amazing husband.
Thank you for being my rock and the person to help me.
When I first decided to be crazy, and...
I went into this campaign very optimistic.
I was hoping that people were just going to accept what I was bringing to the table, but I think at the very end of it, most people just saw the trans woman.
You know, my passion has always been in politics and it's gonna remain there, so I will see you real soon.
Thanks again.
[emotional music] [emotional music continues] [performer singing in Spanish] [sighs] ♪ You'll find all the answers ♪ ♪ Don't have to lose your pride ♪ ♪ Don't ever let nobody tear your world apart ♪ ♪ Look in the mirror and see who you are ♪ ♪ Beautiful U R ♪ ♪ Don't ever let ♪ [emotional music] [emotional music continues] This election was emotionally exhausting for me, [emotional music] but after everything I've gone through, this hurt and heartache and fatigue, I realized that was worth it for me in the end.
I'm going to be singing.
Just kidding.
[audience laughs] I found Frankie in the last three years.
October 28th, 1976.
A little boy is born into this world, innocent and carefree.
Fast-forward.
At the age of 15, he has his first kiss with a boy.
Two weeks later at home, he tells his parents, "Mom, Dad, I'm gay."
His parents, unfazed, says, "Okay, eat your dinner."
Fast-forward.
He's now 18.
Goes to the club for the first time with his best friend Teresa, sees a woman who was born male, says, "Hi," and she responds, "Hi, I'm Denise.
I'm trans."
He thinks, "Oh my gosh, I'm not the only one."
Fast-forward.
November 1998.
He puts on a dress, makeup, a wig, and fabulous shoes.
Looks in the mirror, then paints the town pink.
Three men approach him, hold him down, and whisper in his ear, "You want to dress like a woman?
I'll treat you like a woman."
They beat, rape, and leave him naked in a parking lot.
He fought.
He survived.
Fast-forward.
School, work, school, failed relationships, work, more work.
He's now 36, depressed, alone, suicidal, and lost.
Wakes up one morning, tells his sister, "I'm a woman."
Sister says, "Then live."
Fast-forward.
Hello, new me.
She's now strong.
She's now confident.
She is alive.
She's in love.
Fast-forward.
Tonight, she looks out into the audience, and says, "I am here.
I am her.
I am trans visible."
[crowd cheering] [crowd continues cheering] [emotional music] [energetic instrumental music] ♪ ♪ - Oh my God, we got it!
[women laughing] I was like, I still didn't...[indistinct].
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [somber music] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪