Michigan Democrat’s Deadname Complaint Against Trans Opponent Exposed as Baseless Transphobia

In a stunning display of political cowardice, former Michigan state representative Frank Liberati filed a complaint against his transgender primary opponent, Joanna Whaley, accusing her of violating state campaign law by not listing her deadname on her filing paperwork. The complaint, submitted to the Wayne County Clerk’s office, hinges on a dismissed 2023 name change petition — ignoring that Whaley has since legally changed her name and that relevant court records are sealed for her safety.

Legal experts quickly dismantled Liberati’s claim. Jay Kaplan, an LGBTQ+ rights attorney with the ACLU of Michigan, explained that Whaley’s use of her chosen name for over five years qualifies as a “common law” name change under Michigan law. This exception means she is legally allowed to run using her current name without listing her deadname, directly contradicting Liberati’s accusations.

Whaley herself remains defiant. “It’s not going to hold because we have all the proof and documents, and I’ve got 100 witnesses who know me by Joanna,” she told the Michigan Advance. Her resolve is rooted in more than just a name dispute — she entered the race after her opponent’s brother, retiring state representative Tullio Liberati, voted to ban trans girls from sports teams, a move she vehemently opposes.

The Michigan Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus condemned Frank Liberati’s complaint as a “meritless, transphobic attempt” to remove Whaley from the ballot. “Weaponizing transphobia as an electoral tactic has no place whatsoever in Michigan politics, and certainly not in a Democratic Party primary,” the caucus stated bluntly.

This ugly episode exposes a broader pattern of Democratic candidates turning their backs on trans people when it counts most. Whaley is one of just two trans women running in Michigan’s 2026 Democratic primaries, a fact that should be celebrated, not weaponized against.

Instead of engaging with the real issues — single-payer healthcare, utility costs, and economic justice — Liberati chose to attack Whaley’s identity. Whaley’s response? “My hope for future trans candidates is that we’ve gotten bloody enough to bust the hole in the wall that they can just walk through it. I’m willing to take those punches to make it easier for folks in the future.”

Frank Liberati has yet to respond to requests for comment, but the message from Michigan’s LGBTQ+ community and allies is clear: Transphobia disguised as legal technicality will not silence candidates fighting for equality and justice.