Paula Mirare Overby

Paula Overby is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis with a BA in psychology and a second major in computer science. After graduation, she worked in Germany followed by several years providing community-based mental health services, before entering her primary career as a systems quality analyst. Despite her successful career as a systems analyst, Paula's principle focus remained with raising her three children. She envisions the future through the eyes of her children, two...See more

Paula Overby is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis with a BA in psychology and a second major in computer science. After graduation, she worked in Germany followed by several years providing community-based mental health services, before entering her primary career as a systems quality analyst. Despite her successful career as a systems analyst, Paula's principle focus remained with raising her three children. She envisions the future through the eyes of her children, two daughters, and a son. She has experience in business management and briefly assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer for a laboratory technology startup. Paula is a community activist supporting the implementation of community programs for dealing with domestic violence and Intimate Partner Abuse. She is a trained advocate for victims of sexual violence. Paula has also served as a facilitator for groups of male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and is a qualified presenter for the AMONG MEN project, providing sexuality and relationship training for gay men. Paula served as an HIV community educator and also served on the board of directors for the Twin Cities Men's center. As a transgender woman, Paula has also been active in the support of the transgender community. The Transgender Myth is her first major publication on the issue of gender and transgender identity. Beginning in 2012, Paula served on three of the state standing committees for the Minnesota democratic party where she focused intently on outreach and inclusion for underrepresented groups. She was elected to the position of state director in 2013 by the state central committee. Paula sought the democratic endorsement for US House of Representatives in Minnesota's second district in 2014. That same year she continued the challenge, by accepting the endorsement of the Independence Party of Minnesota. In 2014, she was the first openly transgender woman to run for the US House of representatives. She ran again in 2016, increasing her percentage of the vote from 5% to 8%. Paula is a political organizer for the Minnesota minor parties coalition and the National movement for an independent people's party. She is currently running for US Senate in the state of Minnesota for the 2018 election in support of that movement. See less