Editing Danni McClannahan

{{Infobox person
| name        = Danni McClannahan
| image       = noimage.svg
| image_size  =
| caption     = 
| birth_name  = Daniel Wayne McClannahan
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1970|10|28}}
| birth_place = Terre Huate, Indiana USA
| death_date  =
| death_place =
| residence   = 
| nationality = 
| spouse      = {{marriage|[[Leonard Lai]]|1995|2015|reason=widowed}} (his death)
| partner     = [[Lanise White]] (2016-present)
| children    = '''With Leonard Lai:'''<BR>[[Laurisa McClannahan]]<BR>[[Leonard McClannahan|Leonard "Lee" McClannahan, Jr.]] <BR>Lexi McClannahan<br>'''With Lanise White:''' 3
| website     = 
| footnotes   =
}}
'''Danielle "Danni" Catherine McClannanan''' (born '''Daniel Wayne McClannahan'''; October 28, 1970)<ref>??</ref> is a public speaker, author, and advocate for [[transgender]] and sexuality issues with a focus on [[Transgender|trans]] fertility and reproductive rights. McClannahan is also known for her marriage to [[Leonard Lai]].


== Early life ==
Born Daniel Wayne McClannahan, Danielle was born and raised in Terre Haute, Indiana, the first of two children. Her mother was from Indianapolis and of English descent. His father, Jackson "Jack" McClannahan, was born and raised in Terre Haute and was a longtime anchorman at the local NBC affiliate [[WVTH-FTV|WVTH]].<ref>??</ref> As a teenager, McClannahan was a male model and later became a competitive bodybuilder.

In 1993, McClannahan graduated from the Indiana State Univeristy with a bachelor's degree in Health Science (Pre-med) and later pursued an Executive MBA. 

== Personal life==

===Marriage to [[Leonard Lai]]===
McClannahan married [[Leonard Lai]] (then known as Stephanie Lai) in a legally valid opposite-sex marriage in Indiana on February 14, 1995.<ref name="about">??</ref> The couple remained in Terre Haute filed joint state and federal taxes and bought homes together as domestic partners. After Lai's transition from female to male, Leonard gave birth to all three of his children from 1996 to 1998. McClannahan had two daughters, Laurisa (b. 1996) and Lexi (b. 1998) and a son, Leonard "Lee" (b. 1997).

They remained married for 20 years until Lai's death on October 26, 2015.

===Long-term relationship with [[Lanise White]] and coming out as a transgender woman===
In November 2015, a few weeks after the death of her husband, Leonard, only [[Julia Passalt]] and [[Kellie Rock]] (two former colleagues of her father's at WVTH) began to notice that McClannahan's appearance was becoming more feminine (notbaly McClannahan's hair growing out). McClannahan was reported to have [[wikipedia:come out|come out]] as a [[wikipedia:trans woman|trans woman]] as well as having an affair with [[Lanise White]]; this was confirmed on December 18, 2015 after McClannahan was declared Santa Ava's best of Nice defeating Rick Cortopassi, in what would be her last appearance as Daniel and confirmed by White.

The deal, which was part of a long-term relationship agreement was driven by White's move from the pink team to the purple team on the American version of ''Vote for the Girls''; [[Leonard Lai]] had considered filing for divorce, but McClannahan reportedly baled at Lai's demands for alimony before Lai's October 26, 2015 death.<ref>??</ref> This led to White reaching a deal with McClannahan, which White was eager to land since the she [[wikipedia:bisexuality|is a bisexual]] woman. This marked the second time a Vote for the Girls purple team moderator has taken a significant other away from her spouse, the first being [[Ava Zinn]] when she [[Ava's Virginity Auction|sold her virginity]] to [[Kymberly Alvaraz]] a year earlier (from her husband Dan Alvaraz). <ref name="LLAI_DIVORCE"></ref>



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In an April 2015, ''[[20/20 (U.S. TV series)|20/20]]'' interview with [[Diane Sawyer]], Jenner [[came out]] as a [[trans woman]], saying she had dealt with [[gender dysphoria]] since her youth, and that, "for all intents and purposes, I'm a woman." Jenner [[cross-dressing|cross dressed]] for many years and took [[hormone replacement therapy (male-to-female)|hormone replacement therapy]] but stopped after her romance with Kris Kardashian in the early 1990s became more serious. Jenner recounts having permission to explore her gender identity on her own travels but not when they were coupled, and that not knowing the best way to talk about the many issues contributed to the deterioration of the 23-year-long marriage, which formally ended in 2015.

While she has undergone some cosmetic surgery, she has neither undergone [[Sex reassignment surgery (male-to-female)|sex reassignment surgery]] nor ruled it out; she stated that, for her, life as a woman is primarily a matter of mental state and lifestyle.<ref>[[Diane Sawyer]], (April 24, 2015). [http://abc.go.com/shows/2020/listing/2015-04/24-bruce-jenner-the-interview "Bruce Jenner – The Interview"]. ABC News.</ref> She said she has never been sexually attracted to men, but has instead always been sexually attracted to women, and that, keeping in mind the difficulty people have understanding the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity, she will identify as [[Asexuality|asexual]] for now.<ref name="Yahr">{{cite web|last=Yahr|first=Emily|title=Bruce Jenner's in-depth interview: 'For all intents and purposes, I am a woman'|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2015/04/24/bruce-jenner-for-all-intents-and-purposes-i-am-a-woman/|work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 24, 2015|accessdate=April 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/bruce-jenner-comes-out-transgender-woman-n348181 | title=Bruce Jenner Comes Out as Transgender Woman: How Family, Celebrities Reacted | publisher=ABC News| date=April 24, 2015 | accessdate=April 25, 2015}}</ref>

On March 8, 2012, Beatie filed a Petition for Legal Separation (FC 2012-051183) in Maricopa County, Arizona.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2012/11/pregnant-man-thomas-beatie-opens-struggle-more-children-anderson-cooper/ |title=‘Pregnant Man’ Thomas Beatie Opens Up About His Struggle To Have More Children |publisher=radaronline.com  |date=2012-11-14 |accessdate=2013-05-30}}</ref> Shortly after, Nancy converted the motion to a divorce. News of the break-up with his wife was leaked to tabloids during an April taping of the talk show ''[[The Doctors (2008 TV series)|The Doctors]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20588798,00.html |title=Pregnant Man Thomas Beatie and Wife Separate |publisher=people.com |date=2012-04-20 |accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2132381/The-Pregnant-Man-splits-wife-just-finalises-female-male-gender-surgery.html |title=The Pregnant Man splits from his wife just as he finalizes his female to male gender surgery |publisher=dailymail.co.uk |date=2012-04-20 |accessdate=2013-05-28 |location=London}}</ref> Nancy was restricted to two-hour supervised visits with the children three times per week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/26/pregnant-man-thomas-beatie-divorce-abuse-punch-crotch-nancy/ |title=Pregnant Man: My Abusive Wife Punched Me... IN THE CROTCH |publisher=tmz.com  |date=2013-04-26 |accessdate=2013-05-30}}</ref> On May 16, 2012, Thomas was awarded temporary sole custody of his three children and ordered to pay alimony to Nancy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/5/prweb9539522.htm |title=Arizona Court Recognizes Transgender Marriage: World’s First Married Pregnant Man Is Awarded Sole Legal Child Custody |publisher=prweb.com  |date=2012-05-24 |accessdate=2013-05-30}}</ref><ref name="alimony">{{cite web|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9833344.htm |title=Pregnant Man Thomas Beatie's Divorce Judge Orders Expert Testimony on Marriage Legality |publisher=prweb.com |date=2012-08-24 |accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref>

The divorce proceedings were moving along as expected, until June 26, 2012, when Arizona Superior Court Judge Douglas Gerlach issued a [[Nunc pro tunc|Nunc Pro Tunc]] Order questioning whether the Court had jurisdiction over the matter. The Beatie case is the first of its kind on record, where a documented legal male gave birth within a traditional marriage to a woman, and the first time a court has challenged a marriage based upon a husband giving birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azfamily.com/news/Pregnant-man-in-divorce-court-for-precedent-setting-case-189323871.html |title=Pregnant Man in divorce court for precedent-setting case |publisher=azfamily.com |date=2013-02-01 |accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2012/12/12/pregnant-mans-divorce-case/1765359/ |title='Pregnant Man's' divorce case leaves judge in doubt |publisher=usatoday.com |date=2012-12-12 |accessdate=2013-05-28 |first=Michael |last=Kiefer}}</ref> Judge Gerlach stated, "the Court has located no authority that defines a man (or male) in terms that contemplate that person’s ability to give birth to children. Thus, this question: are we dealing here with a same-sex marriage?" Like Hawaii at the time, Arizona does not issue or validate same-sex marriage, so if Beatie were found to be female according to Arizona statute, the ten-year Beatie marriage would not be recognized in that state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salisburypost.com/article/20130102/SP01/130109944/ |title=Questions over sex change snag Arizona divorce case |publisher=salisburypost.com  |date=2013-01-02 |accessdate=2013-05-30}}</ref>

Beatie's attorneys at the Cantor Law Group filed a memorandum showing that under Arizona State Statute, a transgender man's legal definition is set by certain medical operations, treatments, and finally a certified doctor's approval. "Since Arizona and Hawaii have virtually the same Sex Change Statute, in this case we will prove that under the law Thomas was a man at the time of his wedding. Sterilization is not a requirement of either State’s Statute. Under both Arizona’s and Hawaii’s law Thomas was a man at the time of his marriage, and therefore his three children born during the marriage are legitimate," stated attorney, David Michael Cantor. On August 15, 2012, Judge Gerlach ordered an [[Preliminary hearing|Evidentiary Hearing]] and [[Oral Argument]] on December 7, 2012.<ref name="alimony">{{cite web|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9833344.htm |title=Pregnant Man Thomas Beatie's Divorce Judge Orders Expert Testimony on Marriage Legality |publisher=prweb.com |date=2012-08-24 |accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref> The [[Transgender Law Center]] filed a [[Amicus curiae|friend-of-the-court brief]] for the December trial in support of the Beaties' marriage and believes that the case could be significant regarding marriage, divorce, and reproductive rights for transgender people in the state of Arizona and around the country.<ref name="legalmatch">{{cite web|url=http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/tag/thomas-beatie/ |title=A Pregnant Man’s Divorce May Establish the Future of Family Law |publisher=legalmatch.com |date=2012-08-27 |accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/3038 |title=Thomas Beatie Marriage Case |publisher=transgenderlawcenter.org |date=2013-03-29 |accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref> Expert testimony was provided by Beatie's sex-reassignment surgeon, Dr. Michael Brownstein M.D., in which the doctor implied that gender is more psychological than [[Chromosome|chromosomal]]. He also attested that the chest reconstruction procedure Beatie had undergone qualified as a sex-change surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/20121211pregnant-man-beatie-legal-limbo.html?nclick_check=1 |title=‘Pregnant man’ Thomas Beatie in legal limbo |publisher=azcentral.com |date=2012-12-13 |accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref>

On January 31, 2013, a trial was heard to determine custody, child support, and division of property and debts, even though Arizona is not a common-law state.<ref name="reuters">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/pregnant-man-thomas-beatie-appeals-no-divorce-ruling |title='Pregnant man', Thomas Beatie appeals no-divorce ruling |publisher=abc15.com |date=2013-04-02 |accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://marriage.laws.com/common-law-marriage-arizona |title=Common Law Marriage Arizona |publisher=laws.com  |accessdate=2013-05-30}}</ref> Despite the marriage's being put into question, the courts proceeded with custody arrangements for the children because both Beatie and Nancy legally adopted each of their three children in Oregon, in the Oregon court orders, Thomas was also listed as "father" and Nancy was listed as "mother" on each birth certificate, and each spouse had equal parental rights to custody.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/03/07/astonishing-pictures-emerge-of-man-giving-birth-for-the-third-time-thomas-beatie/ |title=Astonishing pictures emerge of MAN giving birth for the THIRD time |publisher=parentdish.co.uk |date=2012-03-07 |accessdate=2013-05-30}}</ref>

On March 28, 2013, the court ruled that it had a lack of [[subject-matter jurisdiction]] to grant the Beaties a divorce and that Arizona did not have to comply with accepting out-of-state birth or marriage certificates. Despite medical testimony stating otherwise, Judge Gerlach did not consider gender identity, hormone treatment, and chest reconstruction as a valid sex-change surgery, as grounds for successful gender transition. "If adopted, (it) would lead to circumstances in which a person's sex can become a matter of whim and not a matter of any reasonable, objective standard or policy, which is precisely the kind of absurd result the law abhors." Beatie's attorney said the judgement was riddled with errors and that he is confident the judge's order will be overturned.<ref name="reuters">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/pregnant-man-thomas-beatie-appeals-no-divorce-ruling |title='Pregnant man', Thomas Beatie appeals no-divorce ruling |publisher=abc15.com |date=2013-04-02 |accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/04/01/56254.htm |title=Arizona 'Pregnant Man' Can't Get Divorced in Arizona |publisher=courthousenews.com |date=2013-04-01 |accessdate=2013-05-28}}</ref> The court also ruled to give Nancy joint legal decision-making, physical custody and equal parenting time, ordering Beatie to pay her nearly $240 month in child support. Due to the marriage's not being seen as valid in Arizona, alimony was not further enforced, though the division of property was.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nathanlawoffices.com/news/-pregnant-man--to-appeal-after-judge-denies-divorce-20130417.cfm |title="Pregnant Man" to Appeal after Judge Denies Divorce |publisher=nathanlawoffices.com  |date=2012-04-17 |accessdate=2013-05-30}}</ref>

However, in August 2014, an Arizona Appeals Court declared that the marriage of the Beaties was valid and therefore they can get divorced, stating that Beatie should not have had to be sterilized in order to be legally recognized as a man in Arizona or Hawaii.<ref>http://www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2014/08/14/two-trans-men-come-away-major-court-victories</ref>
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On March 15, 2016, news of the relationship with White and McClannahan became public during a taping of ''Vote for the Girls'', Lanise and Danni were expecting a baby. The child will be McClannahan's fourth, who has three children from her previous marriage with Leonard Lai but the third for White.  White confirmed that she is three weeks pregnant and McClannahan, as a woman, is the biological father of White's child&ndash;unusual for a woman in her 50's as many go through menopause. On September 10, 2016 [[wikipedia:Pregnancy over 50|at 53]] years one month and two days, White gave birth to twin boys, Dalton Laith and Nyle Adam White, and a daughter, Madison Hannah White, jokingly she was the only one on the [[wikipedia:maternity ward|maternity ward]] who was also a member of [[wikipedia:AARP|AARP]].<ref>??</ref>


McClannahan now lives in Anderson, Indiana, with her girlfriend, Lanise White.


==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

== External links ==
{{Danni McClannahan}}
{{Lanise White}}
{{Leonard Lai}}
{{Vote for the Girls USA}}

{{Persondata
| NAME              = McClannanan, Danni
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = 
| DATE OF BIRTH     = October 28, 1970
| PLACE OF BIRTH    = Terre Haute, Indiana, USA
| DATE OF DEATH     =
| PLACE OF DEATH    =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McClannahan, Danni}}
[[Category:Transgender and transsexual women]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:LGBT rights activists from the United States]]