New Zealand's Georgina Beyer, world's first openly transgender MP, dies

FILE PHOTO: Georgina Beyer, the world's first transsexual mayor and a Labour member of parliament in New Zealand, speaks during a conference in New Delhi September 26, 2006. REUTERS/Vijay Mathur

SYDNEY (Reuters) - New Zealander Georgina Beyer, the world's first openly transgender member of parliament and tireless advocate for LGBTQ rights, has died at the age of 65.

She had long battled kidney disease but statements about her death did not mention the cause.