Local activist Jennifer McCreath says she plans to be the first openly transgender person to run for federal election.

McCreath will run in the riding of Avalon for an independent party called Strength in Democracy.

"I want to make it clear that this is not a trans candidacy — it's a candidacy," she said.

"My goal is to get out to the ridings and get feedback from citizens, and take it to Ottawa without having interference from party leaders at the other level."

McCreath, who lives in St. John's and is originally from Nova Scotia, is a political activist and former public servant worker.

In 2013, she unsuccessfully ran for deputy mayor in the St. John's municipal election.

The Strength in Democracy party was founded in 2014 by two former Quebec MPs who left their parties to sit as independents.