LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

Breaking News from the U.S. House

Unsurprisingly, bigots continue to target trans kids – this time at the national level. The U.S. House just passed a nationwide trans sports ban yesterday. This comes after more than 20 states introduced legislation banning trans kids from playing sports over the last three years.

One thing is absolutely clear: these bigots simply won't stop until they've legislated trans kids and all LGBTQ+ people back into the closet. We can't let them win. We need folks like you to help us get more LGBTQ+ candidates elected from school boards to state legislatures.

Updates from Victory Fund’s Spotlight Candidates

We’re proud of Adele McClure, who is running for Virginia House of Delegates, District 2, who recently released a list of over 100 endorsements and announced that she’s reached impressive fundraising goals. With this announcement, she is now the clear front-running in the race, and whose historic win will make her the first Black person and first Asian person elected to the legislature from Arlington County! Click here to learn more about her campaign.

Gen-Zer Andy Garcia will be the youngest and first out LGBTQ+ person to serve on the Pasadena ISD School Board! Attending Pasadena public schools and being the son of educators, Andy truly knows what the school district needs to support their students and get kids ahead.

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Spotlight Candidate, Danica Roem, has been endorsed by EMILYs List for Virginia state Senate, District 13. Danica will be the first out trans state senator ever elected in the South!

We Won’t Be Silenced

In Arizona and Texas, communities are coming together to protest the surge of homophobic and transphobic bills that are continuing to be introduced. Elect legislators that will FIGHT for you and future generations. Without them, we’ll continue to see the rise in dangerous and bigoted legislation hurting our kids.

In Montana, state Representative Zooey Zephyr continues to stand up for trans rights in the state legislature even after being threatened with censure. Zooey, who earned a Spotlight endorsement from LGBTQ+ Victory Fund in 2022, made history as the first out trans person elected to the state legislature in Montana.

"If you are denying gender-affirming care and forcing a trans child to go through puberty, that is tantamount to torture, and this body should be ashamed. If you vote yes on this bill, I hope the next time you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands.”

Zooey, you make us proud – you're not alone in this. Check out more of her powerful speech here: https://twitter.com/ZoAndBehold/status/1648451338924335110

One of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s Very Own has been Endorsed by Latino Victory Fund!

Jonathan Dromgoole, who is running for Arlington County Board and will be the first out LGBTQ+ immigrant ever elected in Virginia, secured an endorsement from Latino Victory Fund this week. He is committed to ensuring that our home is a welcoming, inclusive and representative community for ALL.

"Today Was a Good day”

Some good news this week comes from Jackson County, Missouri, where the state legislature officially banned conversion therapy in the county. Jackson County is now the first county in Missouri to ban conversion therapy on minors, keeping LGBTQ+ kids safe.

Justice Horn, Chair of the Kansas City LGBTQ Commission and former Victory Fund endorsee, shared a post celebrating this victory. We were proud to stand with Justice when he faced homophobic attacks during his 2022 campaign.