LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

TOP STORY: Montana state Representative Zooey Zephyr Censured

After she spent days fighting against a bill that would ban gender-affirming care and her right to speak on the floor of the Montana state legislature, state Representative Zooey Zephyr was censured yesterday afternoon. Earlier in the week, protests had erupted in the chamber as the Montana House debated yet another draconian anti-trans bill. As the first out trans person elected to the state legislature and representative to 11,000 Montanans, censuring Zooey is wildly undemocratic.

Zooey’s censure comes after Oklahoma state Representative Mauree Turner’s censure in March. Rep. Turner was the first out non-binary person elected to a state legislature in U.S. history. They faced censure for sheltering a pro-trans protestor as Oklahoma debated their own slate of horrific bills and have received threats since the censure.

Prior and after the vote, LGBTQ+ elected officials and leaders from around the country showed their support for Zooey. U.S. Congresswoman Becca Balint of Vermont, offered her support to Zooey and called the move to censure “hateful, transphobic, and undemocratic.” All of the other LGBTQ+ members of the Montana House voted in solidarity with Zooey. The Minnesota state Senators - Scott Dibble, Erin Maye Quade and Clare Oumou Verbeten – rallied from the state house. Massachusetts state Senator Julian Cyr noted the vote was due to a “transphobic panic”. Florida state Senator Shevrin Jones and former Florida state Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith both made it clear they’re on Team Zooey. Other messages of support poured in from Cook County Board Commissioner Kevin Morrison, Rhode Island state Senator Tiara Mack, former state Representative Stephanie Byers of Kansas, Pennsylvania state Representative Malcolm Kenyatta and Illinois state Representative Kelly Cassidy. Thank you to all the elected officials who spoke out and continue to do so!

Victory Institute Executive Director Elliot Imse labeled the censure “destructive and absurd”. Read our full statement here.

Urgent Program Deadlines

Grab Your Spot Today!

Calling all LGBTQ+ leaders of color and/or trans leaders: we need diverse LGBTQ+ leaders who are ready to roll up their sleeves and defend equality. If you, or someone you know, is thinking about launching a campaign or passionate about politics, apply to be a Victory Empowerment Fellow today!

To develop a lasting and diverse pipeline of LGBTQ+ leadership, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute recruits emerging LGBTQ+ leaders of color and/or trans leaders and includes complimentary attendance at Victory Institute’s Candidate & Campaign Training and International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference. The fellowship connects participants to LGBTQ+ elected officials, mentors and ongoing opportunities for leadership development.

Applications are due May 8. Apply here.

Are you an LGBTQ+ woman who has participated in a campaign training, but still has concerns about running for office? Women Out to Win is an advanced campaign training for LGBTQ+ women that includes personalized coaching through mentorship and quarterly convenings to address challenges specific to women candidates, such as imposter syndrome, safety concerns and fundraising tactics. Participants will additionally receive consultation hours from LGBTQ+ Victory Institute and LGBTQ+ Victory Fund staff on campaigns, communications, and data management. Applications are due May 8 – click here to apply today!

Courageous leaders, like Zooey Zephyr, is one of many Women Out to Win alum. We know that when LGBTQ+ women like Zooey run, they win – and they keep fighting for what’s right.

More LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

The Good News: Pro-equality Legislation Gains Ground.

Colorado Protects Trans Kids

Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed a sweeping health care bill that protects trans rights, including gender-affirming care, and the right to choose. This bill effectively establishes Colorado as a safe-haven state for LGBTQ+ folks in the West, after neighboring states passed extreme bills restricting personal freedoms like the right to choose and gender-affirming care for trans youth.

“The goal of the legislation is to ensure people in surrounding states and beyond can go to Colorado to have an abortion, begin puberty blockers or receive gender-affirming surgery without fear of prosecution.”

While anti-trans bills are being pushed through legislative bodies across the country, Governor Polis continues to support efforts that solidify the right to choose in Colorado.

“The Colorado law comes as medication abortions are in limbo across the U.S. and mail-order prescriptions of a crucial abortion drug are virtually banned pending the outcome of a federal court case.”

Minnesota Established as Trans Refugee State

The Minnesota state legislature recently passed a law protecting the right to gender affirming care, effectively making Minnesota another trans safe-haven state in the Midwest. This comes after neighboring states, like Iowa and North Dakota, banned gender affirming care and created a dangerous situation for trans youth. Minnesota, along with California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, and New Mexico, are leading the way for a safer and healthier future for LGBTQ+ folks.

Previously, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently signed an executive order protecting the right to gender affirming care. Minnesota state Representative Leigh Finke, the first out trans person elected to the state legislature, was the guiding force behind both bills. Governor Walz is now expected to sign the bill making Minnesota a trans refugee state in the upcoming week.

PA Fairness Act to Come to a Vote 22 Years Later

22 years after the anti-discrimination bill was introduced, the Pennsylvania state legislature will bring the PA Fairness Act to a vote. The fight for equality was initially led by Rep. Dan Frankel over two decades ago. Victory Institute alums state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Rep. Jessica Benham co-sponsored legislation.

The two elected officials made powerful statements after the bill was moved forward. Click here to watch Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta’s statement and here to watch Rep. Jessica Benham’s statement.

Mental Health Care Matters

U.S. Congresswoman Becca Balint introduced her first bill in the U.S. Congress addressing mental health concerns for kids. Congresswoman Balint’s personal article in The Hill highlights the importance of ensuring that mental health care is accessible for young Americans. This bill will significantly support LGBTQ+ youth that have been struggling due to the increase of anti-LGBTQ+ bills across the county.

Read more of her op-ed here.

We LOVE U.S. Congressman Mark Pocan!

U.S. Congressman Pocan has and continues to fight for trans youth, pushing back against the bullying trans people are facing on the national level. After calling out politicians that feed into fear and bullying trans youth, Rep. Pocan highlights that this fear is used by bigoted politicians to gain attention.

The Kids Are Alright

Recently, Governor Ron DeSantis worked to expand Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law up to grade 12. This inhibits kids and educators from speaking about sexuality and gender identity on school grounds. Despite Governor DeSantis’ efforts to restrict personal freedoms, Florida students walked out to protest his prejudiced education policies. After planning and organizing across social media platforms, students walked out of school and hosted rallies to show that young folks in Florida aren’t going to quietly sit by and let bigotry spread.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

In February 2023, South Dakota banned gender-affirming care for youth under the age of eighteen. The onslaught of hateful legislation requires an urgent and comprehensive response, with increasing short and long-term LGBTQ+ political participation among the most impactful solutions. Increasing LGBTQ+ political participation and representation in elected government is essential to stopping anti-LGBTQ+ bills and moving equality forward for our community.

LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is coming to Sioux Falls on Saturday, May 20 for our free, one-day LGBTQ+ Leadership Summit. Working with local partners, Victory Institute will bring together LGBTQ+ leaders and community members interested in exploring avenues to grow LGBTQ+ political participation in their states, whether by running for office, volunteering on a campaign, or building LGBTQ+ representation in political parties and organizations.

Learn more and register today at: https://victoryinstitute.org/event/sioux-falls-lgbtq-leadership-summit/

Do you want to fight for change? Are you sick of watching bigots in the Florida legislature target the LGBTQ+ community? Join LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, Equality Florida, and SAVE for the 2023 Orlando Candidate & Campaign Training, July 13-16 . Our trainings are for any LGBTQ+ person interested in running for public office or working on a campaign, and provide comprehensive, non-partisan best practices to those who want to make a change in their community. Trainees learn the necessary skills and strategies by engaging in tough, realistic campaign simulations and working with peers to develop a plan to run for office and win. Click here to apply!

Registration is now open for our biannual LGBTI Political Leaders in the Americas Conference! Join us in Mexico City to connect with out LGBTI elected officials, advocates, public servants and allies with like-minded leaders to increase LGBTQ+ political power. This is your chance to strategize, connect with and hear from amazing out leaders from across the Americas and the Caribbean.

Expect amazing speakers, transformative workshops and more this year. Join us in Mexico City, Thursday, July 20, 2023 - Saturday, July 22, 2023! The Conference is free to all - register here!