THE POWER OF LGBTQ ELECTED OFFICIALS

Welcome to OutPower, a monthly update on the impact of LGBTQ leaders from the U.S. and around the world. You'll also get an update on all of Victory Institute's programs, conferences, trainings and more. We like to keep busy.

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(PRO-EQUALITY) PARTY IN THE U.S.A.

Another positive step forward: Utah BANNED conversion therapy! See what Utah’s openly LGBTQ elected officials have to say about this historic event.

 

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is urging Senate Republicans to call John Bolton as a witness during Trump’s impeachment trial.

 

U.S. Representative Sharice Davids was understandably displeased when Boeing’s CEO received a sizable payout while Kansas workers were laid off.

 

Tech companies have made a massive impact on our lives, changing everything from everyday interactions to global marketplaces. U.S. Representative David Cicilline is guiding the bipartisan coalition to explore that impact.

 

U.S. Representative Angie Craig is standing with students and teachers to defend nutrition standards and advocate for children who need free and reduced-cost lunches.

 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is hosting an anti-poverty summit aimed at creating “transformational change” in Chicago’s South and West side neighborhoods.

 

Newly elected Doraville Mayor Joseph Geierman swore to reinvigorate his Georgia town and increase civic engagement during his term.

 

Speaking of mayors making an impact, Mayor Jane Castor was named one of The Hill’s “Six Mayors Making a Difference” for her work to increase STEM education in Tampa’s schools.  

 

Even more news about mayors: we were delighted to host our openly LGBTQ mayors during the U.S. Conference of Mayors! Learn more here.

 

Congratulations, Madame Speaker! Laurie Jinkins was sworn-in as Washington’s first openly LGBTQ House Speaker earlier this month.

 

Arizona state Representative Daniel Hernandez Jr. defeated a piece of legislation that was described as an “ongoing assault on LGBTQ children.”

 

Representative Hernandez also joined Victory Institute and Texas state Representative Jessica Gonzalez for the Creating Change Conference to motivate LGBTQ youth to get involved in politics.

 

California state Senator Scott Wiener is working to end STIs, including HIV-AIDS, in California.

 

After urging from Florida state Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith, Fifth Third Bank is pulling support for a school voucher program that funds anti-LGBTQ schools.

Get excited, everyone! Registration for the 2020 International LGBTQ Leaders Conference, December 2 – 5, is OFFICIALLY open! Save $140 by registering before May 31st. Grab your ticket today!

Leaders!

VICTORY AROUND THE WORLD

Victory Institute sends a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Bulelani Mzila! Bulelani, an LGBTQ Political Leadership Institute Alum, became the first head of South Africa’s African National Conference (ANC)’s new LGBTI desk in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KNZ).

 

Congratulations to Taliana Gómez, the first trans woman elected mayor of Santa Marta, Colombia! This is a huge step forward for Colombia, where violence against LGBTI people in the Caribbean region of Colombia is among the highest in the country. We were thrilled to host Taliana at our conference in Bogota last year. She and Claudia López both made LGBTQ history in 2019.

 

Guatemala’s Aldo Davila made history as the first openly gay member of Parliament and as the first member that is HIV-positive. Davila took a moment to reflect on what this means for LGBTI equality abroad.

 

Progress in Poland: Polish Member of European Parliament, Robert Biedron, was approved as the first openly LGBTQ presidential candidate in Poland. . Congratulations, Robert!

 

Diversidad Dominicana and LGBTQ Victory Institute are hosting the LGBTI Political Leadership School in the Dominican Republic in 2020! The trainings are held in Santo Domingo and will consist of three sessions of three or four days from March to July 2020. Register here to learn more!

 

LGBTQ Victory Institute is collaborating with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in developing the next generation of transatlantic leaders to respond to common global issues. The first ever meeting of the Network will bring seven promising leaders from Germany and the US together for a week of shared learning. While our colleagues at FES are still finalizing the details for the program, we want to plan ahead and secure the presence of at least one openly LGBTQ young leaders from the US. More details to come very soon. If you are interested, please, apply by February 2! https://victoryinstitute.org/transatlantic-young-progressives-network-application/

DON'T GET MAD, GET ELECTED

Interested in one of our 2020 programs? Applications for our Candidate and Campaign Trainings, Victory Congressional Internships and Victory Empowerment Fellowship are now live and accepting applications! 

 

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