John,

I wanted to share an update from the 2023 International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference with you. When I first started attending this conference more than 35 years ago, there were less than 50 people. This year, more than 650 LGBTQ+ leaders were in attendance!

That’s real progress. But why does that progress matter?

It matters because we are on the frontlines fighting for our community – pushing back against LGBTQ+ legislation and advancing pro-equality bills. It matters because we are influencing policies in government agencies. We are advising powerful leaders.

But perhaps as important – maybe most important – is we are a community of LGBTQ+ people committed to defending and advancing democracy to ensure it works equitably for all.

Victory Institute is one of the only global organizations doing this essential work. And we must keep pushing forward. Donate here to ensure we can continue this essential fight.

Here in the United States and around the world, people are losing faith in democracy. We are seeing opponents of democracy scapegoat the communities most marginalized and blame them as the source of all social ills. Immigrants, indigenous communities, people of color, and yes, LGBTQ+ people.

They do this because they believe inclusion is a zero-sum game. That gains for those most marginalized take away something from those who have always held power. It is why the anti-LGBTQ movement and the anti-democracy movements are so intertwined – in fact, they are inseparable.

Now, democracy is certainly not perfect. It probably never will be. But we know that when governments are reflective of the people they serve, they do better for those people. For all people.

It is why protecting and advancing democracy is fundamentally an LGBTQ+ rights issue. It is why those most active in undermining democracy also dehumanize our community and aim to take away rights – from Donald Trump to Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro to incoming Argentinian president Javier Milei.

Our opponents know that – and will use any tactic to undermine it.

Earlier this year in statehouses around the United States, young elected representatives were being censured and even removed from their seats by lawmaker colleagues who despised their efforts at inclusion. Among those targeted were two brave lawmakers with us today: Oklahoma state Representative Mauree Turner and Montana state Representative Zooey Zephyr.

Both of these leaders were singled out and censured not because of their opposition to anti-trans bills, but because they are trans themselves. We are proud to call Rep. Turner one of our Victory Empowerment Fellowship alumni and to call Rep. Zephyr an alum of our Women Out to Win program.

Programs like these – designed to protect, boost and encourage out leaders – are sorely needed to advance democracy. To ensure our voices have an equal seat at the table. And they are powered by donations from supporters like you. Please, pitch in today to ensure Victory Institute has the resources to keep fighting.

These are the types of anti-democratic attempts we face now – even after overcoming the enormous obstacles to become out public servants.

Fortunately, these efforts backfired. In Brazil, whose LGBTQ+ community fought the anti-equality and anti-democratic efforts of Jair Bolsonaro for four long years, voters elected a historic number of LGBTQ+ candidates, including the first out trans people elected to the Brazilian Congress – Erika Hilton and Duda Salabert. In the United States, the attacks raised the profiles of these leaders and sparked outrage– and has inspired more trans and non-binary people to seek public service. They cannot be intimidated into silence.

That makes the mission of Victory Institute incredibly important at this pivotal moment. We must continue to build governments and societies representative of the people.

We do that because when there, we ensure we are considered in all legislation and policies that impact our population – not just bills on equality. Our presence restores belief in democracy and encourages others to participate, by running themselves, campaigning for candidates, and of course, through voting.

We change hearts and minds. We push forward pro-LGBTQ bills. We lead moral outrage when we’re targeted. And we join organizations and leaders around the world in building their political movements for equality.

And we cannot do this work without you. If you haven’t done so yet, now is the time to make a donation. Help us expand – and defend - democracy for all by making a generous donation here.

Ultimately, Victory Institute, and supporters like yourself, help LGBTQ+ people believe that our democracy and political landscape supports them, because they see themselves as part of it. We help democracy flourish, when so many aim to tear it down. Our work is to ensure democracies work for all.

We make democracy stronger. And a representative democracy just does better by its people. Period.

Victory Institute, and all of us in this room, are with you and need you.

Thank you for your support,

Mayor Annise Parker
Pronouns: she/her
President & CEO, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute