John,

I have bittersweet news to share with you today: at the end of 2024, I will leave LGBTQ+ Victory Institute.

This is not goodbye. I have many months of work ahead in an election year that is critical for our community and our democracy. But this is a thank you. A thank you for all your support during my tenure as President & CEO. And a thank you in advance for your continued engagement with Victory Institute and our team.

Thirty years ago, I began my journey with LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, first as a supporter, but then as a campaign trainee, a nine-time endorsed candidate, a beneficiary of its elected officials network and a David Bohnett Leaders Fellow. Yet it is the last six years, serving as President & CEO, that I began to fully appreciate the role Victory Institute plays in moving equality forward in the U.S. and around the globe.

My unwavering faith in the power of LGBTQ+ representation to change hearts and minds and transform politics continues unabated – as does my appreciation for the staff and board members. I am immensely proud of Victory Institute’s growth and accomplishments during my tenure and look forward to the organization’s continued success.

Since joining Victory in December 2017, we have nearly doubled our annual budget and staff capacity and grew our candidate services program fourfold. The number of elected officials we serve increased from 450 to over 1,270. We launched our Women Out to Win fellowship, relaunched our Political Appointments Program and drastically expanded the number of countries we work in around the globe. I am confident the new President & CEO will build on this legacy – and we have so much to be proud of.

Thank you again for all you have done to support Victory Institute over the years. And a thank you in advance for your continued engagement with Victory and our team.

Onward,

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