John,

I'm so excited to share that LGBTQ+ Victory Institute and Loyola Marymount University released a new report brief on the experiences of LGBTQ+ women candidates on the campaign trail. You can read the full report brief -- The Experiences of LGBTQ+ Women Candidates here. Or, you can read an exclusive report in LGBTQ Nation.

This exciting survey asked LGBTQ+ candidates to describe their motivations for running, the challenges they faced and how their identities affected their campaigns. Read the full report here!

Results include:

• Among LGBTQ+ women, 15% faced prejudice because of their gender identity, compared to 2.3% of gay and bisexual men;
• More than one in four LGBTQ+ women (27.2%) were discouraged to run because of their gender or gender identity;
• LGBTQ+ women worried about harassment or attacks before running in higher proportions (83.7%) than gay and bisexual men (77.4%.);
• LGBTQ+ women were more likely than men to be attacked for their personal appearance on the campaign trail; and
• LGBTQ+ women reported difficulty being taken seriously at higher rates than men.

Whether they’re running to fight bigotry or simply to serve their community, LGBTQ+ women candidates are the best antidote against the homophobia, transphobia and racism that’s increasingly present in the public square. By drawing on their authentic lived experiences, they're brining a new perspective to the table - and blazing a trail for future generations of LGBTQ+ leaders.

Voters are increasingly demanding a government more reflective of America, and LGBTQ+ leaders are stepping up to meet the challenge. If you can pitch in to support this work and our LGBTQ+ elected officials, we appreciate it!

Thanks for reading,

Elliot Imse
Pronouns: he|him|his
Executive Director, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute