John,

This International Transgender Day of Visibility, we don't want to entirely focus on the wave of bigoted bills. We wanted to share this headline to highlight the good news: the number of trans and non-binary people running for office just keeps growing, despite bigots' attempts to vilify and humiliate trans people. And when they're elected, they fight back - for all of us. Pitch in today to train and support more trans people running for public office!

In 2023, Danica Roem, a Victory Institute Candidate & Campaign Training alum, shattered a lavender ceiling as the first out trans person elected to a state senate in the South. And her victory showed others they could win - so they did! Right now, at least 97 out trans, non-binary, genderqueer, gender non-conforming or two spirit people currently serve in the United States (learn more about them here!).

But that isn't nearly enough. Trans lawmakers like Danica, Minnesota state Representatives SJ Howell and Zooey Zephyr, Minnesota state Representative Leigh Finke, Oklahoma state Representative Mauree Turner, New Hampshire state Representative James Roesener and so many more prove trans voices belong in public office. They speak out against anti-trans bills and ensure pro-equality legislation passes. They force the transphobes in the legislatures to look them in the eye and deny their humanity. They're doing courageous work - and we must send them reinforcements.

Victory Institute is working to expand and diversify our programming, like our Victory Empowerment Fellowship and our Candidate & Campaign Trainings, to ensure trans people have an equal seat at the tables of power. We have to fight for them like they're fighting for us. Pitch in today to train and support more amazing trans leaders!

Thanks for standing with us,

LGBTQ+ Victory Institute