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LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About
The Rainbow Lining of the 2024 Elections
While the news from the top of the ticket was not what we wanted to see, there were lots of silver – or should we say rainbow? – linings to be found on Election Night 2024 [[link removed]] . We are also still tracking races, with over 100 LGBTQ+ candidates waiting for results [[link removed]] . Follow along with us here [[link removed]] .
At the federal level, Julie Johnson [[link removed]] , Sarah McBride and Emily Randall [[link removed]] all clinched historic wins for the U.S. House. Julie is officially the first out LGBTQ+ person elected to the U.S. Congress from the South [[link removed]] , while Emily is the first out LGBTQ+ Latina AND the first out person to represent Washington in the body [[link removed]] . And Sarah is now the first out trans person to serve in the body [[link removed]] – and she’s already outlined plans to stand against Trump’s anti-LGBTQ actions [[link removed]] . Excitingly, all nine LGBTQ+ incumbent House members also won reelection [[link removed]] !
Check out a video from Sarah, Emily, and Julie’s first day of freshman orientation here [[link removed]] !
And despite the wave of anti-trans bills and anti-trans attacks, more than 35 trans and genderqueer candidates ran across the U.S [[link removed]] . And many of them made history, winning their campaigns!! Check out a special segment from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – highlighting Victory Fund endorsed candidate Emma Curtis – here [[link removed]] . And in New Hampshire, the trans and non-binary elected have formed the 2025 Trans Caucus [[link removed]] .
In one particularly satisfying win, among the many, Spotlight candidate Ysabel Jurado claimed victory against Los Angeles’s own Trump impersonator, Kevin de León [[link removed]] . Together with colleagues, Kevin told homophobic and racist jokes, then refused to resign. But Ysabel presented her plan for Los Angeles and secured her spot on the City Council [[link removed]] !
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Ballot Measures: Marriage Equality and Abortion Win
Several states – led by LGBTQ+ elected officials in the state legislatures – succeeded in placing marriage equality and abortion on the ballot [[link removed]] , overturning and removing existing language [[link removed]] . Both issues proved to be winning topics! Voters in California, Colorado, and Hawaii removed anti-marriage equality language [[link removed]] , while New York passed a measure protecting both abortion and equal protections [[link removed]] .
One note: while abortion rights fell short in Florida, it wasn’t for lack of enthusiasm [[link removed]] . Governor Ron DeSantis led the charge to make it harder to pass ballot initiatives earlier this year [[link removed]] . This severely limits abortion access not only in the state, but across the South, forcing families to travel extensively for care [[link removed]] .
Tammy Baldwin’s Opponent Refuses to Concede
Though U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has clearly and cleanly won her election [[link removed]] , her billionaire opponent is refusing to lose quietly [[link removed]] , refusing to concede and questioning election results [[link removed]] . Meanwhile, Wisconsin election officials are dismissing his claims, thankfully. [[link removed]]
While Eric Hovde continues to spread dangerous lies about his election and the democratic process, Tammy is back at work on Capitol Hill [[link removed]] .
Blame Game: Leave LGBTQ+ People Out of It
After the most anti-LGBTQ election cycle in decades [[link removed]] , some are trying to blame LGBTQ+ rights for the presidential defeat. Never mind the winning ballot measures or that LGBTQ+ voters are once again an extremely consequential voting bloc [[link removed]] .
Some Democrats – including U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton and Tom Suozzi [[link removed]] – have changed their tune on trans rights, attempting to use trans athletes as a punching bag after the election [[link removed]] . Still more allies are resoundingly dismissing the Congressmen’s anti-trans comments [[link removed]] , ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community has allies at all levels of government – including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear [[link removed]] .
Recently reelected LGBTQ+ elected officials Julian Cyr and Sam Montaño also responded to Moulton’s comments with an op-ed in The Boston Globe [[link removed]] . Vice President of Political Programs Sean Meloy and LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Campaign Board Co-Chair signed a letter with other notable leaders condemning their remarks [[link removed]] .
As some point fingers of blame, the LGBTQ+ community prepares itself for the impact of a second Trump Administration [[link removed]] and the execution of Project 2025 [[link removed]] . If Trump’s current anti-LGBTQ and anti-trans cabinet picks are any indication of what’s to come, we must prepare for equality to be under siege [[link removed]] .
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LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is the political arm of the LGBTQ+ community. Since our founding in 1991, we’ve supported and elected LGBTQ+ candidates like U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, Governors Maura Healey, Tina Kotek and Jared Polis and thousands of LGBTQ+ candidates around the country. We’re proud to be the only national organization endorsing pro-equality and pro-choice LGBTQ+ candidates in the United States. We’ve shattered rainbow ceilings in all 50 states and broken election records. Meet our latest endorsements here! [[link removed]] We’ve shattered rainbow ceilings in all 50 states and broken election records. You can power our work and the next Rainbow Wave with a donation today! [[link removed]]
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