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. We are also still tracking races, with over 100 LGBTQ+ candidates waiting for results. Follow along with us here.

At the federal level, Julie Johnson, Sarah McBride and Emily Randall 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, while Emily is the first out LGBTQ+ Latina AND the first out person to represent Washington in the body. And Sarah is now the first out trans person to serve in the body – and she’s already outlined plans to stand against Trump’s anti-LGBTQ actions. Excitingly, all nine LGBTQ+ incumbent House members also won reelection!

Check out a video from Sarah, Emily, and Julie’s first day of freshman orientation here!

And despite the wave of anti-trans bills and anti-trans attacks, more than 35 trans and genderqueer candidates ran across the U.S. 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. And in New Hampshire, the trans and non-binary elected have formed the 2025 Trans Caucus.

In one particularly satisfying win, among the many, Spotlight candidate Ysabel Jurado claimed victory against Los Angeles’s own Trump impersonator, Kevin de León. 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!

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, overturning and removing existing language. Both issues proved to be winning topics! Voters in California, Colorado, and Hawaii removed anti-marriage equality language, while New York passed a measure protecting both abortion and equal protections.

One note: while abortion rights fell short in Florida, it wasn’t for lack of enthusiasm. Governor Ron DeSantis led the charge to make it harder to pass ballot initiatives earlier this year. This severely limits abortion access not only in the state, but across the South, forcing families to travel extensively for care.

Tammy Baldwin’s Opponent Refuses to Concede

Though U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has clearly and cleanly won her election, her billionaire opponent is refusing to lose quietly, refusing to concede and questioning election results. Meanwhile, Wisconsin election officials are dismissing his claims, thankfully.

While Eric Hovde continues to spread dangerous lies about his election and the democratic process, Tammy is back at work on Capitol Hill.

Blame Game: Leave LGBTQ+ People Out of It

After the most anti-LGBTQ election cycle in decades, 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.

Some Democrats – including U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton and Tom Suozzi – have changed their tune on trans rights, attempting to use trans athletes as a punching bag after the election. Still more allies are resoundingly dismissing the Congressmen’s anti-trans comments, ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community has allies at all levels of government – including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

Recently reelected LGBTQ+ elected officials Julian Cyr and Sam Montaño also responded to Moulton’s comments with an op-ed in The Boston Globe. 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.

As some point fingers of blame, the LGBTQ+ community prepares itself for the impact of a second Trump Administration and the execution of Project 2025. 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.