LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

The 2024 International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference

The Victory Institute team wrapped up another fantastic International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference this month! More than 800 LGBTQ+ leaders, candidates, elected officials, allies, and advocates from around the country gathered together in Washington, DC – a historic number of registrants!

Highlights of the Conference included the Global Trailblazer Award, awarded to Peruvian Congresswoman Susel Paredes; the Tammy Baldwin Breakthrough Award, given to Kentucky State Senator-elect Keturah Herron; and the newest inductees to the LGBTQ+ Political Hall of Fame: Judge John Arrowood of North Carolina, Virginia State Senator Danica Roem, and Claudia López, former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was inducted into the LGBTQ+ Political Hall of Fame in August, rounding out the 2024 nominees.

You can watch all the award ceremonies and more highlights from the Conference here!

On the Road: Global Work Continues!

Two important announcements from our Global team: the Vote for Equality Campaign and the Win with Pride tool!

The Vote for Equality campaign’s goal is to ensure that all LGBTIQ+ individuals have equitable access to politics and can exert their influence consistently. In a context where representation has been limited, we focus on three key elements: Observe, Inform, and Act. Together, we ensure equality in the upcoming elections! Learn more here.

Meanwhile, Win with Pride is here to open doors for LGBTQI+ inclusion in politics worldwide! This game-changing guide empowers advocates, researchers, and organizations to assess LGBTQI+ inclusion in political parties and help shift dynamics, build supportive networks, and inspire future candidates. From overcoming barriers to pushing for real change, Win with Pride is a key resource for a more inclusive political landscape. Check out the toolkit here!

Quick Hits: The News in A Second

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is leading the charge to remove anti-trans language from the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill currently contains a provision that would ban gender-affirming care for military dependents.

U.S. Congresswoman Angie Craig securely won her reelection and is now the top-ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee!

State Representative Ryan Fecteau is back in the Maine House of Representatives – and he’s back in as Speaker as well! Congratulations, Speaker Fecteau!

Kansas State Representative Brandon Woodard has been elected Minority Leader of the House, the first out LGBTQ+ person to serve as leader of either party!

Iowa State Representative-elect Aime Wichtendahl made history on Election Night as the first out trans person elected to the state’s legislature. She spoke with the Daily Iowan about her campaign and plans for office.

Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr is no stranger to national headlines. Now her work is the subject of an upcoming documentary! Watch the full clip here.

Welcome to New Hampshire’s Trans Caucus! New Hampshire State Representatives Alissandra Murray, James Roesner and Alice Wade have formed the state’s latest caucus.

El Cerrito, California made history this week when two new LGBTQ+ people were sworn into the City Council! Councilmembers Rebecca Saltzman and William Ktsanes join Gabe Quinto and Carolyn Wysinger to ensure the Council is majority LGBTQ+.

Get Mad, Get Trained, Get Elected!

We have lots of free, online offerings coming up in 2025! Our FREE online virtual workshops – Time2Run – are now live! We will be hosting a special School Board edition in January along with several others throughout the year. More information about our virtual events here: https://victoryinstitute.org/trainings/virtual-events-webinars/

We are coming to a city near you! Join us for a LGBTQ+ Public Leadership Summit in 2025 – a great, FREE chance to convene with local leaders, advocates, and talk about LGBTQ+ representation. Join us in Pittsburgh, South Florida, Atlanta, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Denver.

Want to learn more about our trainings? Join us for an information session to discuss the application process, training curriculum, and why you need to attend. Virtual events here: https://victoryinstitute.org/trainings/virtual-events-webinars/

Applications open for 2025 Candidate & Campaign Trainings – we will be in Houston, TX, and Los Angeles, CA (with special add-on for trans candidates in partnership with Advocates for Trans Equality). Applications, dates and more information can be found here: https://victoryinstitute.org/trainings/candidate-campaign-trainings/