LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

Foreign Grant Funding Alert:

This past weekend, under President Trump’s executive order, the State Department and USAID issued unprecedented suspensions on nearly all existing foreign assistance grants – including two grants to which LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is a grantee. The suspension of these grants continues despite President Trump rescinding his freeze on domestic funds. Both executive orders and government memos have ordered that all programs promoting “transgenderism” or “woke gender ideology” be terminated.

Unfortunately, Victory Institute’s critical work to promote democracy and LGBTQ+ representation around the globe is heavily reliant on this lost federal funding. Our efforts, which have provided hope and protection to LGBTQ+ leaders and elected officials who stand for equality, justice, and human rights are now facing an uncertain future. This happens as our global program is at the strongest point in its 12-year history – with more than 5,000 leaders in our network, dozens of partner organizations and two new LGBTQ+ political participation tools ready to be implemented. The demand for our work is endless.

If you can make a donation to support this essential work, please do so here. We deeply appreciate it.

More Anti-Trans Executive Orders and House Bills

In addition to the above order, the Trump Administration has been rolling out a series of executive orders targeting trans rights, gender-affirming healthcare, trans services members, trans students and their teachers.

Meanwhile, the U.S. House passed their own first anti-trans bill, specifically banning trans girls from sports. U.S. Congresswoman Becca Balint spoke out against the bill, as did U.S. Congressmen Mark Pocan and Mark Takano.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is also uploading the trans bathroom ban, a direct attack on U.S. Congresswoman Sarah McBride.

Meanwhile, bigots in state legislatures across the country are also launching their assaults on LGBTQ+ rights. The Idaho House passed legislation calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to undue their marriage equality ruling and reinstating marriage as between “one man and one woman.”

A bathroom ban was heard in Montana, and a state lawmaker there is trying to charge of the parents of trans kids with child abuse, while a New Jersey Democratic State Senator called for a trans sports ban in the state.

In Iowa, bigots are trying to remove trans people from the Civil Rights Act. State Representative Aime Wichtendahl, who just made history as the first out trans person elected to the Iowa state legislature, has been speaking out and mobilizing against the bill.

Here’s some good news…

But all is not lost. Despite the vitriol and increasingly tough to read headlines, LGBTQ+ elected officials and advocates are leading the way to preserve equality.

U.S. Congresswoman Sharice Davids penned a scathing op-ed, pointing out that the President’s executive orders do nothing to help Americans or lower costs.

Texas has been home to some horrible anti-LGBTQ bills, but in a sweet twist, State Representative Venton Jones used the opening day of session to propose to his partner. Congratulations to the happy couple!

In Virginia, State Delegates Rozia Henson and Mark Sickles are leading the charge to add marriage equality to the 2026 ballot – and they’ve passed the first hurdle in the House!

Thanks to the tireless work of State Representative Noah Arbit, Michigan has expanded its hate crimes legislation to protect sexual orientation and gender identity!

And around the country, hundreds of LGBTQ+ elected officials have been sworn into their new terms. In Georgia, State Senator Kim Jackson is already working to stop anti-trans legislation in its tracks.

Colorado State Representative Lindsay Gilchrist introduced her first bills, aiming to lower the cost of mental health care!

Get Mad, Get Trained, Get Elected!

APPLICATIONS FOR OUR 2025 CANDIDATE & CAMPAIGN TRAININGS ARE NOW OPEN: DUE MARCH 26, 2025! Apply to either or both programs using one centralized application. Click below to learn more!

LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s signature program, our 4-day bootcamp Candidate & Campaign Training, is meant for any LGBTQ+ person looking to run for public office. Get trained on how to now just run – but WIN!

Houston, TX: May 15-18, 2025
Los Angeles, CA: September 4-7, 2025: In partnership with Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE), trans and gender-expansive candidates are invited to join for a training enhancement on September 7-9, 2025 completely free-of-charge. More information on link above.

Want to learn more about our program offerings? Join an upcoming FREE virtual information session on January 30 or February 25.

FREE Public Leadership Summits
LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is coming to a city near you! Join us for an upcoming FREE LGBTQ+ Public Leadership Summit in Pittsburgh, South Florida, Atlanta, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Denver! The Summit is a FREE half-day training that engages participants in collaborative workshops and discussions on how to run for office or enter public service as an out LGBTQ+ individual, as well as network with local LGBTQ+ leaders and elected officials who are fighting to advance equality in the region.

Time2Run Webinars:
Not sure where to get started with running for office? Join us for an upcoming virtual webinar on February 20, March 12, or June 12! This FREE virtual webinar is a great first step to understanding LGBTQ+ campaigns and candidacy.

Applications for the 2025 David Bohnett LGBTQ+ Leaders Fellowship are now open!
The fellowship – geared toward LGBTQ+ elected and appointed officials with promising careers ahead of them – includes a three-week summer program in-person at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, MA. The intensive program hones skills and furthers the leadership potential of accomplished individuals from across the United States. More details on the fellowship are available here. The application deadline for the program is March 23, 2025.

The Bohnett Fellowship covers the majority of the program fee – based on financial need – and includes several events in Cambridge with David Bohnett Foundation and Victory Institute staff. Fellows will also join a distinguished alumni network of more than 170 Bohnett Fellow alumni.

Victory Empowerment Fellowship – Now accepting applications!
Applications are open until Monday, March 10th at 11:59pm PT!
The Victory Empowerment Fellowship for LGBTQ+ emerging LGBTQ+ leaders of color and/or transgender leaders who seek to expand their campaign skills and policy-making power is now accepting applications! Fellow’s will attend LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s Houston Candidate & Campaign Training and International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. Apply today! Not the right fit for you, but know somebody great? Nominate them here.