Four Stories You Should Know About

1. Spotlight Candidates Explain Their Paths to Victory

On Tuesday, Victory Fund hosted Spotlight candidates from across the country for a virtual rally – sharing with our supporters how they plan to win on Election Day. Learn about our Spotlight candidates and how you can support them on our website!

Many of the candidates who spoke will make history on Election Day if they win. Vincent Solomeno will be the first out LBGTQ member of the New Jersey state Senate. Liliana Bakhtiari will be the first out queer Muslim elected in Georgia history when she wins her race for the Atlanta City Council. Christopher Coburn will be the first out queer Black candidate elected in Montana history when he wins his race to the Bozeman (MT) City Commission. Crystal Hudson will be one of the first out queer Black woman elected to the New York City Council. Mariah Moore will be the first out transgender candidate elected to public office in Louisiana when she wins her race for New Orleans City Council. And Tyler Titus will be the first out trans county executive elected in U.S. history when they win their race for Erie (PA) County Executive!

Watch the full rally and hear from the candidates themselves here!

2. Tina Kotek Receives Endorsements in Race for Oregon Governor

Victory Fund, LPAC, and Basics Rights Oregon announced a joint endorsement for Tina Kotek in her race for Oregon Governor. The current Speaker of the Oregon House announced her run last month and has a list of impressive legislative accomplishments to accompany her campaign.

Tina was the first out speaker of a state house in U.S. history and her campaign for governor is sure to be filled with additional historic firsts. If elected, Tina would be the first out lesbian elected governor in the U.S.!

President & CEO of Victory Fund Mayor Annise Parker said the following about Tina's run:

“A victory for Tina would shatter a lavender ceiling and be a milestone moment in LGBTQ political history, yet she is running not to make history, but because there are few people as prepared and qualified to serve as Oregon’s governor. Under Tina’s leadership, Oregon has led in passing legislation to improve roads and education, raise the minimum wage and ensure all residents are treated fairly and equally. As governor, Tina will make Oregon a role model for the nation.”

Read the full release here.

Current Oregon Governor Kate Brown is unable to run again due to term limits. Governor Brown has credited LGBTQ Victory Fund with boosting her many historic campaigns, including becoming the first out LGBTQ governor elected in U.S. history and serving as America’s only out bisexual governor. We’re ready and excited for Tina to shatter the next lavender ceiling!

3. Celebrating LGBTQ History Month With 175+ Political Milestones

We are excited to celebrate LGBTQ History Month by expanding to LGBTQ Victory Institute’s Pride and Progress timeline.  Dozens of new entries were added to this comprehensive overview which chronicles LGBTQ political history.

New entries include the history of the “Lavender Menace”, the founding of the Daughters of Bilitis and the launch of STAR House by Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.

The timeline also features new historic firsts, including Kim CoCo Iwamoto’s election as the first out trans state elected official, Christine Quinn’s elevation to Speaker of the New York City Council, and Raffi Freedman Gurspan’s appointment as the first out trans White House staffer.

4. Happy Birthday, Danica Roem!

Danica Roem, incumbent candidate for Virginia House District 13, turned 37 this week! Roem broke barriers in 2017 when she was elected the first out and seated trans state legislator in the U.S. In a tweet on Thursday, Roem encouraged well-wishers to get vaccinated, vote early, and donate to her November 2nd reelection campaign.

CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT

TWEET OF THE WEEK

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Nashville Reception Toast

Nashville, we’re back on the road and ready to celebrate LGBTQ political power in Music City! Join us to honor the historic advances made in 2020, Nashville’s first LGBTQ Caucus on the Davidson County Metropolitan Council and give a toast to ensuring more out leaders are elected in 2021 and beyond! Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 7, 2021, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm CT and register here.

San Diego Brunch

We've missed the San Diego sunshine, and the even-sunnier disposition of California's proud LGBTQ community. Join Victory Fund on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 11:00 am PT to celebrate San Diego's many historic firsts and lasting legacy of LGBTQ political power. Register here!

30th Anniversary Gala

For the last 30 years, Victory Fund has powered rainbow wave after rainbow wave, electing LGBTQ candidates up and down the ballot who have gone on to make huge changes in their community. Come celebrate LGBTQ political power and raise a glass to progress at Victory Fund’s 30th Anniversary Gala, Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET!

Paid for by LGBTQ Victory Fund. Your contribution may be used in connection with federal, state and local elections and be subject to federal, state and local laws. Contributions to LGBTQ Victory Fund are not tax deductible. Victory Fund members do not have governance participation rights.

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. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Governors Jared Polis and Kate Brown and all nine LGBTQ members of U.S. Congress. We've boosted out candidates running for state and local government, including California Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, Florida Senator Shevrin Jones, Virginia Delegate Danica Roem, Colorado state Representative Leslie Herod, Pennsylvania state Representative Brian Sims, Hawaii state Representative Adrian Tam, Oklahoma Representative Mauree Turner, and so many more (meet all of our current candidates here)! We’ve shattered rainbow ceilings in all 50 states and broken election year records. You can power our work and the next Rainbow Wave with a donation today!

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