Four Stories You Should Know About

1. Heather Mizeur Raises $1 million in Maryland

Victory Fund Game Changer candidate Heather Mizeur posted strong fundraising numbers in her campaign to unseat anti-LGBTQ Congressman Andrew Harris. This is a record high – no candidate in the district has ever raised $1 million this early in the election cycle. Of the $1 million raised so far, 80% came from Maryland-based donors, a clear sign the district is ready for new representation.

When elected, Heather will be the first out LGBTQ member of Congress from Maryland. As Heather noted in her campaign announcement video, her 25 years of public service has prepared her to run against and defeat an opponent who brought a gun to the Capital, voted against certifying the results of the 2020 election, and has been called one of the most anti-LGBTQ Congressman serving.

2. Gabriela Santiago-Romero Poised to Make LGBTQ History in Detroit

Victory Fund-endorsed candidate Gabriela Santiago-Romero is on the verge of making LGBTQ history in Detroit. When she wins in November, Gabriela will shatter a rainbow ceiling and become the first out LGBTQ councilwoman in the city’s history!

Gabriela,who was born in Mexico and raised in southwest Detroit, is running in District 6 which is one of Detroit’s most racially and ethnically diverse areas. She spoke with Pride Source about her platform, plans to improve public safety, history of advocacy for fair wages and workers and more. Read her full interview here and learn more about how she will break barriers in the Motor City!

3. Scenes from the Marches to Protect Healthcare Access for All

Americans rallied on Saturday in protest of attempts to restrict Roe v. Wade and rollback access to reproductive healthcare. Protests were held from California, to Texas, to Louisiana and D.C. -- spanning the width of the nation.

Many of our LGBTQ candidates showed their support and joined the marches.

Don’t mess with Texas: thousands of women protested at the Texas Capitol where the initial restrictive abortion bill was passed. Our pro-equality members of the Texas legislature took a break from stopping yet another attempt to ban trans kids from sports to join the protests.

Our candidate for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, Brian Sims, stood with reproductive rights. View the scenes from the Women’s March here. Brian will be one of the first out LGBTQ statewide elected officials in Pennsylvania.

New York Congressman Mondaire Jones showed his support for the marches in White Plains, New York. Mondaire made history in 2020 when he become one of the first Black out LGBTQ members of Congress.

4. A Moment in LGBTQ History...

It is LGBTQ History Month, so we are taking a moment to remember key milestones in LGBTQ political history throughout October. And here is one...

Before 1997, Georgia had never elected an out LGBTQ candidate to public office. That changed when Cathy Woolard shattered that rainbow ceiling, winning her election for Atlanta City Council. Cathy would go on to win citywide election to become City Council President. During her time in office, Cathy used her platform to advocate for the rights of Atlanta’s thriving LGBTQ community.

We honor Cathy and countless other LGBTQ political pioneers in Pride and Progress, the only comprehensive timeline dedicated to LGBTQ political history.

CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT

TWEET OF THE WEEK

This is how you GOTV! Spotlight Candidate Liliana Bakhtiari left this note on the door of a voter in Atlanta. Liliana will be the first Muslim out LGBTQ woman to be elected in Georgia!

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

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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