FIVE LGBTQ STORIES WORTH KNOWING

1. 2021 INTERNATIONAL LGBTQ LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ROUNDUP

Another amazing International LGBTQ Leadership Conference is officially complete! Thank you so much to everyone who joined us in Washington, DC and virtually. Attendees heard from LGBTQ leaders, allies, out elected officials and many more. Topics included the renewed commitment to ensuring access to the ballot for all, serving as a non-binary elected official, an update on the COVID-19 pandemic from Adm. Rachel Levine, MD and much, much more!

Maine Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau (@SpeakerFecteau) accepted the 2021 Tammy Baldwin Breakthrough Award, and detailed his personal fight for LGBTQ equality, including banning conversion therapy in Maine. Global Trailblazer Award winner Aldo Dávila (@aldodavila_gt), who currently serves as the first out gay man and HIV-positive person to win election to the Guatemalan Congress, reaffirmed his commitment to LGBTQ equality and Guatemalan democracy. Congressman Dávila has faced death threats, intimidation attempts and survived an attempted robbery after criticizing government corruption and the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Check out scenes from the Conference that attendees posted on social media here or rewatch the plenaries and award ceremonies here! Attendees can also watch the virtual options through the Conference app or Conference website.

Thank you to all of our amazing speakers, sponsors and attendees! The International LGBTQ Leaders Conference would not be possible without your generous support.

2. LISA MIDDLETON ELEVATED TO MAYOR, MAKING CALIFORNIA HISTORY

Palm Springs City Councilwoman Lisa Middleton (@LisaMiddletonCA) was sworn-in as mayor of the city last Thursday, becoming the first out transgender mayor in California and just the third out transgender mayor in U.S. history. The mayorship in Palm Springs rotates among councilmembers who serve one-year terms.

There are currently just eight out transgender state legislators in the entire country.

3. LGBTQ VICTORY HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

On Saturday at Victory Fund's 30th Anniversary Gala in Washington, DC, four LGBTQ leaders were inducted into the 2021 class of the LGBTQ Victory Hall of Fame because of their contributions to advancing LGBTQ political power. The four include former Ireland Taoiseach and current Tánaiste Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar), Oregon Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown), former California state Senator Christine Kehoe (@christinekehoe) and Minneapolis City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins (@annapoetic). Congratulations to all of them!

Learn more about why these four leaderswere honored and view all LGBTQ Victory Hall of Fame members here.

4. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Illinois House Majority Leader Greg Harris (@repgregharris) has announced he will not be running for the state House again. During his 15-year career, Majority Leader Harris advocated for LGBTQ issues before many stood with the LGBTQ community and was a lead player in passing marriage equality legislation in 2014. Read more about Majority Leader Harris’s storied career here.

5. REST IN POWER

We mourn the loss of a trailblazing community leader, activist and mentor, Dick Wagner. Dick was one of the first out LGBTQ people elected to public office in the United States – first serving on the Dane County, Wisconsin Board of Supervisors in 1980. He paved the way for countless LGBTQ candidates and officials, including now U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, who joined him on the Dane County Board of Supervisors in 1986. We'll miss you, Dick.

Did we miss a headline? It happens sometimes! Reply to this email to let us know what we missed – we might feature it on our social media or in next month’s newsletter!

LGBTQ Victory Institute is a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 52-1835268.

Victory Institute is a global organization dedicated to elevating openly LGBTQ leaders who can further equality at all levels of government. Through our international and domestic trainings, professional development programs and yearly conferences, Victory Institute prepares hundreds of out individuals to launch an influential careers in politics, government, business and advocacy. Many of our trainees join the more than 1,000 openly LGBTQ elected and appointed officials now serving around the world. You can power our work and the next Rainbow Wave with a donation today!

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