The Agenda: The Nefarious Plot to hold public office [[link removed]][link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
Four Stories You Should Know About
1. LGBTQ Victory Fund Endorses 52 More LGBTQ Candidates for Office
Victory Fund rolled out a new slate of endorsements this week! Review the whole slate of endorsed candidates here [[link removed]] .
Four candidates received Game Changer endorsements: National security prosecutor Will Rollins ( @WillRollinsCA [[link removed]] ) is running to unseat anti-LGBTQ incumbent U.S. Congressman Ken Calvert in California. Incumbent Game Changer candidates include Lieutenant Governor of Guam, Joshua Tenorio ( @JoshuaTenorio2 [[link removed]] ) , G. Helen Whitener and Mary Yu ( @JudgeMaryYu [[link removed]] ) . Both Helen and Mary are running to hold their seats on the Washington State Supreme Court – which was once called the “most diverse court in the history of Washington State.” [[link removed]]
Game Changer candidate Becca Balint ( @BeccaBalintVT [[link removed]] ) also received a joint endorsement from LGBTQ Victory Fund, LPAC and Equality PAC [[link removed]] ! Becca is the current Vermont State Senate President Pro Tem and is running for Vermont’s at-large seat in Congress. [[link removed]] This will be an open seat following sitting U.S. Congressman Peter Welch’s decision to run for the U.S. Senate. If elected, Becca would be the first woman ever elected to federal office from Vermont and the first out LGBTQ member of Congress ever elected from Vermont [[link removed]] .
One endorsed candidate was elevated to Spotlight candidate status. Venton Jones ( @ventonjones [[link removed]] ) is running for the Texas State House [[link removed]] and will be one of the first out LGBTQ Black people elected to the body. A longtime health equity advocate, Venton has spent his career working to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic and expand access to health care services for disenfranchised populations. Read more about his work to close health disparities in Texas here [[link removed]] !
2. 2022 Battleground Districts Take Shape
Yesterday the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced an update to its Frontline Program, which ensures candidates in competitive seats have the resources they need to win [[link removed]] . And the districts for six of our LGBTQ Congressional candidates are considered key swing districts! Among the incumbent LGBTQ Congressional candidates in these critical swing districts are Angie Craig (MN-02), Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Sharice Davids (KS-03). All three candidates are facing biased redistricting processes, as anti-equality leaders in their states seek to reshape their districts.
Non-incumbent LGBTQ candidates Daniel Hernández (AZ-06), Will Rollins (CA-41) and Heather Mizeur (MD-01)’s districts are also considered critical swing districts by the DCCC. While Will and Heather are both taking on longtime anti-LGBTQ incumbents, Daniel is currently running for an open seat in a crowded primary.
3. Daniel Hernández Fights to Stop LGBTQ Erasure in Schools
“Today is my 32nd birthday, and I can’t think of a better place that I’d rather be than the House Education Committee once again having my humanity being questioned.”
This was a part of Game Changer candidate Daniel Hernández's ( @danielforaz [[link removed]] ) remarks to the Arizona House Education Committee debate concerning HB-2495, which seeks to ban “sexually explicit materials.” [[link removed]] The committee also considered HB-2161, which would require teachers to report conversations with students to their parents – even if a student expressed they were LGBTQ or asked about LGBTQ issues [[link removed]] . Watch the full video here [[link removed]] .
This coded language will equip anti-equality groups to remove LGBTQ literature and educational materials out of public schools [[link removed]] , as well as destroy any safe haven a child may find at school.
Bigots in the body accused Daniel of “playing politics” as he sought to point out the extreme overreach and damage these bills can do to LGBTQ kids. Once again, anti-LGBTQ forces show the lengths they will go to twist reality and criminalize LGBTQ lives.
Daniel, who is running for U.S. Congress and could be the second Latinx out LGBTQ member elected to the body, will bring this fighting spirit to advocate for LGBTQ rights and visibility on a federal level!
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4. Robert Garcia Continues Path to Victory
Momentum continues to grow for Game Changer candidate Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia [[link removed]?] ) ! Since announcing his campaign for the U.S. Congress in late December, Robert has steadily announced endorsement after endorsement [[link removed]] . His latest round is from seven unions, including LIUNA [[link removed]] and LAOC Building Trades [[link removed]] , and U.S. Congresswomen Veronica Escobar [[link removed]] and Norma Torres [[link removed]] !
And his race and dedication to his district is generating headlines. Robert spoke to the Press-Telegram to give an update on his campaign, as well as his deep love for his city, commitment to restoring community during the COVID-19 pandemic and more [[link removed]] . In a conversation with The Downey Patriot , Robert pledged to be “the best Congressperson that Downey has ever had… the best Congressperson that Southeast L.A. has ever had.” [[link removed]] From what we can see, Robert’s on the right path!
When he wins, Robert will be the first out LGBTQ immigrant and second out LGBTQ former mayor elected to the U.S. Congress.
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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 [[link removed]] )! 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 [[link removed]] !
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