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.
Four candidates received Game Changer endorsements: National security prosecutor Will Rollins (@WillRollinsCA) 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), G. Helen Whitener and Mary Yu (@JudgeMaryYu). 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.”
Game Changer candidate Becca Balint (@BeccaBalintVT) also received a joint endorsement from LGBTQ Victory Fund, LPAC and Equality PAC! Becca is the current Vermont State Senate President Pro Tem and is running for Vermont’s at-large seat in Congress. 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.
One endorsed candidate was elevated to Spotlight candidate status. Venton Jones (@ventonjones) is running for the Texas State House 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!
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. 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) remarks to the Arizona House Education Committee debate concerning HB-2495, which seeks to ban “sexually explicit materials.” 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. Watch the full video here.
This coded language will equip anti-equality groups to remove LGBTQ literature and educational materials out of public schools, 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!
4. Robert Garcia Continues Path to Victory
Momentum continues to grow for Game Changer candidate Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia)! Since announcing his campaign for the U.S. Congress in late December, Robert has steadily announced endorsement after endorsement. His latest round is from seven unions, including LIUNA and LAOC Building Trades, and U.S. Congresswomen Veronica Escobar and Norma Torres!
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. 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.” 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.
