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. Victory Fund Endorses Zooey Zephyr for Montana House of Representatives
On Tuesday, Victory Fund endorsed Zooey Zephyr ( @ZoAndBehold [[link removed]] ) for Montana House of Representatives!
Zooey was inspired to run for office after campaigning against anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ bills introduced into the Montana House [[link removed]] . Zooey, who gave testimony during the bills’ hearings, noted that there were no trans elected officials to speak out. Read more about her testimony here [[link removed]] !
Victory Fund named Zephyr a Spotlight candidate, a designation given to state or local candidates in history-making races. Zooey will be the first out trans person ever elected in Montana when she wins!
There are currently only six out LGBTQ elected officials in Montana and just eight out trans state legislators in the entire country [[link removed]] .
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2. C-FAIR & LGBTQ Victory Fund Endorse Keturah Herron for KY House District 42 Special Election
On Monday, C-FAIR & LGBTQ Victory Fund [[link removed]] endorsed Keturah Herron ( @KeturahHerron [[link removed]] ) in the Kentucky special election for House District 42. Election Day is Tuesday, February 22! Keturah is also campaigning in the general election, which will take place later this year [[link removed]] .
This district encompasses the southern portion of the city of Louisville. The seat was vacated by Reginald Meeks, who represented the 42nd district in the Kentucky state house for 20 years.
Herron, a former policy analyst for the ACLU of Kentucky, was a leader in passing “Breonna’s Law” in Louisville, which bans no-knock warrants. Herron will be Kentucky’s first out LGBTQ state representative if elected [[link removed]] !
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3. Bigoted Attack Made Against Mayoral Candidate in Boynton Beach, FL
An opponent [[link removed]] of Victory Fund-endorsed Ty Penserga ( @TyPenserga [[link removed]] ) , said in a Facebook Live video:
“He’s gay. He wants to make this a gay city. That’s not Boynton culture.” He continued: “I’ll call him what I will, and I tell his gay butt this, if you’re gay, you’re gay. I’m a real man. I’m a real man.
Reverend Bernard Wright issued this incoherent, nearly 40-minute rant in the parking lot of a gas station. In addition to his homophobic comments, he also made anti-Asian statements and repeated misinformation about vaccinations.
Wright continued about Ty, “He’s just an Asian student, he’s a migrant here… and he’s staying with his mother. He has no life experiences at all.”
This flat-out racist putdown is also a lie. Ty graduated from Temple University, Philadelphia where he earned his bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Biology. While in college, he served as a Senator representing the College of Science to Temple’s Student Government. He received the prestigious Diamond Award for his leadership, community service, and the creation of a longitudinal mentoring pipeline to uplift underprivileged teens.
Read more about [[link removed]] Ty’s stellar record as an academic and current Vice Mayor for Boynton Beach.
4. Celebrating Black History Month
This month, we'll be highlighting the phenomenal Black LGBTQ leaders who paved the way [[link removed]] . But there's still so much history to make. Today, there are just 101 out LGBTQ Black officials in the entire country. In 2022, Victory Fund will recruit and support more LGBTQ candidates than at any time in our history. Learn more about Black LGBTQ candidates and how to support their campaigns here [[link removed]] !
5. Victory Fund Endorsed Congressional Candidates Report Fundraising Numbers
Becca Balint ( @BeccaBalintVT [[link removed]] ) : Becca is running for the U.S. Congress and will be the first out LGBTQ person to represent Vermont in the U.S. House. She raised over $200,000 and has $190,000 cash on hand [[link removed]] .
Chris Pappas (@ChrisPappasNH) [[link removed]] : Chris set fundraising records in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District by raising $490,000 in the last quarter [[link removed]] . He is running to remain an LGBTQ voice from New Hampshire in the U.S. Congress. Many from the other side of the aisle have lined up to take on Chris and at least three potential challengers are anti-LGBTQ.
Heather Mizeur (@heathermizeur) [[link removed]] : Heather set a fundraising record by reporting $1.32 million raised in 2021. Heather is currently running to flip Maryland’s 1st Congressional District. The seat is currently held by insurrectionist U.S. Congressman Andy Harris, who raised $600,000 less than Heather last year [[link removed]] .
Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) [[link removed]] : Brian’s campaign for Pennsylvania Lt. Governor raised over $670,000, which is more money in the year leading up to a primary than any other Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor. [[link removed]] Last year, Sims received a total of 14,520 donations including support from Pennsylvania’s 67 counties and 50 U.S. states [[link removed]] , showing both statewide and national support for his campaign.
In 2012, Sims became the first out LGBTQ state legislator in Pennsylvania history. When elected, Sims will be the first out LGBTQ Lieutenant Governor of a U.S. state.
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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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