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John,
Politician. Ordained Minister. Former U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel. Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Co-Majority Whip of the Nevada state Senate. All told, you would be hard-pressed to find a position that Pat Spearman has not held - or a legislative fight she is not willing to pursue.
Pat wore many hats before deciding to jump into the political arena in 2012, while also working towards a doctorate in Business Administration. She spent 29 years in the U.S. Army and was honored for her work with the prestigious Kentucky Colonel tile. She has a masters in Divinity and served as a United Methodist Pastor in San Marcos, Texas. Not content to hold just one position, Pat also served as chair of the advisory council for the local Department of Health and Human Services, acted as a board member for local charities, and was elected to the San Marcos School District, where she was later chosen as board president.
After moving to Las Vegas, Pat continued her dedicated schedule of community service - founding Resurrection Faith Community Ministries, volunteering for President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, and sitting on advisory boards for other politicians, including the late U.S. Senator Harry Reid.
And when Pat decided to run for office herself in 2012, she did so with the same intensity and commitment that she had displayed in her past work. She decided to run against a two-term state legislative incumbent who opposed marriage equality and abortion access, but had the endorsements of the local Democratic establishment. Her opponent decided the best way to defeat Pat would be to question her credentials, calling her a "single issue" candidate and claiming she wasn't mature enough to lead.
This tactic failed spectacularly, with Pat winning the primary with over 60% of the vote, and defeating her general election opponent by over 68%. Pat added another title to her roster, becoming the first out lesbian elected to the Nevada legislature [[link removed]] . And you can probably guess what she did next: she got straight to work.
Pat immediately began introducing a slate of pro-LGBTQ, pro-voting rights and pro-women legislation. She led the charge to legalize marriage equality, add gender identity as a protected class to hate crimes legislation and ban conversion therapy. She pushed for extending voting registration deadlines, and when the bill was vetoed by the governor, kept pushing for increased ballot access. She worked to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, eventually succeeding in 2017, and passed equal pay for equal work for women. She later testified before the U.S. Congress in defense of the ERA, defeating anti-trans arguments from U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (watch the video here) [[link removed]] .
During her time in the Nevada state Senate, Pat, now Chief Majority Whip, has been been not only one of the most progressive members of the Nevada Senate, but one of the most prolific. She has passed legislation founding offices to address health disparities, created Nevada's Green Bank and expanded clean energy development, improved the state's foster care system, increased veteran's benefits, fought for first responders and mental health services and more.
In 2021, Pat was in the top two for highest number of bills introduced and passed in the Senate by Democrats, with 20 bills introduced in the chamber and 10 bills passing (out LGBTQ State Senator Dallas Harris introduced and passed the most of any Democratic state Senator!). Pat fought to expand mail-in voting, directly defying a litigious tweet from then President Trump. She has collected awards and national recognition for her legislative work and community activism.
Pat continues to be a champion not only for Nevada's families and small businesses, but for underserved and under-represented communities. But she remains one of the only out LGBTQ Black woman to ever serve in a state legislative leadership position . Less than 20 out Black women currently serve in state legislatures around the U.S [[link removed]] .
This Black History Month - and every month - we're proud to stand with Pat and other amazing out Black leaders like her. But we must support and train more of them. As Pat herself would testify, too many LGBTQ women are still discounted because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or the color of their skin. Too many out Black women are still dismissed by the political establishment as 'risky candidates' for being who they are.
Pat is one of the many examples of outstanding leadership shown by LGBTQ Black woman. We're so proud to be standing with her - and to be working to elect more women like her. If you can power this work with a donation today, we appreciate it. [[link removed]]
Happy Black History Month,
LGBTQ Victory Institute
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LGBTQ Victory Institute is a global organization dedicated to elevating openly LGBTQ leaders who can further equality at all levels of government. Through our international [[link removed]] and domestic [[link removed]] training programs, professional development programs [[link removed]] and yearly conferences [[link removed]] , 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 [[link removed]] now serving around the world. You can power our work and the next Rainbow Wave with a donation today [[link removed]] !
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