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]]
Five Stories You Should Know About
1. The Bad News in Florida: “Don’t Say Gay” Bill Passes, Despite Protests
The Florida state Senate chose hate this week and passed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, sparking outrage across the country [[link removed]] – including from President Biden [[link removed]] .
[link removed] [[link removed]]
For days leading up to the vote, LGBTQ leaders and students protested [[link removed]] against the dangerous piece of legislation – including state Rep. Michele Rayner-Goolsby ( @RepMKRG [[link removed]] ) who joined forces with local students protesting at the Florida state capitol [[link removed]] .
[link removed] [[link removed]]
Shevrin Jones ( @ShevrinJones [[link removed]] ), the only out LGBTQ Senator in Florida history, fought tooth and nail [[link removed]] to stop the bill, and has since called attention to the impact it will have [[link removed]] , from impacting students [[link removed]] to a ripple effect of similar bills [[link removed]] . White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also noted: “ Make no mistake: This is not an isolated action in Florida [[link removed]] .”
Unfortunately, she was right. The same day the Florida “Don’t Say Gay” bill passed, a similar bill was introduced in the Georgia state Senate [[link removed]] – a chamber with only ONE out LGBTQ member, state Senator Kim Jackson ( @KimforGeorgia [[link removed]] ).
2. The Good News in Florida: Ty Penserga Makes LGBTQ History
While legislators in Tallahassee were trying to silence us, voters were making their voices heard at the ballot box [[link removed]] – and it paid off! Ty Penserga ( @TyPenserga [[link removed]] ) won his mayoral campaign [[link removed]] in Boynton Beach. He is the first out LGBTQ mayor of Boynton Beach and the first out LGBTQ AAPI mayor elected in Florida state history [[link removed]] .
Victory Fund and other LGBTQ organizations were on the ground [[link removed]] in the days leading up to the election to help get out the vote. While voter mobilization is always a fun time, we’re sure the weather didn’t hurt [[link removed]] !
Despite facing multiple anti-LGBTQ attacks [[link removed]] during his campaign, Ty kept his cool and stayed above the fray, which worked in his favor on Election Day. And as if Ty’s victory wasn’t sweet enough, his numbers are the cherry on top. Ty won 57% of the vote [[link removed]] while the hateful bigot running against him (the same one who went on a homophobic Facebook rant [[link removed]] ) came in DEAD LAST with just 6%. How do you like them apples?
[link removed] [[link removed]]
3. Blame the Gays: How Far-Right Conservatives Pin International Conflict on the LGBTQ Community
As the world responds to the immoral Russian invasion of Ukraine, bigots are using this moment to target the LGBTQ community once again. By engaging in semantic gymnastics instead of focusing on world leaders, military institutions, or bureaucratic channels, they attempt to argue that bad actors are taking advantage of a ‘weaker’, ‘softer’ and ‘gayer’ America. Learn more here. [[link removed]]
4. Victory Fund Endorses Eric Sorensen for Congress
Victory Fund endorsed Eric Sorensen ( @ERICSORENSEN [[link removed]] ) for U.S. House of Representatives (IL-17). Sorensen would be the first out LGBTQ person ever elected to Congress [[link removed]] from Illinois.
As a former meteorologist [[link removed]] , Eric is a trusted community leader who has spent the last two decades keeping the people of Northern Illinois safe by telling the truth, reinforcing the importance of science and data, and showing up as his authentic self. He is a fierce advocate [[link removed]] for addressing the climate crisis and promoting environmental justice [[link removed]] .
Our forecast? Sunny with a high chance of victory.
5. Women’s History Month: Celebrating Becca Balint
Pop quiz: which state has NEVER elected a woman to Congress?
Hint: the state has also NEVER elected an LGBTQ person to Congress.
Answer: Vermont .
But not for long! Becca Balint ( @BeccaBalintVT [[link removed]] ) is running for the U.S. House of Representatives. Not only is she a fierce advocate for equality [[link removed]] , she has the political chops and wherewithal to crush it in Congress [[link removed]] . She’s done it before and she can do it again – Becca is the first woman and first out gay person to serve as the Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore [[link removed]] .
As Becca told LGBTQ Nation, she has always looked at her success as a responsibility to help other marginalized voices access positions of power [[link removed]] . “I want us as a nation to survive, and we need as many allies trying to save the Republic as we can get, and it can’t just fall down along political lines.”
This week as been tough for the LGBTQ community – so here’s a piece of good news: meet Fred, Becca’s new Deputy Communications Director [[link removed]] .
[link removed] [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]]
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]] !
This email was sent to [email protected]. Don't unsubscribe just yet - you can change how many & what type of emails you receive by updating your account here. [[link removed]] Unsubscribing will remove you from ALL Victory Fund email contact. If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive ANY email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .
LGBTQ Victory Fund
1225 I Street NW, Suite 525
Washington, DC xxxxxx
United States