Four Stories You Should Know About
1. New Endorsements Alert! 31 More Out LGBTQ Leaders Endorsed in March
This was an exciting week for Victory Fund! We rolled out our March slate of endorsements, including two Spotlight candidates running to make LGBTQ and Black history in the Texas state legislature: Jolanda Jones and Christian Manuel Hayes. With 31 new endorsements this month, the total number of Victory Fund-endorsed candidates this cycle is now up to 237.
Jolanda will be the first out LGBTQ Black woman ever elected to the Texas state legislature. She received the most votes in the March primary and will be heading to a runoff with a substantial lead!
Christian also advanced to a runoff after a close primary. He is running to represent the 22nd District in the Texas state House and would join our Spotlight candidate Venton Jones in being the first two out Black representatives elected to the chamber. Christian served as the chief of staff of the outgoing representative for this district, ensuring he is familiar with the needs of constituents in and around Houston.
2. Janelle Perez Does NOT Have Time for It
And by “it,” we mean Ron Desantis and bigots in the Florida state legislature.
Florida has been ground zero for anti-LGTBQ attacks like the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and other anti-LGBTQ legislation now spreading around the country.
Janelle Perez -- a mother, stage IV cancer survivor, Victory Fund endorsed candidate and healthcare business professional -- is fired up and ready to bring her voice to the Florida state Senate, which would make her the first out LGBTQ woman elected to the body.
In a recent interview with LGBTQ Nation, Janelle talked about her motivation to run. “Our state legislature is chiseling away… at freedom, and they’re chiseling away at opportunity. It’s about time we have candidates that run for the right reasons, that we have candidates who do it because they want to put their community first.” Hear, hear!
Janelle announced her run for the 38th district in September. Since then, the incumbent Senator (who voted in favor of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and was forced to apologize) filed to run in another Senate district.
3. Malcolm Kenyatta Could Shape Politics in PA for Years to Come
With Pennsylvania’s primary just weeks away, many are looking to the state’s U.S. Senate race as a litmus test for national politics. Malcolm Kenyatta launched a historic run to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate, which would make him the first out LGBTQ Black person ever elected to the chamber.
A new opinion piece in Philadelphia Magazine argues that Pennsylvania has often chosen underdog candidates like Malcolm. It also says his potential to fill the representation gap for LGBTQ and Black Pennsylvanians makes it important he remains in the race. After all, “Why should the young, queer Black guy step down to guarantee a straight white man will win?”
Hear Malcolm make his case for the nomination in a speech given on Sunday at a candidate forum.
4. Bigots Making Bank By Going After Trans Kids
A new report shows that anti-LGBTQ groups who are pushing culture war issues like Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and who are responsible for the uptick in anti-equality legislation in states collected more than $110 million during the 2020 fiscal year.
This historic fundraising total means these bigots’ war chest grew by over 25% over the last four years.
And what are they doing with this war chest? Coming for trans kids, LGBTQ healthcare and anti-abortion laws. And trying to defeat LGBTQ candidates.
These groups, which all subscribe to some belief that LGBTQ people are a threat to ‘American’ culture, have embarked on a crusade-like mission to erase our community. Groups including the Family Research Council, the Alliance Defending Freedom, Liberty Counsel and the misleadingly named American College of Pediatricians have experienced nearly a doubling of their budgets over the course of a decade.
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