Five Stories You Should Know About
1. Celebrating International Day of Trans Visibility
Yesterday, we commemorated International Day of Trans Visibility. First celebrated by trans activists in 2009, the day was officially recognized by President Biden as well as LGBTQ advocates and allies.
As state legislatures attempt to erase the trans community, it is more important than ever to elect trans people to office! According to the Out for America map, there are only 46 out trans elected officials.
At Victory Fund, we’re on a mission to change that. So far this cycle, Victory Fund has endorsed 7 trans candidates who need your support! Help them win by following them, sharing their content, and amplifying their messages.
Deja Alvarez (@Dejaforpa / Facebook) – Deja would be the first out trans Latina elected to a state legislature in U.S. history! Deja is running for the Pennsylvania state House. Read about Deja’s plan to address LGBTQ issues, the economic recovery of Philadelphia, and priorities for trans constituents.
Precious Brady-Davis (@mspreciousdavis / Facebook) – Precious would be the first out trans woman of color ever elected in Chicago! If elected, Precious would have a six-year term on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Last year, Precious published a bestselling memoir about childhood, motherhood, and the challenges of being trans in today’s America.
Vered Meltzer (Facebook) – Vered currently represents District 2 in the Appleton Common Council in Wisconsin and faces reelection on April 5. Read how Vered handles the responsibilities and honors of being a trailblazer for trans people in Appleton and beyond.
Evelyn Rios Stafford (@everiosstafford / Facebook) – Evelyn was the first trans person to hold elected office in Arkansas history. She is also widely credited as the reason why the Governor vetoed a bill last year which would have limited trans healthcare in the state.
Allison Scott (@AllisonScottNC / Facebook) – Allison is running for the Asheville City Council and would be the first out trans person elected in the history of North Carolina! As a community organizer, she has worked on local ordinances such as Asheville’s first ever LGBTQ nondiscrimination law.
Brianna Titone (@BriannaForCO / Facebook) – Brianna is the first out trans member of the Colorado state House and faces reelection this year. Hear Brianna speak about the International Day of Trans Visibility.
Zooey Zephyr (@ZoAndBehold / Facebook) – Zooey is running for the Montana state House and would be the first out trans women ever elected to the Montana state legislature. Check out her interview with the Missoulian about how she’s going to tackle access to affordable housing and human rights.
2. Things are heating up in Vermont (and we aren’t talking about the weather!)
Earlier this week, Becca Balint sat down with The Hill to discuss her historic campaign to become the first woman and first out LGBTQ person ever elected to the U.S. House from Vermont. Vermont is the only state to have never sent a woman to Congress.
“As humans we all have to be very wary and on the watch for times when people in power are trying to scapegoat and demonize people. We have to show up and have hard conversations with people to make sure that hate doesn’t take hold.”
Learn more about Becca’s story, her priorities for Congress, and reaction to anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country.
3. Off-Year? Not on our watch!
While many political organizations called 2021 an ‘off-year’ election, it was not the case at LGBTQ Victory Fund. With a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced, we punched back the best way we know how – by electing LGBTQ candidates! Here are some highlights:
-- Endorsed 177 candidates running for office in 2021
-- Nearly 60% of endorsed candidates WON their races!
-- For the first time in history, the number of out LGBTQ elected officials surpassed 1,000
-- Saw a 75% increase in bisexual candidates running for office in 2021
Read the full report here to learn more about our work last year!
4. Shattering Rainbow Ceilings in Texas
This week, Victory Fund interviewed three Spotlight candidates ready to shatter lavender ceilings in Texas. Venton Jones, Jolanda Jones and Christian Manuel-Hayes are poised to be the first out Black state lawmakers ever elected in Texas. Read why these candidates are choosing to run now, their message to LGBTQ people considering public office, and what they want people to know about their districts.
5. P.S. -- National #OutToWin Day is tomorrow!
On April 2, 1974, Kathy Kozachenko won a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council, becoming the first out LGBTQ person elected to public office in the United States.
Each April 2, we celebrate National Out to Win Day to honor her legacy and encourage more LGBTQ people to run for office in her footsteps.
We hosted conversations with four elected officials and a constituent of their choosing on a recent piece of legislative work they’ve done. Illinois state Senator Mike Simmons spoke about passing the Crown Act and outlawing hair discrimination, Georgia state Representative Park Cannon walked through making PrEP free in Georgia, Kansas state Representative Stephanie Byers covered her (successful!) work to stop anti-trans legislation, and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia discussed his nationally recognized COVID-19 response.
You never know, an LGBTQ person you know may be thinking about running for office. Join us and help spread the word to LGBTQ people that they belong in office!
