John,

Now, we don’t mean to remind you of the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. But just two short years ago, Americans were beginning to realize our short, two-week lockdown might last a little longer.

The dire implications of the long lockdown – coupled with the Trump Administration’s inability to even acknowledge the pandemic’s impact – were just rearing the ugly heads. No one knew what would happen next.

But after a long year, a presidential campaign and too many deaths, a vaccine arrived. And one mayor found himself preparing to take on the new challenge of vaccinating his city and safely reopening. Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia had already spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic ensuring his city had the tools to persevere. His response to the pandemic – and Long Beach’s vaccine rollout – would earn him not only accolades from Governor Gavin Newsom, but from the Biden Administration as well.

Watch Mayor Garcia and California State University’s Dr. Sabrina Sanders discuss Long Beach’s pandemic response – and how it became a national model:

As you heard, having an out LGBTQ intersectional voice in office made a world of difference for the people of Long Beach. As an LGBTQ immigrant, Mayor Garcia was able to draw on a well of life experience to ensure every community benefited – and no one was left behind.

We are sharing this story because today, LGBTQ Victory Institute is celebrating National Out to Win Day. This annual event honors the day Kathy Kozachenko made history as the first out LGBTQ person to win public office in the U.S.

To honor her historic victory, we’re calling on more LGBTQ people to learn about running for office and sharing stories about the impact an LGBTQ elected official can have at outtowin.org.

We need your help to increase LGBTQ representation – and ensure the diversity of our elected officials reflects the diversity of the whole LGBTQ community. This campaign is critical because studies show that LGBTQ people, women, and people of color must be asked over and over again before they choose to run.

Just like Mayor Garcia, YOU too can have a huge impact in office. And just like Mayor Garcia, we can’t afford to wait for representation. So today – will you learn more about running for office and think about launching your own campaign? Watch Mayor Garcia’s full video, hear from other LGBTQ elected officials and their constituents on their fight for LGBTQ equality, and more.

We hope you’re inspired – and you’re ready to run!

Ruben J. Gonzales
Pronouns: he|him|his
Executive Director, LGBTQ Victory Institute

LGBTQ Victory Institute is a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 52-1835268.

Victory Institute is a global organization dedicated to elevating openly LGBTQ leaders who can further equality at all levels of government. Through our trainings, professional development programs and yearly conferences, 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 now serving around the world.

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