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SEVEN LGBTQ STORIES WORTH KNOWING
1. LGBTQ Elected Officials Stand Up for Abortion Rights
In the wake of the disastrous Supreme Court decision to overrule Roe v. Wade , LGBTQ elected officials across the country are using every tool in their toolbox to punch back and protect abortion access.
After the draft decision leaked, California state Senator Scott Wiener worked with colleagues to propose an amendment to the California Constitute that would explicitly ban the state from denying or interfering with abortions or contraceptives [[link removed]] .
And on the other side of the country, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey committed to using every legal avenue available to protect access to abortion care and protect abortion care providers from criminal and civil liability [[link removed]] . She is committed to not only protecting abortion care in Massachusetts, but expanding access nationally . [[link removed]]
Learn more about how LGBTQ elected officials are fighting back here [[link removed]] .
2. Codifying Marriage Equality
After Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said the Court should reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges [[link removed]] , which established marriage equality, many are wondering… what’s next?
Utah state Senator Derek Kitchen isn’t going to wait and see [[link removed]] . Utah is one of the 29 states that still have “trigger bans” on same-sex marriage, meaning there are state laws on the books that make same-sex marriage unconstitutional. To right this wrong, Senator Kitchen introduced legislation to remove Utah’s trigger ban and codify marriage equality for LGBTQ Utahns [[link removed]] . Click here to learn more about current marriage bans. [[link removed]]
3. Congressman Ritchie Torres Champions Mental Health by Telling His Own Story
The LGBTQ community, especially LGBTQ youth, struggle with mental health issues at a higher rate than our non-LGBTQ peers [[link removed]] . Congressman Ritchie Torres has used his position in Congress to increase mental health care and now he is speaking up about his own story. In a recent interview with U.S. News [[link removed]] , he talked about his own mental health challenges, how he found help and how he’s addressing stigma around mental health head on.
4. New Report: Trans Women in Brazil Are in It to Win It
Victory Institute recently partnered with VoteLGBT [[link removed]] to survey over 210 LGBTQ Brazilian leaders about to run for public office. In 2020, 30% of candidates are trans women! There are also 8 trans men and 5 non-binary people ready to run. Click here to read their stories and access the full report! [[link removed]]
5. Meet the 2022 Victory Empowerment Fellows
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This month, Victory Institute announced our new cohort of Victory Empowerment Fellows [[link removed]] ! The Victory Empowerment Fellowship [[link removed]] supports emerging LGBTQ leaders of color and/or trans leaders by providing the necessary resources for them to attend a Candidate & Campaign Training [[link removed]] and the International LGBTQ Leaders Conference [[link removed]] , as well as a year-long mentorship program. Click here to meet this year’s cohort! [[link removed]]
6. David Bohnett Fellows Hit Campus
The first cohort of the 2022 David Bohnett Leaders Fellowship [[link removed]] made it to campus this month! The program is designed to support LGBTQ elected officials by sending them to an intensive Executive Education program at the Harvard Kennedy School. Since the beginning of the program in 2002, over 150 LGBTQ leaders have gone through the program, including our very own Mayor Parker! Click here to learn more about this year's fellows. [[link removed]]
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7. Wheels Up to Colombia and Peru
This Friday, Victory Institute’s Global team is taking off to Colombia and Peru. In Colombia, Victory Institute and our in-country partner Caribe Afirmativo will host a two-day training for current and newly elected LGBTQ officials. We will also march with them in the Bogota pride parade! Our Global team will then travel to Peru to join our partner PROMSEX for our training program EMPODERA. Click here to learn more about our work in Colombia [[link removed]] and click here to learn more about our work in Peru [[link removed]] .
Did we miss a headline? It happens sometimes! Reply to this email to let us know what we missed – we might feature it on our social media or in next month’s newsletter!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Register now for the LGBTQ State Legislators Reception [[link removed]] ! On August 3, join LGBTQ Victory Institute, LGBTQ state legislators, community leaders and allies during the 2022 National Conference of State Legislatures’ Legislative Summit for our annual LGBTQ State Legislators Reception to celebrate the many accomplishments and dedicated service of America’s network of LGBTQ+ Legislators. Click here to register. [[link removed]]
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Applications are now open for the Victory Congressional Internship [[link removed]] ! LGBTQ Victory Institute’s Victory Congressional Internship is developing the next generation of LGBTQ public leaders. Each semester, the Victory Congressional Internship brings outstanding LGBTQ college students to Washington, D.C. for an intensive leadership program and an internship with an LGBTQ-friendly member of Congress. We will be selecting our 2023 spring, summer, and fall cohorts soon. Want to learn more? Meet our Summer 2020 cohort – our biggest cohort ever! [[link removed]]
Click here to apply or to send to someone who would be a strong candidate. [[link removed]]
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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 international [[link removed]] and domestic [[link removed]] trainings, 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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LGBTQ Victory Institute
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