SIX LGBTQ STORIES WORTH KNOWING

1. Spotlight on Presidential Appointments Initiative: Meet the New Appointees and Learn how to Become an Appointee Yourself!

LGBTQ Victory Institute relaunched our Presidential Appointments Initiative webinars earlier this month. Our first panel, “The Work Continues”, featured a refresher on the program and update from the White House on best practices for those interested in seeking an appointment. Thank you to all of our panelists and Repro Blueprint for partnering with us for this webinar!

Welcome to our new Presidential Appointees! Curtis Ried, a seasoned foreign service officer, has been titled the new Chief of Staff at the National Security Council. This historic appointment makes Ried the first out member of the LGBTQ community to hold that position or any senior leadership position at the National Security Council. Roger Nyhus also became the first Native American out LGBTQ Ambassador and Randy Berry will now serve as an Ambassador to Namibia.

If you're interested in joining the Biden-Harris administration, please click here to submit your information.

2. Historic Number of LGBTQ Candidates Running in Brazil

Our global team has been hard at work collaborating with local partners to map LGBTQ candidates in Brazil during this election cycle.

There are 308 LGBTQ candidates currently mapped in Brazil, setting a record for trans candidates on the ballot. Of the 308, 28 were trained by Victory Institute and Vote LGBT, our partners in Brazil. Almost half of our trainees are running for office in this election! Learn more about the political landscape for LGBTQ candidates in Brazil here.

Yet, this diverse candidate pool has led to increased anti-LGBTQ violence. The National Association of Travestis and Transgender People has reported 80% of trans candidates had experienced anti-LGBTQ attacks.

3. State Representative Taylor Small Named Politician of the Year

2021 Victory Empowerment Fellow, Vermont state Representative Taylor Small, was named Politician of the Year by One Young World! This award celebrates five outstanding politicians between the ages of 18 and 35 across the world “who are using their positions to have a positive impact on young people in their communities and countries.” In her acceptance speech, Rep. Small highlighted the need for more diverse representation in more local politics. Congratulations, Rep. Small!

4. U.S. Programs Team in Action

Each year, the Victory Congressional Fellowship selects an outstanding young LGBTQ professional to Capitol Hill for an intensive fellowship that includes a yearlong placement in the office of a co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. This year, the program is proud to welcome two fellows! As fellows, Zach Larkin and Janise Waites will support the Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus with critical projects. The two will also participate in a leadership development program that explores the policy-making process, including our Candidate & Campaign Training, and dive into pressing issues facing the LGBTQ community.  

The fall semester has started, and so has our Fall 2022 class of the Victory Congressional Internship! We are excited to congratulate and welcome eight LGBTQ leaders of tomorrow to the Nation's capital for a semester-long internship in the U.S. Congress. Interns have the special opportunity to learn key skills in leadership and public service and make lifelong connections that will help them catalyze their careers post-graduation.

Congratulations to Alexandria King and Michael Gadinis — two alumni of the Summer 2022 Victory Congressional Internship cohort — on receiving the inaugural Obama Voyager Scholarship! This award provides financial assistance and traveling opportunities to craft the next generation of public service leaders. Click here to read more about the Obama Voyager Scholarship and the cohort featuring our alumni.

The U.S. Programs team also finished their last Leadership Summit of the year in Little Rock, Arkansas. These trainings help participants develop the skills necessary to begin or advance a career in public service. Sixteen participants joined the summit where they learned to demystify the process of running for office and discussed building coalitions in Little Rock and the surrounding areas to support LGBTQ candidates.

State Representative Tippi McCullough and Little Rock City Director Kathy Webb were on hand to detail their experiences running for office in Arkansas as out LGBTQ people.

5. Bisexual Awareness Week

U.S. voters must elect 20,697 more out bisexuals to public office for the bi community to be represented in government, according to our 2022 Out for America Report. There are currently 93 out elected officials who identify as bisexual serving in the U.S.

This Bisexual Awareness Week, we’re encouraging bi leaders everywhere to consider running for office and close this gap. Learn more about launching a run for office or hear from inspirational LGBTQ leaders here.

6. Hispanic Heritage Month

Each year, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by uplifting out LGBTQ Latinx leaders who inspire us to fight for equality. In the face of xenophobia and racism, Latinx leaders have shaped history – and our movement – in immeasurable ways. There are presently 132 out LGBTQ Latinx elected officials, noted on our Out for America map.

U.S. New York Representative Ritchie Torres is a perfect example of this leadership, paving a path for future LGBTQ Latinx leaders as the first out LGBTQ Afro-Latinx person elected to the U.S. Congress.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

 

Join us in Washington, D.C. November 30 - December 3 for the International LGBTQ Leaders Conference! Our annual conference brings together over 500 LGBTQ elected officials, leaders, and advocates from across the world who are working to move equality forward. The conference includes four days of networking and building as we strategize the year ahead in our movement for equality. Click here to register today with our Fall Rate!



Registration is now open for our biannual LGBTI Political Leaders in the Americas Conference! Join us in Mexico City to connect with out LGBTI elected officials, advocates, public servants and allies with like-minded leaders to increase LGBTI political power. This is your chance to strategize, connect with and hear from amazing out leaders from across the Americas and the Caribbean. Expect amazing speakers, transformative workshops and more this year. Join us in Mexico City, Thursday, July 20, 2023 - Saturday, July 22, 2023! The Conference is free to all - register here!

Apply to the 2023 Victory Empowerment Fellowship by April 3, 2023: The Victory Empowerment Fellowship is for LGBTQ leaders of color and/or transgender leaders who seek to expand their campaign skills and policy-making power and join a strong cohort of movement leaders from across the country. Click here to learn more and apply!  

Apply to the 2023 Women Out to Win Class by April 3, 2023: Women Out to Win is an advanced campaign training that includes personalized coaching through mentorship and quarterly convenings to address challenges specific to women candidates, such as imposter syndrome, safety concerns, and fundraising. To learn more and to apply, please click here!

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR SPRING 2023 VICTORY CONGRESSIONAL INTERNSHIP: The LGBTQ Victory Institute brings outstanding LGBTQ college students to Washington, DC for an intensive leadership program, including an internship with an LGBTQ-friendly member of Congress or Congressional office. This is a paid opportunity and includes a stipend, housing in DC, travel to/from DC, as well as travel and registration to the International LGBTQ Leaders Conference in December 2023. Applications for all 2023 semesters (Spring, Summer, and Fall) are currently open. Click here to apply today!

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 global and domestic 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. You can power our work and the next Rainbow Wave with a donation today!

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. 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.

LGBTQ Victory Institute
1225 I Street NW, Suite 525
Washington, DC xxxxxx
United States