John – Out of a total of 12,422 people elected to Congress throughout our nation’s history, only 25 have ever been members of the LGBTQIA+ community – and only 15 were elected while openly LGBT.

Brand New Congress is committed to expanding representation for ALL marginalized groups in Congress, and that includes the LGBTQ+ community.

And this November, we have a chance to make history with two groundbreaking races for the U.S. House.

BNC’s Becca Balint (VT-At Large) and Odessa Kelly (TN-07) are each running to be the first openly gay women elected to Congress from their respective states.

With the LGBTQ+ community under unprecedented attack, we need better representation at the highest levels of the federal government. Will you split a contribution between Brand New Congress, Becca, and Odessa now?

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Few people realize that there are NO federal protections from discrimination for the LGBTQ+ community. And less than half of U.S. states, 21 to be exact, offer full protections at the state level. That means it’s perfectly legal in most U.S. states to discriminate against LGBTQ people in matters of employment, housing, and public services.

Now even the few gains we have made through the courts are under threat, with the far-right supermajority on the Supreme Court openly declaring war on marriage equality and constitutional rights to privacy that protect consensual same-sex relationships.

Republicans have made their intentions clear: the moment they regain control of the majority in Congress they are pushing federal bans on EVERY civil right won through the courts.

The only answer is to defeat them. To take their seats and permanently remove them from power.

Becca is a proven and effective legislator who will be an outspoken advocate and a passionate representative for the LGBTQ+ community from Vermont.

Electing Odessa means defeating one of the most viciously homophobic Republican representatives and sending the first openly gay Black woman to Congress in his place.

We have the chance to make history in November AND solidify federal protections for LGBTQ+ Americans everywhere. Will you join us with a split contribution between BNC, Odessa, and Becca now?

Harvey Milk once said, “We will not win our rights by staying quietly in our closets.”

Now, more than ever, with the far right waging vicious and violent attacks against our LGBTQ+ neighbors, we must have LGBT+ representation at every level of public life.

Coming out is not something you do once. It is a lifelong process and an action that is often repeatedly affirmed in different spaces, with different people. If you are struggling with whether or not to come out today, know this: you don’t owe anyone; you deserve the freedom and security of coming out on your own terms, when the time feels right.

Until then, be assured that you are loved and you are valid exactly as you are, and we will stand beside you no matter what.

In Solidarity, 

The entire team at Brand New Congress