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Seven LGBTQ Stories You Should Know About

1. History in the Making?

In just a few weeks, the U.S. could have its first out lesbian governors! Victory Fund President & CEO Mayor Annise Parker joined NBC this week to talk about Game Changer candidates Tina Kotek and Maura Healey. Maura is the clear frontrunner in Massachusetts and Tina’s race is heating up in Oregon. A recent poll has Tina in the lead with 40% and her Republican opponent Christine Drazan at 38%. Support for independent Betsy Johnson continues to drop, with current support of just 14%. Click here to watch Mayor Parker’s interview!

2. #CorruptCalvert

Game Changer candidate Will Rollins launched a new tv ad this week featuring a Fox News investigation into incumbent Congressman Ken Calvert. Calvert’s ethics issues stem from his use of earmarks for personal gain, his illegal land purchase and his connections to a lobbying firm under investigation – which is why he was named one of the 15 most corrupt members of Congress! Calvert, who would represent Palm Springs, voted against the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and supported the anti-LGBTQ Defense of Marriage Act.

Tweet: Have you seen our new ad? The people of CA-41 deserve better than a corrupt politician who claims to represent them, while voting against their interests and lining his own pockets. I became a federal prosecutor to fight crime and I will always stand up for truth and justice.
 

3. Sharice Davids is Outraising and Outworking Her Opponent

While the race for Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District remains close, it’s clear Game Changer candidate Sharice Davids is ready to fight until Election Day - and win! This week, the Kansas City Star broke the news that Sharice has raised more than twice as much as her Republican challenger Amanda Adkins!

ICYMI: Sharice sat down with LGBTQ Nation earlier this year to talk about the future of abortion rights and LGBTQ rights.

4. Bigots Are Targeting Eric Sorensen Over His Opposition to Book Bans

Earlier this week, a far-right news outlet tried to spin Game Changer candidate Eric Sorensen’s work to ensure kids have access to LGBTQ-inclusive books. As Eric put it, “Kids don’t value what they don’t learn. And God, I wished I saw an LGBTQ book when I was in school.”

Facebook post: I can’t believe in 2022 we are back to banning books. Books that teach perspective. Books that reference Black history. Books that teach Black Lives Matter. Books that reference LGBTQIA history. Books that teach LGBTQIA lives matter. Books that teach the barbarism of the Holocaust. Books that reference drug use and alcoholism. Books that have profanity. Protecting children is commendable motivation, but this is hardly about that. It’s about restricting intellectual freedom. Kids don’t value what they don’t learn. And God, I wished I saw an LGBTQIA book when I was in school. It would’ve prevented all the years of me questioning whether I was a value in this life. I cannot in good conscience stand by while one small group of people in our society decides what’s good for the rest. It’s time to be fired up. It’s time to stand up. It’s time to speak up.
 

Eric doesn’t stand for books bans – and neither do we! Click here to learn more about Eric’s historic candidacy here and why he’s running to be Illinois’ first out LGBTQ Member of Congress.

5. Speaking of Congress: Federal "Don’t Say Gay" Bill Introduced this Week

It’s never been clearer that if bigots take control of the U.S. Congress, it won’t just spell the end for the Respect for Marriage Act or the Equality Act, it means they will have a good shot at enacting anti-LGBTQ laws at the federal level.

Earlier this week, Rep. Mike Johnson introduced a federal “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would cut federal funding to libraries, school districts, hospitals, government entities or other organizations for “hosting or promoting any program, event or literature involving sexually-oriented material.” LGBTQ advocates and candidates quickly spoke up in opposition.

Read Spotlight candidate Leigh Finke’s phenomenal thread on the impact this bill would have if passed here.

Tweet: We have to take a second with this one friends. 🧵 A bill’s been introduced in the US House, essentially Florida’s Don’t Say Gay Bill, but on steroids. They call it the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act.” The bill itself is a nightmare scenario…

Our LGBTQ candidates are running in districts that are essential for holding our pro-equality majority in the U.S. Congress. If you can make a donation to protect our U.S. House candidates, we appreciate it!

6. Marcia Morgan's race in NC heating up

The race for North Carolina’s state Senate is heating up. The risk for an anti-equality supermajority in North Carolina hangs on just a few seats. Spotlight candidate Marcia Morgan is neck and neck with Michael Lee, who has continually signed anti-equality legislation. He supported North Carolina’s own “Don’t Say Gay” bill, has voted yes on every effort to restrict reproductive rights that has come his way and voted for the notorious 2016 “bathroom bill”.

Meanwhile, Marcia reaffirmed her commitment to protecting abortion access in a recent interview with Cosmo and has always stood up for equality. Watch her latest ad here!

Tweet: We must protect the Governor's veto power from far-right members of the General Assembly. If we don't keep them from regaining a supermajority, they will close the door on a woman's right to make choices about her own reproductive health.

7. Celia Israel is on Fire! 🔥

In the race for mayor of Austin, Spotlight candidate Celia Israel isn’t slowing down. This week she received an endorsement from The Austin Chronicle after killing it at her debate. She has big plans for Austin and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon!

Tweet: ICYMI from last night: I’m tired of being mansplained to about my own body. I don’t think people understand that as women, we’re not just disappointed - we’re angry. Our bodily autonomy is gone. To all who need reproductive healthcare or an abortion, as Mayor, I got your back.
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LGBTQ Victory Fund is the political arm of the LGBTQ community. Since our founding in 1991, we’ve supported and elected LGBTQ candidates like U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, Governors Jared Polis and Kate Brown and all nine LGBTQ members of U.S. Congress. We've boosted out candidates running for state and local government, including California Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, Florida Senator Shevrin Jones, Virginia Delegate Danica Roem, Colorado state Representative Leslie Herod, Pennsylvania state Representative Brian Sims, Hawaii state Representative Adrian Tam, Oklahoma Representative Mauree Turner, and so many more (meet all of our current candidates here)! We’ve shattered rainbow ceilings in all 50 states and broken election year records. You can power our work and the next Rainbow Wave with a donation today!

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