Eight LGBTQ Stories You Should Know About
1. Election Day’s Almost Here: Are You Ready to Vote?
Need to check your voter registration or register to vote? There’s still time – head to RockTheVote.org to make sure your information is updated!
2. For the First Time in History, LGBTQ Candidates are Running in All 50 States
It’s that time of year again! This week, Victory Fund released the 2022 Out on the Trail Report. Not only did a historic number of LGBTQ people run for office this year, a record-breaking 63% won their primaries and will appear on the November ballot. This is the most diverse cohort as well – 38% of candidates are people of color and a historic number are trans and non-binary. Read more about this year’s report in the Associated Press exclusive “Amid wave of opposition, some LGBTQ candidates eye epic wins.”
Click here to read the 2022 Out on the Trail report!
3. Reporting from the Field: Minnesota Dontcha Know!
Political Manager Michelle Atwood travelled to Minnesota to campaign with Victory Fund’s Minnesotan candidates, including Spotlight candidates Leigh Finke, Erin Maye Quade and Mary Moriarty. In total, Michelle supported 12 campaigns on the ground and knocked over 300 doors in temperatures ranging from 30 degrees to 75 degrees! Check out Michelle's out on the trail blog to learn more.
4. Wheels Down in Arizona, Texas and North Carolina
Senior Director of Outreach and Engagement Marty Rouse recently hit the campaign trail for GOTV and campaign events with numerous LGBTQ candidates! Marty met with 30 current elected officials and candidates in Arizona, Texas and North Carolina, including Game Changer candidate Kris Mayes and Spotlight candidates Lorena Austin, Venton Jones, Jolanda Jones, Christian Manuel-Hayes and Celia Israel. Read more about Marty’s work to get out the LGBTQ vote!
5. New Week, New Campaign Ads
New York Game Changer candidate Robert Zimmerman highlighted his opponent’s extreme anti-choice positions in a new clip from their recent debate. Watch the full conversation here!
Spotlight candidate Kameron Nelson, running to restore LGBTQ representation in the South Dakota state House, highlights the importance of every voice being heard in his latest ad. Watch it here!
6. AG candidates Kris Mayes and Dana Nessel are Ready to Win
Don’t know Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel yet? Now’s your chance! Read her latest interview with LGBTQ Nation here. Or watch her fantastic press hit with MSNBC, where she makes her stance on insurrectionists VERY clear (she’s not for them).
Meanwhile, Kris Mayes’s opponent in the Arizona Attorney General’s race continued to spout bigoted talking points – including his support for attacking school boards who “shove sexual confusion on children” – among other deeply offensive tropes. And while he’s doing all that, Kris reached across the aisle and announced endorsements from Rep. Jim Kolbe and former county attorney Rick Romley.
7. Record Number of LGBTQ School Board Candidates Running!
Despite a growing wave of anti-LGBTQ policies targeting LGBTQ students and teachers, the number of LGBTQ candidates for school board has more than doubled in the past five years! Victory Fund’s Vice President of Political Programs Sean Meloy as well as Victory Fund endorsed candidates Stephan Kingsley and Nick Resnick spoke with USA Today about why LGBTQ representation in school boards is more important than ever. Click here to meet Victory Fund’s school board candidates.
ICYMI: Check out this recent interview with Elliot Imse on LGBTQ representation gaps in school boards, adversity school board candidates face and how once elected, the majority of LGBTQ school board members introduce pro-LGBTQ school policy.
8. Speaking of LGBTQ School Board Candidates, Meet Nick Gothard
Victory Fund endorsed candidate Nick Gothard, who is running in Loudoun Country, Virginia, sat down with LGBTQ Nation this week to talk about why he’s running for school board this year, what it’s like to run as an out LGBTQ candidate and his plan to deliver real results for his community. Click here to read the full interview!