LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

Anti-equality majority in U.S. House Passes "Parental Rights" Bill

This afternoon, a slim anti-equality majority in the U.S. House passed a 'Parental Rights' bill. Despite the name, however, the bill seeks to limit LGBTQ+ positive education, allows parents to review books in schools and on library shelves and comes with amendments directly targeting trans students. Advocates also fear the language in the bill could be used to out LGBTQ+ students and LGBTQ+ rights even further.

The vote comes just one day after the news broke that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is trying to expand the state's harmful "Don't Say Gay" law - which includes text similar to the U.S. House bill - to cover all grades.

The motivation behind these bills couldn't be clearer: it isn't about parental rights. It's a coordinated, national effort to roll back equality, target LGBTQ+ kids and demonize trans people.

Meet Our New Candidates!

Victory Fund endorsed 16 new out LGBTQ+ candidates yesterday, bringing the total number of endorsed candidates to 101! Three candidates were named Spotlight candidates: Andy Garcia, who is running for the Pasadena ISD School Board, and Rozia Henson and Adele McClure, who are both running for the Virginia House of Delegates. Click here to meet all 101 of our candidates!

New Endorsements in Philly, Madison and Denver

This week, Victory Fund candidates from across the country raked in new endorsements. Spotlight candidate Rue Landau, who is running for the Philadelphia city council, secured the endorsement of the Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance. Madison Common Council candidate Juliana Bennett landed the Cap Times endorsement and Denver City Council candidate Travis Leiker earned the coveted Denver Gazette endorsement.

Catch up quick: If elected, Travis would be the first out gay man ever elected to the Denver City Council!

“Our Hair is Who We Are"

Victory Fund candidate Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, who is running for reelection to the San Antonio City Council, spoke with FOX 29 this week about his work to make race-based hair styles an explicit protection within the city's non-discrimination ordinance. "Whether it's loose curls, big curls, tight curls or afros, there's a pressure when you enter into a professional work environment or a school or somewhere outside of your home, where you have to take up as little space as possible, and you have to blend in… I think it's important that we explicitly name this as a discrimination.” Read the full article here!

Karl Frisch Defending AP African American Studies in Virginia

Fairfax County School Board candidate Karl Frisch penned a letter with colleagues this week urging Governor Youngkin to stop his administration's decision to "single out" the AP African American Studies course. "Black History must merit more than an honorable mention every February. As elected School Board members who believe diversity is one of Virginia's greatest strengths, we urge you not to impede the teaching of AP African American Studies." Click here to learn more.

Op-ed Alert: Satya Rhodes-Conway in the Wisconsin Journal

Victory Fund endorsed candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway, who is running for reelection as Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, penned an op-ed about the progress she’s fought for during her first term, from tackling the housing crisis to increasing equity within the city, and why she is running for reelection. “Over the past four years, I’ve fought to keep our community safe and keep Madison moving forward. I ask for your support on or before April 4 so together we can get the job done.” Read her full op-ed in the Wisconsin Journal here.