Victory in the News

Vote Blue? Vote Red? …. Vote Rainbow!

Over 300 members of Missouri lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community leadership, advocates and allies gathered at the Victory Fund Champagne Brunch at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown St. Louis, Oct. 24.

Victory Fund's Champagne Brunch is an annual event that celebrates the accomplishments of LGBT leaders and provides critical support to community candidates across the country.  Since 1991, the Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBT candidates win election to local, state and federal offices.

The event featured Emmy award-winning entertainer Leslie Jordan, who charmed the room as master of ceremonies; Georgia State Representative, Simone Bell, the first African American lesbian elected to public office; Missouri’s own State Senator, Jolie Justice and Victory Fund President and CEO, Chuck Wolfe.  All gave high regards of Victory Fund and stressed the need to elect openly LGBT public officials. Also present were openly gay politicians Missouri State Rep Mike Colona and St. Louis City Alderman Shane Cohn, both of whom received training and support from Victory Fund.

Organized by Victory Fund Event Manager, Martin Espinoza, the brunch was sponsored by Bill Donius and co-chaired by St. Louis activists Frank Siano and Amie Needham.

To volunteer or donate to Victory Fund and support LGBT political candidates across the US, visit www.victoryfund.org.

Oakland mayor's race divides LGBTs

As she did two years ago, Kaplan has proven to be a strong campaigner. She picked up the Oakland Tribune's endorsement as well as those of the Bay Area Reporter and the San Francisco Bay Guardian, along with the East Bay Young Democrats and the California Nurses Association. The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has also endorsed Kaplan, a sure sign she is seen by the national group as a formidable candidate.

Obama Appoints Record Number of Gays

President Barack Obama has appointed more gay people in less than two years than any other president, the Associated Press reports.

While the cabinet does not include any openly gay or lesbian appointees, more than 150 policy officials, advisers, commission members, and other high-level staff members are out, according to Denis Dison of the Victory Fund. The closest contender is President Bill Clinton, who appointed about 140 gays and lesbians to such positions throughout his eight years in office.

Dison said the appointments were part of an effort from the administration to increase its diversity. White House spokesman Shin Inouye also confirmed the amount and added that Obama has hired more gay and lesbian officials than presidents Clinton and George W. Bush combined.

Clinton made waves in 1993, when he appointed then–San Francisco supervisor Roberta Achtenberg as assistant secretary for Housing and Urban Development. She was the first lesbian to hold such a high post, even after a tumultuous confirmation hearing when notoriously conservative senator Jesse Helms called her a "militant extremist."

Openly Gay David Cicilline Front-Runner In Rhode Island House Race

Providence Mayor David Cicilline is the front-runner in the race to represent Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District.

The openly gay Cicilline is up by double digits in the polls. According to the New York Time's FiveThirtyEight Election Forecast, Cicilline has a 91.9 percent chance of winning on November 2.

The 49-year-old Cicilline, who has served two terms as mayor of Providence, enjoys the endorsement of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that supports openly gay elected officials, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest gay rights advocate.

He also holds a fundraising advantage against his Republican rival, John Loughlin II.

If elected, Cicilline would become the fourth House member who is openly gay, provided Democratic front-runners Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Jared Polis of Colorado win their re-election bids.

Cicilline boosters say he's up in the polls because his campaign has focused on jobs and the economy.

“He has a strong reputation for building Providence's economy and I think that focus for him has really been what has propelled him to the front of this race,” Robin Brand, deputy executive director of the Victory Fund, told CNN.

Brand added that Cicilline's honesty about his sexuality is a plus in the eyes of many voters.

“It's clear that it may not be easy to run as openly gay or lesbian, but they are being open and honest about who they are. Voters really respect that, and I think that, in some ways, can really be an advantage especially in times like this.”

Denis Dison, a Victory Fund vice president, echoed a similar sentiment.
“Every year more and more brave people are stepping up to run for office while being honest about who they are,” Dison told On Top Magazine in an email. “That's going to change politics in America.”

A fifth openly gay candidate, Steve Pougnet, is challenging Republican Rep. Mary Bono Mack in California.

Openly gay candidate a front-runner in R.I. House race

If elected, Cicilline, 49, would be one of four openly gay members of Congress -- joining the ranks of Democratic Reps. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Jared Polis of Colorado (assuming they win their re-election bids).

Robin Brand, deputy executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, said her nonpartisan political action committee decided to endorse the mayor mainly because of his leadership track record.

"He had been a successful state legislator, successful mayor and really came out of the starting gate as the front-runner in this race," Brand said. "He is a really strong campaigner."

But he still has work to do, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

The report deems the district "Lean Democrat." It previously changed its ranking in September from "Likely Democrat" to "Lean Democrat" after Cicilline was forced to acknowledge that the city had "improperly given him pay raises as mayor between 2006 and 2009."

It's a point that Loughlin was able to capitalize on.

"David Cicilline illegally collected more than $20,000 in salary that he was not entitled to -- and he only gave it back because he got caught," Loughlin said at a press conference last week. "If we can't trust him to watch our money in city hall, how can we trust him to watch our money in Washington?"

Cook Political Report points out that while Loughlin has begun to rip into Cicilline's record as mayor, "Cicilline still enters the homestretch in reasonably good shape. ... Loughlin doesn't have a ton of money left, and Cicilline is ahead anywhere from one to two dozen points in public polling."

Brand said that Cicilline's record on gay and lesbian issues is hardly a reason why he may appeal to a large swath of Democratic voters in the district, a seat now held by Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a liberal Democrat, who isn't seeking re-election.

Cicilline's "focus has been on the issues that people care about right now, which is economic development and jobs," she said. "He has a strong reputation for building Providence's economy and I think that focus for him has really been what has propelled him to the front of this race and put him in a really strong position to win this seat on November 2."

The state's largest newspaper -- The Providence Journal -- is also supporting him.

The paper's endorsement reads: "Mr. Cicilline has been an honest, energetic and often innovative mayor. ... He has cleansed city government of much of its reputation for corruption and hired capable people. ... He has brought a level of fiscal discipline (including in relations with the city's far too powerful public-employee unions) that has not been seen in the city for many decades."

Perhaps the most likely reason that Cicilline can win, Brand added, is that voters are less likely now to care about a candidate's sexuality because of the economic problems facing the country.

"Ultimately, voters vote for candidates who are going to help improve their lives. It doesn't matter if you're gay or lesbian," she said. "If you've demonstrated that you've helped improve people's lives on the issues they care about, our research shows that being openly gay or lesbian is really secondary to that."

And that's certainly the case for Laure Rondeau, an elderly Catholic woman in Providence, who told NPR that sexuality doesn't play a factor in her vote.

"[Sexual orientation] doesn't bother me at all,'' Rondeau said in the interview. "He's been a good mayor of Providence, and I think he'd do well in Congress.''

In many ways, his sexuality may be a plus to some voters angry at Washington's backroom deals and candidates deemed distant, out of touch and dishonest, Brand said.

"It's clear that it may not be easy to run as openly gay or lesbian, but they are being open and honest about who they are," she said. "Voters really respect that, and I think that, in some ways, can really be an advantage especially in times like this."

Across the country, another openly gay House candidate -- backed by the Victory Fund -- is hoping to ride that same wave.

Steve Pougnet, 47, the Democratic mayor of Palm Springs, California, is running against Republican Rep. Mary Bono Mack in the state's 45th Congressional District.

Record number of openly gay officials serve in Obama administration

"From everything we hear from inside the administration, they wanted this to be part of their efforts at diversity," said Denis Dison, spokesman for the Presidential Appointments Project of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute.

The pace of appointments has helped to ease broader disappointment among gay rights groups that Obama has not acted more quickly on other fronts, such as ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military.

In a sign of how times have changed, few of the appointees — about two dozen required Senate confirmation — have stirred much controversy. It's a far cry from the 1993 furor surrounding Clinton's nomination of then-San Francisco Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg as assistant secretary for Housing and Urban Development.

Achtenberg was the first openly gay official to serve at such a senior level, and she won confirmation despite contentious hearings and Republican Sen. Jesse Helms, who denounced her as a "militant extremist."

"It's both significant and rather ordinary," said Michael Cole, a spokesman for the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign. "It's a simple affirmation of the American ideal that what matters is how you do your job and not who you are."

Gay activists, among Obama's strongest supporters, had hoped he would be the first to appoint an openly gay Cabinet secretary. While that hasn't happened — yet — Obama did appoint the highest-ranking gay official ever when he named John Berry as director of the Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the nation's 1.9 million federal workers.

Other prominent names include Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Fred Hochberg, chairman of the Export-Import Bank. Obama also named Amanda Simpson, the first openly transgender appointee, as a senior technical adviser in the Commerce Department.

White House spokesman Shin Inouye confirmed the record number, saying Obama has hired more gay officials than the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations combined. He said Obama "is proud that his appointments reflect the diversity of the American public."

"He is committed to appointing highly qualified individuals for each post," Inouye said. "We have made a record number of openly LGBT appointments and we are confident that this number will only continue to grow."

Dison's group lists 124 of the appointees on its website. He said the remainder are not listed because they are lower-level officials not formally announced by the White House.

"We learn about a lot of these through informal networks and then work to confirm that they are indeed appointed and that they are openly LGBT," Dison said.

Advocates Hope Transgender Identity Is Not a Defining One

And while the issues that face gays and transgender people often differ, a recent spate of suicides among young gay men has intensified the need for positive political role models, said Chuck Wolfe, the president and chief executive of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which backs gay and lesbian political candidates.

“Knowing there’s openly gay people sitting in those positions will definitely have an impact,” he said.

Mr. Wolfe said that recently he had seen more and more “inspired, comfortable and confident” transgender people in his group’s training classes. There are also more gay and lesbian candidates in general now, a surge that Mr. Wolfe ascribes, in part, to newly elected — and openly gay — leaders like Mayor Annise Parker in Houston and Simone Bell, a lesbian who won a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives in December.

West Hollywood Mayor: The Gay Place In Politics

Another reason for the growth in LGBT elected officials is the tremendous work being done by the Victory Fund. The Victory Fund train people to run for office and have helped people raise money to run their campaign.  The Victory Fund has largely been responsible for many of the newer LGBT elected officials. The Victory Fund has provided crucial guidance and support to people running in areas where there haven’t been LGBT elected before.

Watch: Ellen Talks to Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns and His Mom About Anti-Gay Bullying

Fort Worth City Councilman, Joel Burns, whose powerful and emotional anti-bullying statement has been seen around the world, appeared on Ellen today (along with his mom) to talk about his message.

(via the victory fund)

National attention for Marcus Brandon

Guilford County legislative candidate Marcus Brandon makes the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund's national list of Ten Races to Watch.

The group's press release notes, "With the retirement of N.C. State Sen. Julia Boseman, Brandon would become North Carolina’s only openly LGBT state legislator, and one of just five out African-American state lawmakers in the U.S."

The attention surprised Brandon, a Democrat who ousted Earl Jones in the party's May primary in House District 60. He faces Republican Lonnie Wilson in the heavily Democratic district. Both candidates live in High Point.
Brandon doesn't consider his sexuality relevant in the campaign, he told me today.

"This is not something I wanted to take over my campaign," he said, adding that his slogan is "It's About You."

"I didn't want this to turn into something that's about me."
The main issues are jobs and economic development in a district where many residents are poor and unemployed.

"Nobody in a year-and-a-half ever asked me about my sexuality," Brandon said, "and I think that is a powerful place to be in North Carolina."
It's not a secret, he said, adding that most people who know him personally are aware. But it's not all of who he is.

Nor does it shape his agenda -- except for his concern about bullying of gay teenagers.

I agree there are much more important issues in the campaign. Brandon has run an energetic campaign and has been very successful so far -- especially for a first-time candidate.

His sexuality doesn't matter -- and I brought it up here only because of the Victory Fund press release.

Pelosi Stumps for Votes, Says DADT Soon a ‘Memory’

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who might have to relinquish the Speaker’s gavel over to GOP Minority Leader John Boehner if the House changes hands, is trying to counter the flagging enthusiasm. On Sept. 29, she received an award at the Victory Fund’s 10th annual Gay & Lesbian Leadership Awards. She again assured the audience that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would be a memory “by the end of the year,” according to LGBT reporters on hand, even though the Senate failed to move the National Defense Authorization Act forward, with the attached DADT repeal amendment. Pelosi also reiterated that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act would have to wait until after DADT is repealed.

Openly gay Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., also spoke at the Victory Fund event, stressing the importance of keeping a Democratic majority in Congress. Frank described Pelosi as “the single most important public official in the history of the United States to be fully committed to our agenda—not just as a matter of support—but as a matter of her own personal involvement,” according to the Washington Blade.

But Frank was less gracious about disaffected gays. “I understand people being unhappy about that,” Frank said, referring to failure to pass LGBT bills. “What I do not understand is people who think that the way to respond to the fact that we weren’t able to get things done is to further empower the people who kept us from getting them done.”

After the Victory Fund event, Pelosi spoke with reporters, telling The Advocate that DADT will end “with or without Congress. We wanted to sort of put our imprimatur on it, but I don’t think it has to depend on whether it passes the Senate. The process will work its way through and the president will make his pronouncement on it.”

Watch: Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns' Amazing Tearful Statement to Bullied Gay Teens

Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns broke down at last night's City Council meeting during an emotional personal statement about his own taunting by anti-gay bullies as a teen.

"I was cornered after school by some older kids who roughed me up. They said that I was a fag, and that I should die and go to Hell where I belonged."

Burns went on to discuss meeting his partner, getting elected, and developing a bond with his dad, promising teens, "It gets better."

Don't miss this.

Writes The Victory Fund: "Burns became the first openly gay candidate elected to public office in Tarrant County, Texas, when he won a special election for a seat on the Fort Worth City Council in 2007.  He was reelected in 2009."

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund Celebrates Nancy Pelosi and Political Equality at W Hotel in DC

Business-clad guests mingle while sipping on cocktails and nibbling sushi at the new W Hotel in downtown DC. Mood lighting and hip music set the tone for this young and politically energetic crowd, who wait anxiously for Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House to take the stage. Clearly, this isn’t your typical political gala but then again, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund isn’t your typical progressive organization.

On Wednesday September 29 at 7:30 p.m., the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund hosted its annual Leadership Awards and this year Nancy Pelosi was honored for her committment to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. While protesters outside of the hotel called on Pelosi to renew funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), attendees paid up to $1,200 to support the Victory Fund as well as to have the opportunity to network and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and complimentary drinks.

Emmy-award winning actor Leslie Jordan served up jokes as the evening’s emcee and introduced the evening’s distinguished speakers including the Victory Fund’s president and CEO Chuck Wolfe, as well as members of Congress, Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi. Notable guests at the event included former Miss DC 2009 Jennifer Corey.

The Victory Fund was founded in 1991 and it provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly gay and lesbian candidates and officials across the United States, helping them win elections at local, state and federal levels. The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has successfully helped elect several hundred openly LGBT candidates to Congress, state legislatures, school boards and city councils. The organization also offers programs and training to elected officials.

The gala called for equality for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in society and couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. With the influx in media coverage of teen bullying based on sexuality, I think we can all agree that bullying should never be a part of any young person’s life…no matter you’re political persuasion.

Victory Fund announces ‘Ten Races to Watch’

A gay Republican seeking office in the Nevada State Legislature and a gay politician vying to become mayor of a Kentucky city are among the candidates the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is highlighting as part of its recently announced “Ten Races to Watch.”

On Monday, the Victory Fund identified the names of ten endorsed candidates in races that the organization believes could have a significant impact on LGBT community.

The ten candidates represent a portion of the 164 candidates the organization has endorsed in all of 2010 and more than 100 candidates who are facing election in November, according to the Victory Fund.

In a statement, Chuck Wolfe, the Victory Fund’s president, predicted that 2010 will be “a banner year” for the organization and its mission to elect openly LGBT people to public office.

“We know out elected officials can be a leading political indicator of real change, so it’s exciting to see so many candidates stepping up to run for office this year,” Wolfe said.

The Victory Fund statement highlights each of the candidates running in the “Ten Races to Watch” in alphabetical order:

Chuck Wolfe: A Banner Year for Gay Politics

This year may not turn out to be the best one for congressional Democrats, but it’s likely to be a historic one for openly LGBT candidates across the country.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed 163 out candidates for offices ranging from local school boards to Congress, making this our largest endorsement slate ever. But the numbers alone don’t describe how transformative some of these races may be, especially in places and offices that have never had openly LGBT office holders.

Of course last Tuesday brought one of the year’s biggest victories; Providence, R.I., Mayor David Cicilline won the Democratic primary to replace Rep. Patrick Kennedy in the House of Representatives. In deep blue Rhode Island, this win means David is well-positioned to become the fourth sitting openly gay Member of Congress, joining Reps. Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank and Jared Polis.

Steve Pougnet is the Democratic nominee for Congress in the 45th Congressional District in California. The current mayor of Palm Springs could become the first openly gay parent in Congress if he defeats the incumbent, Rep. Mary Bono Mack.

Adding more out members of Congress will further expose their straight colleagues to the reality of who we are. When the House debates things like partnership rights or military service, they’ll be talking about the lives and experiences not only of some abstract community, but of colleagues who may be standing next to them on the House floor. There is tremendous power in that.

But congressional politics are only part of the story. Victory Fund candidates are seeing success in key states where legislatures are close to enacting laws that will represent concrete progress toward full equality for LGBT people, and their voices will be vital in those debates.

In Maryland, three gay and lesbian candidates are set to join four out incumbents in the state legislature, giving the state an unprecedented seven openly LGBT lawmakers. This is phenomenal news for same-sex couples who will be pushing for a marriage equality bill next year--a bill Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has promised he’ll sign.

In Ohio, Nickie Antonio will take a seat in the State House after winning her hard-fought primary. She faces no general election opponent, so she will become the first openly LGBT member of the Ohio state legislature. It’s likely lawmakers will again try to pass legislation banning employment discrimination against LGBT people, and Nickie’s voice will figure prominently in that fight.

In Colorado, Lucia Guzman won her primary to keep the State Senate seat she was appointed to earlier this year. Her win this November will give Colorado four gay or lesbian state lawmakers next year, when advocates will try to finally pass a bill protecting the rights of same-sex couples.

And last Saturday in Hawaii, the state’s two out legislators won tough re-election primaries. They’ll likely try again next year to pass a sweeping civil unions bill, and this time Gov. Linda Lingle won’t be around to veto it.

Our progress demands our participation in the political process--not just as advocates or lobbyists, but as voting representatives of our local communities and the LGBT community. Pro-equality legislation is far more likely in places where out candidates run and win, so much so that it has become a leading political indicator of progress to come.

When they win, these candidates and dozens more like them around the country won’t represent victories just for a party or even a set of policy goals. They’ll become the face and voice of the LGBT community in the places where they serve. They’ll become our most important champions for real change, for true equality and for the idea that all Americans deserve the rights and responsibilities our Democracy promises.

As established organizations face new perspectives and groups, LGBT advocacy is evolving – despite setbacks and challenges

For groups like the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which works to elect qualified LGBT candidates, this has impacted the organization's work.

''My job is to work with the candidates and the officials,'' Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe says. ''Anything I can do that helps them win, that's what we do. And, in some cases, that's advising candidates on how to traverse some of these questions when organizations might disagree with each other on positions.''

With House in question, is Frank ’running scared’?

Frank is both a Democrat and a Democratic leader. He chairs the House Financial Services Committee. He’s also the most senior and most visible of the House’s three openly gay members.

While he’s gotten $9,000 from the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and almost $9,500 from the Human Rights Campaign, that’s less than three percent of the $635,500 he’s received from various political action committees. In all, as of the Aug. 25 report to the Federal Elections Commission, his campaign has raised $2.4 million.

U.S. Could Get First Openly Gay Lieutenant Governor

Also, the Victory Fund has stated their support for the state senator: "Tisei has earned the respect of his colleagues and stands an excellent chance of becoming the party’s nominee for Lieutenant Governor if he can beat back the forces of intolerance on the extreme right wing of his party.  A group has emerged that’s urging Republican voters to reject Tisei because of his strong support for marriage equality, his support of teachers and because of his pro-choice stand."

Official to Face Hearing Over Blog Attacks

Mr. Armstrong, who did not respond to a request for an interview, was an intern this summer with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and in the past with the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

Denis Dison, communication

“We are advocating that nobody engage in the type of harassment that he was engaging in,” Mr. Dison said.

Mich. assistant attorney general's blog targeting gay student leader raises free speech issues

"This is just another tactic bringing awareness to what Chris really stands for," Shirvell said. "The substance of the matter is, Chris Armstrong is a radical homosexual activist who got elected partly funded by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund to promote a very deeply radical agenda at the University of Michigan. ... I'm a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights."

Denis Dison, spokesman for the Washington-based organization, denied that the fund donated money to Armstrong's campaign earlier this year. Dison said Armstrong, who was an intern with the fund two summers ago, told him about Shirvell's actions and he urged him to report Shirvell to police.

"It sounded like it was getting a little strange," Dison said. "I think everyone thinks it has crossed the line."

"If I'm a gay person living in Michigan, this does not instill confidence that the attorney general's office has my best interests at heart," he added. "It's surprising that you would keep an employee who would damage the credibility of the work that you're trying to do in the state."

Mich. AG's Blog Targets Gay Student President

Shirvell replied: "Chris Armstrong is a radical homosexual activist who got elected, partly funded by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, to promote a very deeply radical agenda. ... His biggest issue is gender-neutral housing."

Denis Dison, spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which helps gay political candidates mount campaigns, tells the Upshot that Armstrong was an intern at their offices two years ago and went through candidate training at that time, but has received no funds from them. They do not endorse student government politicians.

Regional elections spotlight LGBT issues

2010 Victory Fund Gay & Lesbian Leadership Awards honors Speaker Pelosi

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund held its gala awards ceremony honoring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the W Hotel on Wednesday. Protesters outside of the hotel called on Pelosi to renew funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). Inside the hotel, attendees paid up to $1,200 to support the Victory Fund as well as to have the opportunity to network and enjoy sushi and complimentary drinks. Speakers included actor Leslie Jordan, the Victory Fund’s president and CEO Chuck Wolfe, as well as members of congress Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi.

Obama's DADT Dilemma

House speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged the administration’s predicament last night following an event where she received an award from the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund for her work on LGBT issues. During her speech, Pelosi reiterated her pledge to an adoring crowd that “’don’t ask, don’t tell’ would “be gone by the end of the year.”

Pelosi foresees ‘Don’t Ask’ end by year’s end

The speaker spoke to reporters after she gave a speech at the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Awards at the W Hotel, which was hosted by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

During her speech, Pelosi made similar assurances and promised that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be “gone by the end of the year.”

“Some are here tonight who serve in the military,” she said. “God bless you for your courage and your patriotism. … But because of courage of some of them, this will be gone by the end of the year.”

Pelosi previously predicted in May that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would be “a memory” by the end of this year during an interview with the Hill newspaper.

Speaking to reporters, Pelosi said Congress got the ball rolling on repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to get lawmakers on record on the issue and so the change would be “in statute and all of that.”

The House in May passed an amendment that would repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as part of the fiscal year 2011 defense authorization bill.

“But even the bill that we passed said that it was contingent upon the recommendation of the president’s … review,” she said. “The only difference would be statute versus the president [making a policy change.]”

Pressed on whether she thinks the executive branch would ultimately be responsible for ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Pelosi replied, “That’s where it was anyway.”

“Others wanted to have more, so we tried to do more,” she said. “We’ll work very closely to try to see what happens after the election.”

Pelosi has previously said President Obama can issue an executive order to stop discharges under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” without action from Congress.

Supporters of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal have been calling on Obama since the beginning of his administration to issue an order to stop the discharges under the law, but the president hasn’t taken such action.

Asked whether she would call on Obama to issue an order to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Pelosi replied, “That is the unfolding that we will see.”

“I’m very pleased with the course that the president’s on, but I think that they we shouldn’t be discharging people until that happens — so that, we have a little separation of — in terms of policy on that,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi added House members who support “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal were “very disappointed” the Senate didn’t have sufficient votes to end a filibuster on moving forward with legislation that would end the law.

“In the Senate, the Republicans held up the bill entirely so it couldn’t even be considered, so it was very disappointing,” she said. “They went really out of their way to try to block this.”

Pelosi also reiterated her position that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act wouldn’t see a House vote until legislative action is complete on repealing the 1993 law barring open service in the U.S. military.

“I told everyone that right from the start — that if we want to go down the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ route, then we’d have to put ENDA in a different place,” she said.

Pelosi said initial plans for the 111th Congress were to take on hate crimes protections legislation followed by ENDA and then “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” But she said the House ended up acting on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” first before ENDA because there was “a lot of enthusiasm about changing the order.”

During her speech, Pelosi maintained the importance of the mid-term elections and said “the fabric of our middle class and strength of our democracy” is at stake.

Pelosi added that the election results will also “accelerate the pace of passing ENDA or set us back.”

The speaker said she believes the votes are in the U.S. House to pass ENDA, but expressed concern about a motion to recommit that could derail the bill.

The motion to recommit is a legislative manuever that opponents of ENDA could use to scuttle the bill when it comes to the House floor.

“I think we have the votes for it, but we have to resist the motion to recommit,” Pelosi said. “We can’t pass the bill unless we can resist all of the bad things that they could do to the bill along the way.”

Also speaking at the event were gay Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).

During his speech, Frank emphasized the importance of keeping a Democratic majority in the next Congress and questioned those who would criticize lawmakers who support LGBT rights for the lack of progress on pro-LGBT bills.

“I understand people being unhappy about that,” he said. “What I do not understand is people who think that the way to respond to the fact that we weren’t able to get things done is further to empower the people who kept us from getting them done.”

Frank urged attendees to “bitch and fight” all the way to the polls to re-elect a Democratic majority in the U.S. House because Pelosi has been such a strong supporter of LGBT rights.

“Neither Tammy, nor I, nor anybody else has ever had to ask for her to support us,” Frank said. “We take that for granted and she has been the been the single most important public official in the history of the United States to be fully committed to our agenda not just as a matter of support, but as matter of her own personal involvement.”

Pelosi: DADT "will be gone by the end of the year"

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was optimistic about the end of the military's ban on gay and lesbian service, saying on Wednesday night, "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' will be gone by the end of the year. It will just be a sad memory." This, she said, despite last week's vote in the Senate against bringing the bill containing repeal language to the floor for debate.

Talking about "the pain [DADT] has caused people," Pelosi told the crowd at the Victory Fund's 10th annual Gay & Lesbian Leadership Awards that "some are here tonight who served in our military. ... Because of the courage of some of them, this will be gone by the end of the year."

Pelosi was introduced by Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), who had been, in turn, introduced by Victory Fund president Chuck Wolfe.

Her comments, however, about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act -- a bill sponsored by Frank -- were far more equivocal.

Pelosi -- whose decision not to bring ENDA the House floor for a vote has led to multiple occasions in which people were arrested for protesting that inaction -- on Wednesday said that the upcoming mid-term elections were essential to moving forward the bill outlawing anti-LGBT job discrimination.

"[A] lot is riding on this election," she told the crowd gathered at the W Hotel's main ballroom on Wednesday evening. "And part of the choice that will be made will either accelerate the pace of passing ENDA or set us back, and we have to realize that. We have to realize that."

For the co-director of Get Equal, the organization involved in those protests of Pelosi, tonight's speech was about leadership -- but more about, in Robin McGehee's view, Pelosi's lack of leadership on the bill.

Talking to Metro Weekly, McGehee said, "Leadership is about doing the right thing, not the politically safe thing. What I heard her saying is that even with controlling both chambers of Congress and having a Democratic president -- even with all of that -- her leadership has not been able to get ENDA passed out of committee and onto the floor.

"I don't want to have a Republican-dominated Congress. But I also don't believe we're the only progressive community dissatisfied with the lack of leadership," McGehee said. "I feel like she's punting on our position and our rights and yet asking us to give, and I'll give when we get equal. I'll vote for her, but I'm not going to give money or time."

WATCH: Victory Fund Asks What's at Stake for LGBT Voters on Nov. 2

Thinking of sitting out the mid-term elections on Nov. 2? Don't.

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund releases a hard-hitting new web video entitled "What Will You Lose?" to explain what is at stake for the LGBT community. And there are dozens of reasons to vote in November, from health care reform to the Supreme Court. Most important: Preventing anti-gay conservatives from controlling Congress.

Shout out to hottie Democratic National Committee member Evan Low at 1:00, the mayor of Campbell, California and the youngest openly gay mayor in the country. And thanks to the Victory Fund for its help in electing Maryland's Mary Washington, the second openly lesbian Black legislator in the nation.

Victory Fund Video: What Will You Lose?

With five weeks remaining before the midterm elections, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has launched a video campaign asking people to express what they will lose should antigay extremists succeed in consolidating their power.

The stark video cites antigay rhetoric from incumbents up for reelection like U.S. senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Oklahoma state representative Sally Kern. Some of the rights deemed to be at stake have not even been won yet, which points to the video's role as a motivation tool for disaffected Democratic voters.

“If they win, they'll kick brave troops out of the military, stop partner visitation rights in hospitals, and prevent gays and lesbians from adopting kids who need loving homes,” says the Victory Fund.

The campaign invites viewers to submit their own 15-second video about what they will lose in the event of antigay extremist wins.

Gay And Lesbian Victory Fund Takes On Social Conservatives

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund released a jarring new video called "What Will You Lose?" in which they highlight what LGBT Americans would lose should social conservatives like Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) get their way. So, what's on the list: love, freedom, and dignity, among other things.

Jordan to Emcee Awards

Comedian and actor Leslie Jordan will be the emcee at the 10th annual Gay and Lesbian Leadership Awards at the W on Wednesday evening.

The event will honor Speaker Nancy Pelosi and will feature remarks from Reps. Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin.

A conversation with Houston Mayor Annise Parker

With 2.2 million constituents, Parker said she couldn’t be just the gay mayor, but she would continue to use her position to advance LGBT rights when possible. She helps raise money and speaks for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund around the country and said their training was extremely helpful.

Gay Houston Mayor Gets High Marks

A new poll indicates that a solid majority of Houston residents say that Mayor Annise Parker is doing a “good” or “excellent” job.

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund reported on the poll from 11 News/KUHF-Houston Public Radio.

“Fourteen percent of poll respondents rated Parker’s job performance as ‘excellent,’” reported the Victory Fund’s blog, GayPolitics.com. “Forty-two percent said she was doing a ‘good’ job. Twenty-seven percent described her performance as ‘fair,’ and just six percent said she was doing a ‘poor’ job.”

Parker was elected last December and made Houston the largest U.S. city to date to elect an openly gay mayor.

SLIDESHOW: Victory Fund Brunch NYC

Today I attended the first annual Victory Fund brunch in NYC, where headliner Rep. Barney Frank talked at length about the difficulties we face in the repeal of DADT and even getting ENDA to a vote. Comedian Alec Mapa hosted, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn spoke, anti-Quinn activists protested outside, and a literal who's who of political homorati mingled over mimosas.

Mary Washington to Become 2nd Blk Openly Lesbian State Lawmaker

Brava and congratulations to Mary Washington, who was one of 33 openly LGBT candidates in the nation endorsed by the Victory Fund during this cycle. Washington follows in the footsteps of Georgia's Simone Bell, who in December 2009 became the first openly lesbian black state legislator in U.S. history. Connecticut's Jason Bartlett and Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox are the nation's only openly Black male state legislators.

Primary results: 29 of 33 openly gay candidates advance, Victory Fund says

Tuesday’s primaries brought mostly good news to openly gay candidates supported by the Victory Fund, as 29 of 33 pols either advanced in primaries or won their elections outright.

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, was in Providence, R.I., Tuesday night as Providence Mayor David Cicilline was declared the winner of the Democratic primary to represent Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District. Rhode Island is a very blue state, and so is the district, thus Cicilline immediately becomes the favorite to win in November.

“I’m very grateful that the Victory Fund and their supporters believe in this campaign, and I thank you for your hard work on our behalf. Together we really can change politics in Rhode Island and across the country, and make sure that all Americans have a voice in their government. I hope you’ll continue to stand with us as we work hard for a big victory this November,” Cicilline said in a statement.

If elected, Cicilline would become the fourth openly LGBT member of Congress.

Gay Pols Nearly Sweep Primaries

Twenty-nine of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund's 33 endorsed candidates in primary contests Tuesday won their party's nomination or the election outright.

The Maryland legislature will have at least seven openly gay and lesbian members if three newcomers who won primaries Tuesday join four incumbent members. House of delegates candidates Luke Clippinger, Bonnie Cullison, and Mary Washington hope to join incumbents Annie Kaiser, Maggie McIntosh, and Heather Mizeur along with state senator Richard Madaleno. Washington would be only the second out lesbian African-American state legislator in the United States if elected.

Denis Dison, a spokesman for the Victory Fund, said the wins in Maryland will be key for a possible push in the Maryland legislature to pass a marriage equality bill, which Gov. Martin O'Malley said he would sign into law if he were to be reelected.

"It's going to be a powerful thing for people to talk openly about what this legislation means to them," he told The Advocate.  

One of the more notable wins on primary night was that of Providence, R.I., mayor David Cicilline, who is running to represent the state's first congressional district. If elected in November, he would become the fourth out member of the U.S. House of Representatives, joining Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, and Jared Polis.

“I’m very grateful that the Victory Fund and their supporters believe in this campaign, and I thank you for your hard work on our behalf," he said in a statement. "Together we really can change politics in Rhode Island and across the country and make sure that all Americans have a voice in their government. I hope you’ll continue to stand with us as we work hard for a big victory this November.”

Dison said the results from last night overall were "remarkable," but the premier race for his organization was Cicilline's primary, which he won in a heavily Democratic district.

"He does have a Republican opponent, so we're not out of the woods, but the fact that he is the top vote=getter in a race with four Democratic candidates is a good sign."

In New York, Monroe County legislature minority leader Harry Bronson won the primary for his state assembly district. Bronson would be the only out gay New York state legislator from the upstate region, since the five currently in the senate or assembly are from the New York City area.

Bronson is running to replace longtime assemblywoman Susan John. Bronson said he planned to continue John's focus on labor and jobs, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. John is retiring after a 20-year career in the legislature.

Looking toward the November vote, Dison said there are more than 100 Victory Fund–backed candidates up for election.

LGBT Rhode Islanders largely applaud Cicilline’s victory

Cicilline has received the backing of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign. In addition, two openly gay state politicians endorsed Cicilline: House Majority Leader Gordon Fox (D-Providence) and state Rep. Frank Ferri (D-Warwick).

Beyer falls short in bid for legislature

Elsewhere in Maryland, seven openly gay and lesbian candidates won their races. Incumbent Dels. Heather Mizeur (D-Dist. 20), Maggie McIntosh  (D-Dist. 43) and Anne Kaiser (D-Dist. 14) advanced to the general election, along with newcomers Mary Washington (D-Dist. 43), Luke Clippinger (D-Dist. 46) and Bonnie Cullison (D-Dist. 19). Gay Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Dist. 18) also won his race. With those victories, Maryland is poised to join just a handful of states served by seven openly gay and lesbian state legislators, according to a statement from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

Cicilline Wins in RI, Stachowski Loses in NY, O'Donnell Wins in DE

"The 49-year-old Providence mayor cruised to a comfortable victory Tuesday, winning more than a third of the vote in a hard-fought four-way race, according to unofficial election results."

Said Victory Fund CEO and President Chuck Wolfe of Cicilline's win: "Adding more authentic LGBT voices to Congress is a Victory Fund priority, and Mayor Cicilline’s win tonight puts us one giant step closer to doing just that.  When he wins this November, he will join Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank and Jared Polis as the only openly gay and lesbian members of Congress—our greatest champions for real change and real progress toward full equality.  We’re proud to have supported Mayor Cicilline throughout his political career, and thrilled about this historic victory."

Dems Give Nod To Openly Gay David Cicilline For Congress

The 48-year-old Cicilline, who has served two terms as mayor of Providence, enjoys the endorsement of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that supports openly gay elected officials, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest gay rights advocate.

ldquo;Adding more authentic LGBT voices to Congress is a Victory Fund priority, and Mayor Cicilline's win tonight puts us one giant step closer to doing just that,” Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, said in a statement.

HRC President Joe Solmonese cheered Cicilline's win.

“We are thrilled that David Cicilline has advanced to the general election,” he said in a statement. “He has proven himself as a state senator and strong mayor and will no doubt be an active and effective congressman in promoting equality for all people.”

Denis Dison, a Victory Fund vice president, told On Top Magazine that the increasing numbers of openly gay elected officials is slowly changing the political landscape.

“Every year more and more brave people are stepping up to run for office while being honest about who they are,” Dison said. “That's going to change politics in America.”

Gay candidates for Congress draw interest, hope

"There are so few people on the Hill who can speak authentically about what these things mean in their own lives," said Denis Dison, spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that works to elect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender politicians. "We are vastly underrepresented."

Sexual orientation and gay marriage are not the flashpoints in this midterm election that they have been in the past. There are no statewide ballot measures on gay marriage this November, and polls have shown a growing acceptance of same-sex unions. Five states now allow gay marriage, including Rhode Island's neighbors Massachusetts and Connecticut.

That has bolstered the hopes of advocates, who would like to see the number of openly gay members of Congress increase.

The Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights group, has poured money into both races. The California seat has also been targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue" program as one of the seats it sees as having the best chances of moving from Republican to Democrat, although analysts say it could still be tough in what's expected to be a Republican year.

A fourth openly gay member of Congress?

Among the national LGBT groups that have endorsed Cicilline are the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Human Rights Campaign.

Robin Brand, deputy executive director of the Victory Fund, said Cicilline is “doing very well” as he approaches his primary.

“He’s working very hard; he’s raised a very competitive amount of money,” she said. “We are feeling that he’s in a very strong position going into Sept. 14.”

Cicilline’s main opponent in the primary is William Lynch, former head of the Rhode Island State Democratic Party. Other candidates in the running are Anthony Gemma, a businessman, and David Segal, a Rhode Island State House member.

Brand said primary results are sometimes hard to predict because turnout is often unpredictable, so Cicilline’s chances next week will depend on the ground game of getting out supporters.

“You’re also trying to message to a relatively small number of voters,” she said. “A lot of times, primary campaigns are really driven by endorsements and by personal connections to the community.”

But Cicilline has a number of factors in his favor as he enters the Democratic primary. A poll published last month by Brown University found the Providence mayor leading in the pack of Democratic candidates.

According to the poll, 32 percent said they would vote for Cicilline while 15 percent would support Lynch, 11 percent would support Gemma and 5 percent would support Segal.

Still, a number of votes could be up for grabs. In the poll, 35 percent of respondents identified as undecided.

Cicilline has also been a powerhouse fundraiser whose war chest dwarfs other Democratic opponents in the race.

According to the most recent Federal Election Commission reports, Cicilline has raised $1.16 million for his campaign and has more than $900,000 in cash on hand.

Comparatively, Lynch has raised $286,000, Gemma has raised $240,000 and Segal has raised $144,000.

Brand said both the poll and the fundraising numbers “absolutely” bode well for Cicilline as the primary approaches.

“You’d rather be ahead than behind, especially if we’re talking significant spread margins, which have been demonstrated not only in the fundraising, but also in the polling,” she said.

But Brand said the Cicilline campaign is “taking nothing for granted” despite these numbers and has “been building a strong field organization for months” in anticipation of the primary.

Still, Cicilline’s opponents are hammering on the problems facing Providence during his stewardship of the city as mayor, such as underperforming schools and high unemployment.

In a radio debate on Aug. 18, Gemma said Providence was in “shambles” and said Cicilline is not fit to serve in Congress, while Lynch said city schools are a “disaster,” according to the Associated Press.

Cicilline didn’t attend Wednesday’s debate reportedly because it was held during the “Buddy Cianci Show.” The show’s host, Cicilline’s predecessor as mayor, served time in federal prison for corruption.

In response to these criticisms, Brand said the situation in Rhode Island isn’t different from many other places that are facing economic problems.

“The frustration that voters are feeling about the state of the economy is happening across the country,” she said. “I think what voters are looking for is strong leaders, and David Cicilline is a strong leader.”

Brand said the Victory Fund hasn’t seen Cicilline’s Democratic challengers employ anti-gay campaign tactics in an attempt to derail the candidate in the primary.

Gay Navajo man poised to join Ariz. Senate

"In most places, minorities are underrepresented in government," said Denis Dison, vice president external affairs at Victory Fund. "That’s especially true for LGBT people. Only about 500 or more than 500,000 elected officials in the U.S. are openly LGBT."

The Victory Fund endorsed Jackson’s campaign. And Dison said: "Jack easily met all our endorsement criteria."

"LGBT people who are also racial or ethnic minorities tell a more accurate story about our community," he added. "It’s part of our strength that we identify as a community, but I think we’re even stronger when we realize we’re also a subset of every other community, including the Navajo Nation."

For his part, Jackson he said he will work to bring equality to all Arizonans.

Mehlman news fuels divisive reaction

Meanwhile the Victory Fund, a gay and lesbian political group, issued a more tepid response, saying, "We hope the fact that Ken Mehlman has reached this level of honesty will now encourage other political leaders to reject divisive anti-gay campaign tactics which, as Mr. Mehlman now admits, are purely cynical attempts to manipulate the American public."

Mehlman coming out draws mixed reactions

Chuck Wolfe, CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said he was hoping to win Mehlman’s support on LGBT issues in the future.

“Coming out is a personal decision, and it can have a profound impact on families, friends, colleagues and constituents,” Wolfe said. “We hope the fact that Ken Mehlman has reached this level of honesty will now encourage other political leaders to reject divisive anti-gay campaign tactics which, as Mr. Mehlman now admits, are purely cynical attempts to manipulate the American public.”

Political Notebook: State lawmakers endorse Oakland judicial candidate

Equality California PAC, the political arm of the statewide LGBT group, and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund are co-hosting this weekend's fundraiser for Kolakowski. The event costs $100 and will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the home of EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors and his partner James Williamson, co-chair of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center's board.

Right and Left Alike Pile on Out Former RNC Chair Ken Mehlman

"We hope the fact that Ken Mehlman has reached this level of honesty will now encourage other political leaders to reject divisive anti-gay campaign tactics which, as Mr. Mehlman now admits, are purely cynical attempts to manipulate the American public," said Chuck Wolfe, the head of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a political organization that supports GLBT candidates in races around the nation.

Ken Mehlman: I'm 'At Peace' With Myself, There's 'Absolutely' Room For Gays In The GOP

Many high-profile LGBT activists have already embraced Mehlman since his announcement earlier Wednesday. "We hope the fact that Ken Mehlman has reached this level of honesty will now encourage other political leaders to reject divisive anti-gay campaign tactics which, as Mr. Mehlman now admits, are purely cynical attempts to manipulate the American public," Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund President and CEO Chuck Wolfe said in a public statement. Openly gay Democratic strategist Steve Elmendorf told the Huffington Post that it was "great for the community to get new converts" because "until we get 51 percent of the American public supporting us on these issues, it's really important that we welcome people who want to come help us."

Mixed Primary Night for Gay Pols

Jack Jackson Jr., a former Arizona state representative who once ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, essentially won election to the state senate Tuesday night, as he won the Democratic nomination and has no opponent in the general election. According to Denis Dison at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, with Jackson, there will be at least five openly LGBT people in the Arizona state legislature when the new session convenes. Jackson, a member of the Navajo Nation, spent the evening celebrating with his colleague Tom Chabin, who won his state house race Tuesday.

Richard Sorian Latest Openly Gay Obama Appointee

In June, the White House announced that Obama has appointed more openly gay staffers than the administrations of George W. Bush and Bill Clinton combined.

ThePresidential Appointments Project, a community driven effort coordinated by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, was responsible for bringing many of the appointments, including Sorian, to the attention of administration officials.