Victory in the News

Barney Frank to Marry, DOMA Will Limit Federal Recognition of Congressman's Spouse

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund's president, Chuck Wolfe, said in a statement, "We are thrilled for Barney and Jim, and offer them both our congratulations and best wishes.

"As one of the world's most visible out elected officials, Barney Frank has long used his position and influence to draw attention to the freedoms LGBT Americans deserve but still do not enjoy," Wolfe said. "It's fitting that as his time in Congress comes to a close, he will finally take advantage of the freedom to marry in his home state of Massachusetts." 

N.J. gov picks gay black man, Asian for top court

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie moved to diversify the state's all-white Supreme Court on Monday by proposing two firsts: the nominations of an openly gay black man and a Korean-born law enforcer to fill two vacancies. 

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a Washington D.C., group that supports political campaigns of gay candidates, said the first two gay Supreme Court justices were both in Oregon. Rives Kistler was appointed to the bench in 2003 and elected to a full term the next year. Virginia Linder was elected in 2006.

Victory Fund spokesman Dennis Dison said all four others have been sworn in since 2010. They are: Barbara Lenk in Massachusetts, Sabrina McKenna in Hawaii, Monica Marquez in Colorado and Beth Robinson in Vermont. Robinson was previously the leader of a statewide gay rights group, Vermont Freedom to Marry.

Dison said his group helped Harris last year in his mayoral campaign, and that he is one of the few openly gay black Republican mayors in the nation. 

Meet the super super PAC

For PACs that have already gone hybrid — they range from the Conservative Action Fund to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund — the advantages are notable and immediate, several officials said.

Baldwin Raised More Than $1 Million in Last Quarter of 2011 for Senate Race

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) announced today on Facebook that her campaign for U.S. Senate raised more than $1 million in the last three months of 2011. 

Endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the group's vice president for communications, Denis Dison, told Metro Weekly today, "There's a lot of excitement around this campaign. With 16,000 donors in just a matter of months, it's clear Tammy is attracting strong grassroots support. Still, money will matter a lot in this open seat race, and having close to $2 million on hand is a great start." 

Giffords' gay savior says he's no hero

Recently, Hernandez has become involved with the Gay and lesbian Victory Institute. The institute's focus is getting qualified gays and lesbians elected to public office. "They are helping to train the new generation and this generation in what it takes to be an elected official," he said. The institute offers Hill Congressional Internships, where young LGBT individuals can intern for a senator or a congressperson in much the same way he did.

"The Victory Institute shows you that being gay isn't always a liability but could also be an asset," he said. Hernandez—who, at only 21, has won his first local election and has not yet graduated from college—offers sound advice for those in the LGBT community who would rather sit on the sidelines than be on the field. "If you think just because you are LGBT you cannot serve and could never be elected, you're wrong," said Hernandez. "The institute can show you the successes of others who are qualified and want to serve. In Wisconsin right now, the people are working to elect Tammy Baldwin as the first openly gay Senator in United States history."