Victory in the News
Gay Navajo man poised to join Ariz. Senate
Thu, Sep 2nd 2010, 09:20"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
Fri, Aug 27th 2010, 15:01Meanwhile 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."
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/26/mehlman-news-fuels-divisive-reaction/Mehlman coming out draws mixed reactions
Fri, Aug 27th 2010, 14:59Chuck 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
Fri, Aug 27th 2010, 14:54Equality 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.
http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=5028Right and Left Alike Pile on Out Former RNC Chair Ken Mehlman
Thu, Aug 26th 2010, 17:42"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.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=109588Ken Mehlman: I'm 'At Peace' With Myself, There's 'Absolutely' Room For Gays In The GOP
Thu, Aug 26th 2010, 17:36Many 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."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/25/ken-mehlman-gay-interview-marriage-equality_n_695040.htmlMixed Primary Night for Gay Pols
Thu, Aug 26th 2010, 17:31Jack 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.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/08/25/Gay_Pols_Win_Big_or_Go_Home/Richard Sorian Latest Openly Gay Obama Appointee
Mon, Aug 23rd 2010, 09:31In 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.
The Gaying of CT Politics
Fri, Aug 20th 2010, 11:08“It’s still very rare for an openly gay or lesbian candidate to win
statewide office,” says Denis Dison, a spokesman for the national Gay
and Lesbian Victory Fund. “Not many even run.”
“There are still states where they’ve never had an openly gay or
lesbian state legislator,” Dison says, citing Florida and Pennsylvania
as two examples. In Connecticut, where gay state lawmakers are now
almost routine, Dison says “The electorate becomes more used to it; the
media becomes more used to it. It just becomes less controversial and
less interesting.”
SDGLN to host LGBT candidates forum on Aug. 30 at Anthology
Wed, Aug 18th 2010, 17:18Denis Dison, vice president of external affairs for the Gay &
Lesbian Victory Fund and Leadership Institute, said San Diego is a model
for the rest of the country.
"San Diego is a Victory Fund success story. The LGBT community there
has really embraced our mission, which is to change politics by electing
openly LGBT candidates for public office,” Dison said.
“Some of the city's true LGBT heroes have been its elected officials, and we're proud to have played a role in that."
3 gay nominees held up in Senate
Fri, Aug 13th 2010, 09:14The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has pushed for the appointment of LGBT people through the federal government as the coalition leader in the Presidential Appointments Project.
Denis Dison, a Victory Fund spokesperson, said he had no knowledge of anti-gay bias holding up the confirmation process.
“My understanding is there are tons of nominees that are still being held,” Dison said. “I think that if the president is nominating a number of LGBT people, they’re just as likely to get caught up in the politics as straight nominees.”
Victory Fund To Host First New York Brunch In September!
Thu, Aug 12th 2010, 15:49One of the most anticipated events every April in Washington DC is the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund's annual brunch. The sold out event in the Mayflower Hotel attracts Washington's best and brightest. This year the Victory Fund is launching its first New York Brunch to be held on September 19th at noon. The elegant Mandarin Oriental Hotel is the location of this event.
The lineup is impressive and the list is just the beginning: Congressman Barney Frank who is Chair of the House of Representatives Banking Committee, New York City Council President Christine Quinn and President of the Victory Fund Chuck Wolfe. My favorite part of this event is that comedian and talented actor Alec Mapa is going to be Master of Ceremonies. Without a doubt, he is one of the funniest people in the entertainment industry. If you've ever seen his one man theatrical show, you know what I am talking about.
Legendary New York activist Joy Tomchin and I have agreed to CoChair the event. There are a number of table captains already. You can order your tickets by clicking here. This promises to be a fun event.
Out With the Old
Thu, Aug 12th 2010, 15:38Bryce Bennett, a gay 25-year-old seeking a seat in Montana’s house of representatives, hopes his promise to create jobs and fight pollution wins voters over. Bennett captured the Democratic primary for the relatively liberal district around Missoula, giving him a good shot of taking the seat of retiring congressman Robin Hamilton. Like Washington and Pougnet, the University of Montana graduate has been endorsed by the Victory Fund, the D.C.-based group that works to elect gay candidates to office.
“Being young and gay isn’t helping or hurting the campaign,” Bennett says. “Everyone I talk to tells me they want a legislator who will roll up their sleeves and deliver.”
Optimism may be a political requirement for candidates, but both Szekeres and Denis Dison, the communications vice president for the Victory Fund, sound a more cautious note.
Electoral success for gay candidates in yesterday's primaries
Wed, Aug 11th 2010, 14:25Via Denis Dison at Gay Politics, there were some big wins for Victory Fund endorsed candidates in primaries in Connecticut, Colorado and Georgia. And, it looks good for all three moving towards November:
In Connecticut, Kevin Lembo (pictured) won the Democratic primary for State Comptroller. Now a favorite to win the general election, Lembo’s on his way to becoming one of just a handful of openly LGBT candidates to win statewide office in the U.S.
Colorado State Senator Lucia Guzman won her Democratic primary, and is well-positioned to keep the seat to which she was recently appointed. Guzman is an ordained minister and an out lesbian who hopes to invigorate efforts to pass legislation that secures key partnership rights for LGBT people and their families.
In Atlanta, Joan Garner, an openly lesbian African-American, won her race for a seat on the Fulton County Commission. Because no other candidates qualified to be on the ballot in November, she will become the commission’s first openly LGBT member.
Congrats.
Time to call her Commissioner-elect Joan Garner
Wed, Aug 11th 2010, 12:25Garner collected the endorsements of three key LGBT groups – Georgia Equality, Atlanta Stonewall Democrats and the national Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund – on her way to victory, along with deep support from key LGBT political types. Waites dismissed those endorsements and didn’t publicly court gay voters, though she did receive a late endorsement from a co-owner of the Eagle. The Atlanta Progressive News’ Matthew Cardinale, a gay activist and journalist, also endorsed Waites.
With the win, Garner joins Alex Wan and Simone Bell in making local LGBT electoral history. Wan won a runoff last December to become the first openly gay man – and third overall openly LGBT person – to serve on the Atlanta City Council. Bell won a special election last year to become the nation’s first openly lesbian African-American state lawmaker. Bell faces no opposition this November in her campaign to win a full term in the General Assembly.
Gay Candidates Make Primary Election Gains
Wed, Aug 11th 2010, 10:47Openly gay and lesbian candidates backed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund scored primary election day wins in Colorado, Connecticut and Georgia on Tuesday.
According to the Victory Fund’s blog, GayPolitics.com, winners include Kevin Lembo, who won the Democratic primary for state comptroller in Connecticut. He appears poised to win the general election, and become one of few openly LGBT candidates to win statewide office.
In Colorado, the Victory Fund reports that state senator Lucia Guzman, an ordained minister and out lesbian, won her primary and looks on track to keep the seat to which she was recently appointed. And Joan Garner, an openly lesbian African-American, won her race for a seat on the Fulton County Commission in Atlanta, where she faces no opposition in November and will become the commission’s first openly gay member.
Candidate profile: Lieutenant governor Democrat Howard touts a broad appeal
Fri, Aug 6th 2010, 09:38Howard, who is openly gay, said he frequently hears from voters that his
being gay is not an issue, but that they won't support him because they
are worried he can not get elected because he is gay.
Vermont
Freedom to Marry, the organization which lobbied to get the same sex
marriage bill passed during the last biennium, did not endorse anyone in
the lieutenant governor's race, something which disappointed him given
that he worked to convince fellow lawmakers to support the bill he
cosponsored and given that voted for it to pass despite a veto, Howard
said.
“It was one of the proudest moments of my career,” he said.
Thursday Howard won an endorsement from a national group, the National Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
Judge's personal life debated after gay ruling
Fri, Aug 6th 2010, 09:26In response, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a political action committee for gay candidates, launched an online petition accusing Gallagher's group of "gay-baiting."
But the debate raises the question: Why is sexuality different from
other personal characteristics judges posses? Can a female judge rule on
abortion issues? A black judge on civil rights?
Maggie Gallagher Blasts Prop 8 Ruling, Judge
Fri, Aug 6th 2010, 09:16The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that promotes openly gay elected officials, initiated
a petition drive Thursday against Gallagher's remarks.
"Sign this petition and tell Maggie gay-baiting has no place in the national debate over LGBT equality,” the petition says.
Sexual Orientation an Open Issue for Cicilline
Thu, Aug 5th 2010, 10:24Cicilline’s candidacy has drawn the attention of at least two national interest groups, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign. Both have helped bundle campaign contributions for the mayor in recent weeks and are considering funneling more resources into the district before the primary on Sept. 14.
The HRC helped coordinate a July fundraiser for Cicilline in Philadelphia, while the Victory Fund recently helped arrange donor meetings in California.
“It’s exciting to see an openly gay candidate as the frontrunner,” HRC Political Action Committee Director Mike Mings said, noting that his organization would likely send “at least one staffer” to Rhode Island in the coming weeks to help coordinate field operations. “It’s uncommon to have someone in such a good position.”
Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe, who has already visited Cicilline in Rhode Island multiple times this cycle, acknowledged that gay candidates regularly face bias across the country.
“It’s definitely going on, but it’s obviously less in New England,” he said. “But there is the church question: How strong is the Catholic church and how strong will any church influence be?”
The organizations have endorsed Cicilline and two other openly gay Congressional candidates this cycle. But Cicilline has the best chance of becoming the fourth openly gay Member in the next Congress, following Democratic Reps. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Jared Polis (Colo.) and Barney Frank (Mass.).
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003718548&cpage=1Iowa Senator Matt McCoy Called 'Chief Sodomite' At NOM Rally
Mon, Aug 2nd 2010, 17:32McCoy, who has served four terms in the state Senate,has the endorsement of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that supports openly gay elected officials.
"McCoy has been instrumental in promoting equality across Iowa for years,” the group said in its endorsement. “When a ban [on] marriage equality was proposed in 2005, Republicans controlled the state Senate – without Matt's eloquent advocacy, many onlookers believe the ban would have passed."
http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=6148&MediaType=1&Category=26Parker to China: Gay Rights Good for Business
Mon, Aug 2nd 2010, 14:47According to GayPolitics.com, Parker is on her first trip abroad since being elected in December, when Houston become the largest U.S. city to date to elect an openly gay mayor. The purpose of her visit to China is to encourage business links, especially new direct air carrier routes, between Houston and Shanghai.
http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/08/02/Parker_Visits_China,_Speaks_about_Gay_Rights/Cicilline "continues to accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in lobbyist, corporate PAC and insider money to fund his campaign."
Mon, Aug 2nd 2010, 11:43Lynch also said that Cicilline received contributions from "corporate PACs." Our review showed that of the almost $35,000 Cicilline accepted from Political Action Committees this year, only about $6,000 or so came from so-called "corporate PACs," which we defined as a political committee directly associated with a corporate entity, such as a law firm. We did not include those affiliated with ideological causes such as the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which also gave to Cicilline.
Add the lobbyist and corporate PAC contributions and you get just under $50,000. That's roughly 4.3 percent of the $1.16 million he accepted this year. It's hardly the "hundreds of thousands of dollars" that Lynch talks about.
The joy of giving
Fri, Jul 30th 2010, 09:17“We’ve long been … supporters of the [Gay & Lesbian] Victory Fund,” Fleming said. “It’s been one of the chief tenets of the Victory Fund that it’s really terrific to have friends, but it’s even better to have folks from our own community elected.”
Although there has been criticism that the Obama administration and Congress have not moved quickly enough on pro-LGBT legislation, Fleming said this perceived lack of progress hasn’t been a factor in his advice as Bohnett’s political director.
Queery: Denis Dison
Fri, Jul 30th 2010, 09:13That was 20 years ago. Four years ago, the 42-year-old self-described political junkie joined the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund where he’s vice president for external affairs. He’d worked in editorial and marketing jobs before but he’s been putting his writing skills to use blogging at Fund-sponsored gaypolitics.com and is also a spokesperson for the organization.
“It can be a bit jarring moving from the non-profit world, but I saw this as a unique opportunity to contribute to the greater equality of LGBT people and I’ve always felt if you have the opportunity to work for the community you’re part of, you should take it.” Things are “incredibly busy,” he says. This year’s batch of 147 Fund-backed hopefuls includes six (three incumbents) running for congressional seats.
Garner's Fulton bid enjoys gay support
Tue, Jul 20th 2010, 15:41Garner has picked up a host of endorsements in the race, from gay groups Georgia Equality, Atlanta Stonewall Democrats and Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, to the Atlanta Realtors Political Action Committee and Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, AFL-CIO. The Committee for a Better Atlanta even chimed in, giving Garner its “well qualified” seal of approval.
Ashburn: It's time for Republicans to fight for gay rights
Tue, Jul 20th 2010, 15:35In the piece published on the website gaypolitics.com, run by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund that supports gay and lesbian candidates for office, Ashburn writes, "Gay people being treated with respect and having the same opportunities for a good life regardless of sexual orientation should not be topics of political debate. How can it possibly be that there is a partisan political divide over equal rights in America?"
Ashburn had one of the Legislature's strongest records of voting against bills to expand rights for LGBT Californians, but he says he deeply regrets those votes and wrote, "I look back now knowing there is so much more I could have done to inform the public about LGBT people and to fight for equal rights under the law. Regrettably and selfishly, I took another path in my life and political career -- I chose to conceal who I truly am and to then actually vote against the best interests of people like me. All this was done because I was afraid -- terrified, really -- that somehow I would be revealed as gay."
Tossing the rainbow hat into the ring
Tue, Jul 20th 2010, 13:20If elected, Washington, a real estate agent, could become just the second openly lesbian African-American state legislator in the country.
"I am running for the Maryland House of Delegates because I believe the district needs more vigorous, more progressive leadership and the community needs elected officials who can inspire public trust, serve as a catalyst for positive change and work effectively to expand social and economic justice," Washington told OUTloud.
The native of Philadelphia earned a Ph.D in Sociology from Johns Hopkins University. Washington is troubled that divisions along the lines of race, class and sexual orientation plague the district and the city—a condition she says has persisted for decades. "I’m afraid the city just hasn’t had the kind of representation we need, the kind of leadership we need to bring our communities together."
She admits it's a challenge, but she loves challenges. "My work has been all about bringing people from all walks of life together to solve city problems. Throughout my career, I have worked with all kinds of people – rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight – to create social change."
Washington, who also received an endorsement from the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, believes her record on lgbt issues will convince people she will be a powerful advocate in Annapolis. She has argued on behalf of same-sex couples having the right to choose civil marriage. As an elder at the First and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church, she worked with church leadership to back a Friend of the Court brief supporting the Deane and Polyak lawsuit for equal marriage rights in Maryland. And she advocated equal marriage rights as a member of the Stonewall Democrats of Central Maryland as well as other forums.
She strongly supports state judges who are willing to endorse second-parent adoptions for gay and lesbian families in Baltimore and Maryland. "I believe we must ensure that children of gay families and gay children of straight families are treated fairly in our schools, that sex education curricula do not treat homosexuality as a medical condition or pathology and that lgbt students have the same rights to meet in our public schools as all other students do."
Gay Fla. city councilman seeks U.S. House seat
Fri, Jul 16th 2010, 12:02Among the national LGBT organizations that are backing Galvin are the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and the National Stonewall Democrats. Galvin said Florida Together, a local LGBT organization, also has thrown its support behind him.
Denis Dison, spokesperson for the Victory Fund, said his organization endorsed Galvin because he met the criteria considered in the organization’s endorsements. Such criteria include having a plan necessary to raise the money to compete.
“The political team and our board both agreed that there was a path to victory for Scott,” he said.
One of the factors that Dison cited in the Victory Fund’s endorsement was the crowded Democratic primary.
“When there are nine people running for this nomination, it’s much different than if you just have one or two people competing,” Dison said.
On political homophobia, fear and being like the NRA
Wed, Jul 14th 2010, 09:37Yesterday, the Victory Fund's Chuck Wolfe has a post at Bilerico about political fear. He basically describes political homophobia. People inside the beltway know exactly what this is. They hear it from our supposed allies all the time:
In the last decade these numbers have moved in only one direction--toward fairness and inclusion. And yet, Congress still hasn't enacted significant protections for LGBT Americans. Why?
Fear, mostly. Fear that despite their distinct minority status, anti-LGBT extremists wield inordinate power when directly challenged. Swat that nest, the thinking goes, and the hornets will swarm. Incumbents, especially this year, aren't eager to add perceived obstacles to reelection.
LGBT activists often debate whether this fear is rational. On one side are Beltway types who see it up close every day. It's the elephant in the room at every conversation with a moderate Democratic senator from the Midwest, a gay Republican staffer for a House member, and even White House strategists.
Whether one believes it's rational or not, this fear exists, and it's part of working in LGBT politics in Washington. It must be understood, or the conversation stops.
The conversation stops because people in these DC offices don't fear us. They fear the other side. And, although candidates often want our support (mostly money), they won't take the votes necessary to give us our rights. Wolfe's solution is: "Our job as advocates is to come together to find a solution, address the fear and create the conditions to win."
We do need to create the conditions to win. And, we're not going to get there by playing nice. For one thing, our advocates need to call out "political homophobia" when they see it. And, we need to make politicians fear us, not our opponents.
Wolfe: Who's afraid of equality?
Mon, Jul 12th 2010, 13:07What's keeping Congress from enacting broadly popular LGBT equality legislation? The Victory Fund's president and CEO, Chuck Wolfe, weighs in.
http://www.bilerico.com/2010/07/whos_afraid_of_equality.phpMessage heard: "The gAyTM is closed." So what now?
Mon, Jul 12th 2010, 11:42The Victory Fund is dedicated supporting LGBT and allied candidates. The Progressive Majority is also a pro-equality progressive political fund you can trust with your money. You should also consider supporting Progressives who have fought for us (even if they happen to be Democratic). Candidates in my region include Jim McDermott and Suzan DelBenne.
Not all politics are national, local politics can have a lasting effect as well. Look around you and find the diamonds in the rough. Believe it or not, we do have friends.
Palm Springs (GO)Party?
Wed, Jul 7th 2010, 09:50One of those was Rep. Mary Bono-Mack (R-Calif.), who was married to the late singer-turned-politician Sonny Bono. Bono-Mack has represented Palm Springs since winning this special election for his seat in Congress in 1998 and received HRC's endorsement as recently as 2006. In this fall's election, however, HRC is backing challenger and out gay Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet (D), who also is backed by the Victory Fund in his race.
http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=5396GLBT Event Moved Due to Immigration Furor
Wed, Jul 7th 2010, 09:04The Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute, who had been considering holding its 2011 conference in Phoenix, has chosen Las Vegas instead.
Up until recently, Phoenix was considered the frontrunner to host the December 2011 conference.
The Phoenix Host Committee, led by Councilman Tom Simplot and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, had been working furtively to secure the conference. The conference would have attracted hundreds of gay and lesbian elected leaders.
GLLI alluded that the immigration debate in Arizona caused them to chose another site, according to the Phoenix Host Committee.
GLLI said in a letter, "The current political and legal climate in Arizona makes it complicated to accept your hospitality."
GLLI helps equip gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people with the tools for success. The institute assists hundreds of individuals who go on to influential careers in politics, government, business and advocacy each year.
Gay GOP Group GOProud Backs Rep. Mary Bono Mack
Tue, Jul 6th 2010, 16:36The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed the campaign of Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, an openly gay politician raising two children – Beckman and Julia – with his husband Christopher Green, a pharmaceutical sales representative. The couple married in 2008 during the brief June-to-November window when gay marriage was legal in California.
While the Victory Fund is nonpartisan, its endorsement card tilts heavily Democrat.
LaSalvia quickly denounced Pougnet's ties to “the gay left,” saying they “would have you believe that Mary Bono-Mack is somehow an enemy of the gay and lesbian community.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth. The decision of organizations like the Human Rights Campaign to oppose Mary's re-election is a shameful reminder of just how slavishly the gay left is willing to [go to] do the bidding of Nancy Pelosi and the DCCC,” he said. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation's largest gay rights advocate.
The forty-seven-year-old Pougnet has labeled Bono Mack anti-gay for her recent vote against repeal of the law that bans gay troops from serving openly.
“In a perfect world, people like Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack would treat all Americans the same,” Pougnet said after the House voted to repeal the law. “They wouldn't vote against gays and lesbians just to gain favor with extremists on the right.”
“I know we don't live in that perfect world yet, but I was still shocked to learn that Bono Mack voted against the amendment to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'” he added.
Denis Dison, a vice president with the Victory Fund, also disagreed with LaSalvia's characterization of Bono Mack as a gay ally.
“She had the chance to stand up for gays and lesbians serving in uniform, and she didn't take it,” Dison said in an email to On Top Magazine.
Kaplan enters Oakland mayor's race
Thu, Jul 1st 2010, 10:17"I don't want to run just to run," Kaplan said. "This is about running to win the seat that is the head of the executive branch in our city."
Kaplan has secured the endorsement of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. She has also been endorsed by Oakland businessman Geoffrey Pete, vice chair of Oakland's Black Caucus, Joyce Gordon of the Joyce Gordon Gallery, and the Reverend Dr. Harold Mayberry of First AME Church of Oakland.
Online Extra: Political Notes: Congress likely to see new LGBT members in 2011
Thu, Jul 1st 2010, 10:13It is more than likely that the current three-person LGBT congressional delegation will have a few more members come 2011 as a dozen out candidates are seeking congressional seats this year.
In a positive sign for the viability of several candidates' campaigns, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed six of the House candidates. The national group only backs those LGBT candidates deemed to have credible chances of winning their races, and the endorsement allows them to tap into the group's nationwide donor network.
In addition to the three Democratic incumbents seeking re-election to the House this year – Barney Frank (Massachusetts), Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin), and Jared Polis (Colorado) – the Victory Fund also endorsed three gay men looking to join them on Capitol Hill.
In California, Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet won the group's backing in his race for the state's 45th Congressional District. Pougnet ran unopposed in the June Democratic primary and will take on incumbent GOP Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack this fall.
Providence Mayor David Cicilline picked up the group's endorsement in his four-way race to be the Democratic nominee for Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District. Next week state Democratic Party leaders will open their convention to select who the party's favored candidate will be in the September 14 primary.
Cicilline's biggest opponent in the race to succeed Representative Patrick Kennedy appears to be Bill Lynch class="vitstorybody">, a former state Democratic Party chairman in Rhode Island. But Cicilline had outpaced Lynch in fundraising according to the latest disclosures in April, and he is considered a heavy favorite to not only best his primary opponents but also to keep the House seat in Democratic hands.
The third gay candidate winning Victory Fund support is Scott Galvin, a North Miami Beach city councilman who is running in a crowded Democratic primary set for August 24 to represent Florida's 17th Congressional District. With nine people in the race, it is anyone's guess who will come out on top.
But in a twist, Galvin's being a white, gay man may give him an advantage. He is running against several African American candidates in a district with a heavy concentration of black voters, and pundits have speculated they could split their vote enough to allow Galvin to eke out a victory.
The district is considered a safe one for Democrats, so whoever wins the party primary is expected to easily capture the seat in November.
There are five other House races with out candidates this year, but none have gained the Victory Fund's support as of yet.
What Is The Best National Political LGBT Organization In The Country?
Fri, Jun 25th 2010, 09:37The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund in Washington, DC is simply one of the best LGBT political organizations in the country. The Fund is operated, top to bottom, with excellence, good management, effective use of funds and creating long term impact in the struggle for full equality. The change it has created by electing openly LGBT candidates to public office is simply immeasurable.
The purpose of the organization is to get early resources to the campaigns of viable LGBT candidates for public office. Then to continue with that support through election. They offer candidates expertise on how to deal with LGBT issues in campaigns but also had to run effective campaigns. They have raised millions for openly LGBT candidates in their 12 years of existence.
A huge number of people have been responsible for its prominent place in the community. The Victory Fund's present CEO Chuck Wolfe deserves enormous praise for taking it to the next level and its current success.
The victories of the organization run from names like Congressman Barney Frank, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and Congressman Jarad Polis to big city mayors like Mayor Annise Parker of Houston, Mayor Sam Adam of Portland and Mayor David Cicilline of Providence. In the last dozen years the number of LGBT elected officials has risen from 49 to over 500 openly LGBT elected officials! This year alone they have endorsed a record breaking 123 candidates running for office including 6 running for the United States Congress! They have elected people in hardcore conservative states. They not only endorse for Congress but also for such agencies as the Metro Water Reclamation Board in Illinois.
In addition, the Victory Fund runs the best candidate and campaign training programs in existence. Recently they took over the international organization for LGBT elected officials. This year's conference for international LGBT elected officials will be held in Washington, DC this December.
Hope you will free some of those valuable resources you all have and support the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. It's worth it.
Senate Confirms Gay Museum Board Nominee John Coppola
Thu, Jun 24th 2010, 13:31The Presidential Appointments Project, a community driven effort coordinated by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, was responsible for bringing the three appointees to the attention of administration officials.
“John is one of a growing number of LGBT appointees to federal boards and commissions,” Denis Dison, a vice president at the Victory Fund, told On Top Magazine in an email. “The Presidential Appointments Project is seeking more LGBT applicants who, like John, are willing to serve on these important panels and help shape federal policy.”
Mike Huckabee 'Ick Factor' Comments Slammed By Gay Rights Groups
Wed, Jun 23rd 2010, 09:46Denis Dison, Vice President of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, also responded to the comments, writing in an email to Politico: "The man keeps putting his foot in his mouth...Talk about 'ick factor.' One can only guess Gov. Huckabee has discovered he gets more press hits every time he says something stupid about gay people."
Huckabee has exhibited a penchant for making inflammatory statements concerning gay rights. In an April interview with the College of New Jersey's student publication, the Perspective, the former Governor compared gay adoption to experimentation and reminded reporters that "Children are not puppies."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/mike-huckabee-ick-factor_n_621284.htmlObama Expands Federal Benefits, Hires Over 100 Gay and Lesbian Staffers
Tue, Jun 22nd 2010, 16:22This high number is driven by the Presidential Appointments Project, part of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, aimed at placing qualified LGBT people in jobs within the administration. The PAP offers an application form that interested LGBT people can fill out, and then they present those people as candidates to fill vacant slots. Their website lists the full roster of gay folks they’ve sent to the White House and beyond.
Now, it’s never wise to just assume that a high number means progress, but I’m convinced this is a really great thing. Of course I’d like the number to be higher. But I’d also like to see a day when we don’t even have to count, where it’s not an issue in the first place.
Gay groups hit Huckabee
Tue, Jun 22nd 2010, 09:17That history, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund Vice President Denis Dison wrote in an e-mail, is what gay groups find so objectionable.
“The man keeps putting his foot in his mouth,” said Dixon. “Talk about 'ick factor.' One can only guess Gov. Huckabee has discovered he gets more press hits every time he says something stupid about gay people.”
Obama administration has hired over 100 gay staffers
Mon, Jun 21st 2010, 17:04The Presidential Appointments Project, a community driven effort coordinated by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, suggested the hiring of many of the over 100 openly gay appointees serving in the administration.
“This has always been the point of the project – to make sure LGBT voices and their perspectives are heard at the highest levels of the U.S. government,” said George Walker, a vice president at the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute.
Long Beach councilman Robert Garcia named to "40-Under-40" list by The Advocate: First District leader selected for national honor.
Mon, Jun 21st 2010, 09:15Garcia is one of approximately 485 openly gay elected officials in the country at all levels of government, from local to federal, said Denis Dison, communications vice president with the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a political action committee that endorses nonpartisan candidates.
When the group formed in 1991, 49 openly LGBT elected officials were in office.
President Barack Obama has made more LGBT appointments than any commander-in-chief
Fri, Jun 18th 2010, 13:56The Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute published a list of Obama administration appointees.
The institute trains LGBT candidates on how to run an effective campaign and is related to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which helps raise money for endorsed candidates.
Some of the better-known names include Margarethe Cammermeyer, who is a member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. Cammermeyer is the highest-ranking woman to be dismissed from the military.
Obama Appoints Record Number Of Gay, Trans Staffers
Fri, Jun 18th 2010, 11:18The Presidential Appointments Project, a community driven effort coordinated by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, was responsible for bringing many of the appointees to the attention of administration officials.
“This has always been the point of the project – to make sure LGBT voices and their perspectives are heard at the highest levels of the U.S. government,” George Walker, a vice president at the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute, said.
Cambridge Mayor comes out during Pride Brunch
Wed, Jun 16th 2010, 08:57"Good for Mayor Maher. No matter where they serve, it’s still a brave and good thing for elected officials who are gay to talk about that openly and honestly. Having out officials in leadership roles does a lot to dispel fears about LGBT people. It demonstrates we’re as committed and dedicated to our communities as everyone else," said Denis Dison, Vice President of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. "Cambridge now has its third openly gay mayor in a row, and the Massachusetts GOP’s candidate for lieutenant governor is openly gay, which are extraordinary developments. That said, out elected officials are still rare in America, and many states have still never elected an openly gay state legislator, including large states like Florida and Pennsylvania."
http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=106949
Cambridge, Mass. Mayor Comes Out
Tue, Jun 15th 2010, 11:28Maher, 51, has been with his partner for more than 30 years, the Chronicle reports. He took office in February.
As the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund reports, Maher follows former mayors Ken Reeves, who was the first African-American openly gay man to serve as a mayor in the United States, and E. Denise Simmons, who became the country’s first out lesbian African-American mayor.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/06/15/Cambridge_Mass_Mayor_Comes_Out/
SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: The Victory Fund's Robin Brand
Mon, Jun 14th 2010, 12:01SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: The Victory Fund's Robin Brand
by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer
Robin Brand, deputy executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, will be in Seattle for a June 14 event with local LGBT political leaders and supporters.
The Victory Fund describes itself as an organization that 'identifies, trains, and elects LGBT leaders to all levels of office, in every corner of America.'
It claims a 68% win rate for its endorsed candidates.
Brand is no stranger to Washington, having been executive director of the state's Democratic Party in the mid-'90s.
She spoke exclusively with SGN about the Victory Fund's strategy and how that will pay out in Washington state.
"We've endorsed over 100 candidates this year," she told SGN, "the most ever. We've endorsed three in Washington - Marko Liias, Jamie Pedersen, and Laurie Jinkins. She will be the first openly Lesbian member of the legislature. It's very exciting!"
Liias is running for reelection as a State Representative in the 21st District, as Pedersen is in the 43rd. Jinkins is running for an open House seat in Tacoma's 27th District.
"Washington state has a great history with LGBT electeds!" Brand said. "I remember Cal Anderson. And Ed Murray - he's kind of the patriarch of LGBT electeds."
"It will be interesting running under the new primary laws - the top two go to the general [election]," she added. "It will be a different dynamic than in the past."
Brand then outlined other races she believed were especially important.
"We have two great congressional candidates," she said. "David Cicilline, the mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, and Steve Pougnet, the mayor of Palm Springs. That's a swing district where we think we have a good chance to pick up the seat."
"[Pougnet's opponent, Mary Bono Mack ] voted against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal," Brand added.
Republican incumbent Mack, onetime wife of the late Sonny Bono and his successor in Congress, voted the Republican party line 89% of the time and earned an 84% approval rating from the Christian Coalition.
"There's also an important primary in Ohio," Brand told SGN. "Nickie Antonio will be the first openly Gay member of the Ohio legislature."
Antonio won her Democratic primary on June 8. No Republicans have filed for the seat, and an independent candidate withdrew from the race, meaning Antonio is certain to win the seat in November.
"We have a number of what we call 'building our influence states' - Washington, Colorado, and Maryland for example," Brand continued. "This also coincides with the next tier of states looking to expand relationship recognition."
"We've noticed that where you have five or more LGBT members in the legislature, that's where they've passed significant relationship recognition laws," she explained. "Colorado and Maryland are right at that threshold level."
Asked if she was advocating a state-by-state approach to marriage equality, Brand replied, "The Victory Fund itself doesn't advocate for policy issues, but we do see the value in working in states where you have two, three, four, five members [of the legislature]."
Brand is optimistic about electing LGBT candidates, and says she is not worried about the Tea Party, or what some have begun to call the "new right."
"It's clear there's frustration among all voters with economic issues, deficits, cuts in services - that's never good for incumbents. But I'm not convinced it's going to be anti-Democratic or anti-progressive," she said. "There's anger towards the direction the country is going, but I don't think it's partisan."
"We're continually electing LGBT candidates. We have really competitive races in Montana, Colorado, and Oklahoma - it's only going in one direction," Brand concluded.
Brand added that the Victory Fund also tries to build working alliances with other constituencies that might have compatible political goals.
"Labor, for example. In California, we've worked very well with the California Nurses Association. Washington is ahead of the curve a little bit on this issue," she told SGN.
"We're always looking for candidates who represent many constituencies. We support many candidates of color - a high percentage - our commitment to diversity is very strong," she added.
Asked what candidates could expect to get from a Victory Fund endorsement, Brand listed several benefits the Victory Fund offers.
"Our goal is to have openly Gay office holders in every state. There are still 18 or 19 without one in the state legislature. So one thing we do is to recruit candidates.
"We also train candidates. It's really very hard work. Our Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute has worked with hundreds of potential candidates. Sometimes after going through the training, someone will decide that being a candidate is not for them&
"We offer financial support. We offer technical support. Our team divvies up the candidates and we go and meet with them, and we ask them, 'How is the campaign doing? How many doors have you knocked on? How much money have you raised?'"
Brand told SGN that LGBT victories in any part of the country benefit the community even in places where LGBT voters are not very visible or well organized.
"There's no doubt that our successes in states like Washington and Vermont are moving the needle across the country. It impacts where we are nationally," she said
"How do we get more influential? Openly Gay candidates - that's an important first step for voters in supporting Gay rights. The voter might say, 'Well, I think he or she will do a good job, and that's more important than being Gay.'"
"That's especially important in the more conservative states," Brand added.
Brand herself is closely identified with the Democratic Party, having led the Washington state party - "Through its darkest years!" she chuckles. "I came in in 1995."
Almost all the candidates endorsed by The Victory Fund run as Democrats. Asked if they had written off the Republican Party, Brand replied it had not.
"We have endorsed Republican candidates - a couple of them, anyway - and we're looking to expand the number," she said.
"There's an openly Gay Republican running for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts," she added, noting "There's a very different dynamic in a Republican primary."
Brand will be the special guest at a June 14 event at Marjorie's, 1412 E. Union Street, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The $50 ticket goes to support the Victory Fund's Leadership Institute.
Hosts of the event include Seattle City Councilmembers Sally Clark and Tom Rasmussen, Tacoma City Councilmember Ryan Mello, Port Commissioner Rob Holland, State Sen. Joe McDermott, State Rep. Marko Liias, Anne Levinson, Tina Podlodowski, Michael Mattmiller and Jay Petterson, Kevin Thompson and Greg Ratliff, and Brady Walkinshaw.
http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_24/page1.cfm
Outing Politicians: Does It Ultimately Help or Hurt Us
Mon, Jun 14th 2010, 09:22Denis Dison, spokesman for the Victory Fund, which supports the efforts of openly LGBT politicians running for public office, agreed: "Having somebody who is secretly gay in public office doesn’t really help [the community], but the process of dragging that person out of the closet can have a negative effect if it reinforces the idea that being LGBT is extremely negative to the point somebody would want to lie about it," Dison told EDGE.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc3=&id=106870&pg=1
Trans candidate officially files against Kern
Fri, Jun 11th 2010, 14:00Both McAffrey and Kovach have the endorsement of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.
Novotny has taken Victory Fund candidate training but has not sought their endorsement.
“Tom is in a very good position to win,” said Victory Fund spokesman Denis Dison. “He’s a known quantity with a good record.”
Dison called that district, which is south of Oklahoma City and includes the Oklahoma University campus, one of the most liberal in the state.
“Right now I’m on the city council,” Kovach said. “My ward is 40 percent of the district so most people here are familiar with me.”
He said he faces three other candidates in the primary.
“Two of them are college students in their early 20s,” he said.
The third person was a surprise last-minute filing and has mounted no campaign with just six week left before the primary.
Although his chances look good, Kovach is taking nothing for granted. He is taking the primary seriously, and he said the Republican challenger in the fall looks quite credible.
“There are enough independents in the district that there could be an upset,” he said.
Dison had no comment on Novotny’s race because she has not applied for Victory Fund’s endorsement.
http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_12995.php
Victory Fund candidates shine in last night's political races
Thu, Jun 10th 2010, 11:52Out LGBT candidates across the country had great success as at least 16 of 21 endorsed by The Victory Fund either won or advanced in primaries.
-As expected, openly gay Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, a Democrat, will face Republican Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack in the race to represent California's 45th Congressional District.
-In California, the State Assembly is likely to welcome three new openly gay and lesbian lawmakers after key primary wins last night put them on the road to victory this November. Toni Atkins (Dist 76), Rich Gordon (Dist 21) and Ricardo Lara (Dist 50) won their Democratic primaries in overwhelmingly Democratic Assembly districts. With one gay lawmaker leaving the California Senate due to term limits, the state is now likely to have a total of seven openly gay and lesbian state legislators in the next term, up from five currently.
-Also in California, Jill Ravitch won her race for Sonoma County District Attorney, beating an incumbent. She will become the state's second openly lesbian District Attorney, joining San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, a Republican who is unopposed in her reelection bid.
-Openly transgender lawyer Victoria Kolakowski also advanced to the general election in her race for Superior Court Judge in Alameda County, Calif.
-In Maine, out lesbian candidate Jill Barkley is now the heavy favorite to win a seat in the Maine State House after winning her primary last night.
-Montana is also likely to add at least one openly gay state lawmaker. Bryce Bennett won his Democratic primary to advance to the general election in November. He's running in a very Democratic district, so it's expected he'll join Rep. Diane Sands, who was unopposed in her reelection bid, in the Montana State House. Aaron Kampfe also advanced in his Democratic primary for a seat in the Montana Senate.
Growing number of gays on ballot in Maryland
Thu, Jun 10th 2010, 10:59The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed Clippinger, who said he’s benefitting from gay supporters.
“I have identified LGBT supporters across the district who are helping my campaign every day by holding meet and greets, going door to door, and raising money for my candidacy,” Clippinger said.
Also securing a Victory Fund endorsement is Washington, who is campaigning in District 43. If elected, she would become the second openly lesbian black state lawmaker in the country.
“I am running for the Maryland House of Delegates because I believe the district needs more vigorous, more progressive leadership,” she said, “and the community needs elected officials who can inspire public trust, serve as a catalyst for positive change and work effectively to expand social and economic justice.”
Political Notebook: Transgender judicial candidate claims first place
Thu, Jun 10th 2010, 09:02In Kolakowski's favor is the fact that Alameda County voters have not elected a sitting deputy DA to the court in more than 30 years. Nor do they elect white men; they have, instead, favored female and minority candidates. Also, the fall election is expected to attract more Democrats and independents to the polls, which could aide Kolakowski.
"The electorate or people voting in November will be a different segment of the total public. With contested Republican primaries, they had higher turnout. A lot of independent voters didn't vote at all," she said.
Her election will be a key race for LGBT groups this fall. Equality California, the statewide LGBT lobbying group, has already made it a top priority, while her first place finish this week is sure to boost attention to her campaign from the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.
Five Gay Candidates Advance In California Assembly Races
Wed, Jun 9th 2010, 17:09Four of the candidates – Perez, Atkins, Wilson and Lara – have the endorsement of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that supports openly gay elected officials, but Ammiano does not. California's largest gay advocate, Equality California, has endorsed all five candidates.
Out Candidates Win Big in Primaries
Wed, Jun 9th 2010, 13:12Openly LGBT candidates made gains in primary elections across the country Tuesday, with wins in states including California, Montana and Maine.
According to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which supports out candidates, "Openly LGBT candidates won political races literally from coast to coast last night, with key wins in California, Montana and Maine. At least 16 of the Victory Fund’s 21 endorsed candidates on the ballot yesterday either won their races outright or advanced to general elections."http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/06/09/Out_Candidates_Win_Big_in_Primaries/
Drew Hammill, Jason Mida
Mon, Jun 7th 2010, 08:50Drew Hammill and Jason Mida were married Saturday at their home in Washington. The Rev. Ryan C. Tisch, a minister of the World Christianship Ministries, officiated.
Mr. Hammill (left), 31, is the press secretary to Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives in Washington. He graduated from the University of Illinois and received a master’s degree in comparative politics from the London School of Economics.
He is the son of Rebecca A. Hammill and Thomas E. Hammill of Pittsburg, Ill.
Mr. Mida, 30, is the vice president for development at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund in Washington. He graduated from Abilene Christian University. He is a son of Janet M. Mida of Frisco, Tex., and the late Harry Mida.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/fashion/weddings/06HAMMILL.html
Passalacqua, Ravitch courting west county vote at gay pride parade
Fri, Jun 4th 2010, 11:39It's unclear which district attorney candidate is supported by gay voters. However, Ravitch, who is gay, is probably more popular, Muller said. She has actively courted gay voters, soliciting donations on the national Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund website.
"The gay community, like everyone else, is a group of independent thinkers," said Muller, who's been in gay politics in Sonoma County for 30 years. "It's not a case of all gay people will vote for her because she's gay or there's an impression that she's gay."
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100604/NEWS/6041053/1033?p=1&tc=pg
Political Notebook: LGBT lawyers weigh in on judicial races
Thu, Jun 3rd 2010, 09:28Up in Sonoma County out lesbian Jill Ravitch is waging an intense fight to unseat incumbent District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua. It is the second time that Ravitch, a former prosecutor in Sonoma County who now works in the Mendocino County District Attorney's office, has tried to oust her former boss from office.
The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund is backing Ravitch in the race; she reported last month amassing $232,000 in contributions for her campaign. Passalacqua has banked more than $381,000 for his re-election effort this year, but the Santa Rosa Press Democrat noted that he has lent more of his own money to his campaign.
Should Ravitch win, she would be the country's second out lesbian D.A. after Bonnie Dumanis in San Diego.
http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4829
Lesbian Judge Wins Statewide Race in New Mexico
Wed, Jun 2nd 2010, 15:47According to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which endorsed Vanzi, she “was selected for a seat on the Court of Appeals in 2008 by Gov. [Bill] Richardson. Under New Mexico state law, appointed judges must stand for election in the next general election following their appointment. In the future, voters will be asked only if they wish to retain Vanzi on the statewide court.”
“Prior to her appointment,” reports the Victory Fund, “Vanzi served on the Second Judicial District court from 2004-2008. Vanzi’s legal career has spanned a broad range of issues from civil rights to employment law, personal injury, child abuse and neglect, and commercial law. Vanzi has been awarded the Judge of the Year award by the Albuquerque Bar Association and the Trial Judge of Year award by the American Board of Trial Advocates.”
Senate Approves Openly Gay Attorney Nominee Laura Duffy
Tue, Jun 1st 2010, 09:55“President Obama has appointed more than 100 LGBT Americans to his administration so far, with abut two dozen of those requiring Senate confirmation,” Denis Dison, a vice president at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that supports openly gay candidates, told On Top Magazine in an email.
Last month, the Senate confirmation of Marisa Demeo, a candidate to the D.C. Superior Court bench, drew widespread criticism from conservative groups because she is a lesbian.
http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5797&MediaType=1&Category=26Is Mary Cheney Helping Antigay McCollum?
Tue, Jun 1st 2010, 09:51As the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund points out on its blog, GayPolitics.com, any alliance between McCollum and Cheney is particularly interesting considering that Cheney and her partner, as the parents of two children, are two of the country's highest-profile lesbian parents.
http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/05/30/Mary_Cheney_Linked_to_Antigay_Florida_Candidate_McCollum/Mayor Lowe wants the focus off him being gay
Fri, May 21st 2010, 09:29While Lowe is proud to be the first gay mayor in this part of the world, he said sexuality matters not in terms of leadership.
But Denis Dison, a spokesman for the Victory Fund, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that helps gay candidates in campaigns, said Lowe's victory was monumental.
Growing up in Orange Park, Dison said he didn't expect to see a gay mayor in North Florida, and Lowe's victory is a milestone that was discussed in gay media across the country, in part because of the sign and homophobic, anti-Lowe fliers that were spread around town.
"I think the fact that he was elected mayor where he was elected is also why it was news around the country," Dison said.
Speaking about the "hateful" rhetoric against Lowe, Dison said, "You don't see it much in San Francisco or Manhattan."
But, Terry Fleming, Lowe's friend and the co-president of the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, said he thinks the sign and the fliers were an aberration.
"Gainesville," he said, "is an incredibly welcoming and diverse community."
Mayor Lowe wants the focus off him being gay
Fri, May 21st 2010, 09:27While Lowe is proud to be the first gay mayor in this part of the world, he said sexuality matters not in terms of leadership.
But Denis Dison, a spokesman for the Victory Fund, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that helps gay candidates in campaigns, said Lowe's victory was monumental.
Growing up in Orange Park, Dison said he didn't expect to see a gay mayor in North Florida, and Lowe's victory is a milestone that was discussed in gay media across the country, in part because of the sign and homophobic, anti-Lowe fliers that were spread around town.
"I think the fact that he was elected mayor where he was elected is also why it was news around the country," Dison said.
Speaking about the "hateful" rhetoric against Lowe, Dison said, "You don't see it much in San Francisco or Manhattan."
But, Terry Fleming, Lowe's friend and the co-president of the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, said he thinks the sign and the fliers were an aberration.
"Gainesville," he said, "is an incredibly welcoming and diverse community."http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100520/ARTICLES/100529935/1002/NEWS01?p=1&tc=pg
Ohio Gets Their First Openly LBGT Lawmaker
Tue, May 18th 2010, 18:18Come November, Nickie Antonio will make history as the Ohio's first openly gay state representative.
Antonio, who now sits on the Lakewood, Ohio City Council, won the Democratic primary May 4 for State Legislator, and no Republican filed in the district that includes parts of Cleveland and Lakewood. Her only opponent, an independent candidate, has dropped out of the race, leaving Antonio the only candidate on the ballot. When she’s seated, Ohio will finally come off the list of states with no openly LGBT lawmakers in their state legislatures. That will leave 18 states still on the list, including Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
"Hopefully, once the first [openly gay] thing is done, there doesn’t need to be so much of a focus on that," she tells the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "How to best fix a hole in the budget — that’s not an issue where sexual orientation makes a difference."
She was endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and The Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest daily.
http://www.southfloridagaynews.com/news/national-news/1443-ohio-gets-their-first-openly-lbgt-lawmaker.htmlPalmquist among 2010 Leadership Fellows
Tue, May 18th 2010, 18:14Ian Palmquist, executive director of Equality North Carolina and board chair of the Equality Federation, is among 10 individuals selected as Bohnett Leadership Fellows by the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute this year.http://goqnotes.com/6824/palmquist-among-2010-leadership-fellows/
Leadership Fellows to attend Harvard Kennedy School
Mon, May 17th 2010, 14:06The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute (GLLI) has
announced its 2010 class of David Bohnett Gay & Lesbian Leadership
Fellows, made up of 10 openly LGBT leaders who will receive scholarships
to attend the Harvard Kennedy School this summer. The recipients will
attend the school’s three-week Senior Executives in State and Local
Government program for mid-career professionals in June and July.
Chuck
Wolfe, GLLI’s president and CEO, said, "The new Fellows have deep and
varied experience in public service as elected and appointed officials,
and as leaders in the LGBT movement. We are proud to work alongside the
David Bohnett Foundation to invest in the leadership capacity of some of
our community’s brightest and most talented people."http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=community&sc=community_guide&sc2=news&sc3=&id=105768
Gay Man Running for Conn. Comptroller
Mon, May 17th 2010, 14:03Health care advocate Kevin Lembo has entered the race for Connecticut comptroller, a post that oversees the state's financial reporting.
Lembo, a gay candidate supported by the Victory Fund, was previously running for lieutenant governor but ended his campaign once Nancy Wyman, Connecticut's current comptroller, agreed to become the running mate of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy. Before Lembo became a health care advocate, he was assistant state comptroller for more than six years and worked for Wyman — now he's looking to succeed her as comptroller.http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/05/13/Gay_Man_Running_for_Conn_Comptroller/150 Reasons to Have Pride in 2010
Tue, May 11th 2010, 17:02BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE OF US IN ELECTED OFFICE THAN EVER BEFORE
I’m
proud that the number of openly LGBT elected officials serving in
America is at an all-time high and that this year the Gay and Lesbian
Victory Fund is on track to endorse its largest slate of out candidates
ever. These courageous individuals give voice to our community in the
halls of power, speak authentically about our lives, and fight hardest
for laws and policies that make our country more fair and more free.
Last year Houston became the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay
mayor. Today, Annise Parker is serving 2.2 million Houstonians honestly,
openly, and with a quiet dignity that has the power to change hearts
and minds about what LGBT Americans have to offer their country. In
March, Parker issued one of the country’s most comprehensive LGBT
nondiscrimination policies governing public employees—a move that drew
howls of protest from the very antigay groups that fought to keep her
from winning. Their bigotry was as predictable as Parker’s
determination. Still, with more than half a million elective offices in
the United States, gay people are vastly underrepresented in government.
Fewer than 500 of those posts are filled with openly LGBT
officeholders—a 10-fold increase since the Victory Fund was founded in
1991, but not nearly enough. We’re committed to winning more of those
offices so that more out elected officials gain the same voice, the same
vote, and the same power that all Americans enjoy. —Chuck Wolfe,
Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund president and chief executive officer
http://www.advocate.com/Print_Issue/Cover_Stories/150_Reasons_to_Have_Pride_in_2010/
Political Notes: DADT opponent Garamendi gains say over military policies
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:19The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund chose Manhattan Beach Mayor Mitch Ward's bid to be the first openly gay African American elected to California's Assembly as one of two campaigns across the country to highlight to its members this month.
Last week the national LGBT group's president and CEO Chuck Wolfe sent out an e-mail May 5 urging fund members to not only donate to Ward's campaign but also to the campaign of Cleveland resident Nickie Antonio, who would be Ohio's first out person elected to the state legislature in the Buckeye State.
It was the first time that the Victory Fund has highlighted the campaign of a gay candidate from California this year. And it is likely the only one it will do so ahead of the June 8 primary, as its next e-mail will be of little help to anyone running in next month's elections.
"If you look at the pecking order of races, there are breakthrough races that are very important to focus on. That does not mean we don't pay attention to other races but if we are trying to get the first out legislator in a state elected, that is a very important race," said Denis Dison, the Victory Fund's vice president for external affairs.
Ward is one of five out non-incumbent Democrats running for Assembly seats this year. While the fund has endorsed the entire quintet, it is Ward who is in one of the toughest election battles.
He is also the only one not to be endorsed by Equality California. The statewide LGBT lobbyist group is instead backing its board member Betsy Butler, a straight woman, in the Assembly District 53 race along the state's coastal region south of Los Angeles.
Wolfe acknowledged in his e-mail last week that Ward faces tough odds and that "he's going to need your help to win."
In a phone interview Friday, Dison said Ward was selected over the other LGBT candidates who will appear on primary ballots throughout the Golden State because of his greater need for resources.
"Looking at that race, he needs more money compared to the other races," he said.
http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4771Lakewood council member Nickie Antonio might become first openly gay state lawmaker
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:18"It's about building the farm team and being willing to run for office," said Collin Burton, a full-time staffer for the Ohio Democratic Party who solely works on outreach and candidate recruitment in the state's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) communities. "They do also need more attention and need to be given the confidence that they can win these races."
A national organization -- the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund -- also seeks to help Antonio and other GLBT candidates.
Spokesman Denis Dison said that national polling shows about 30 percent of Americans won't vote for a gay candidate no matter what. Still, he said 31 states currently have openly gay members in their state legislatures.
"There are built-in barriers so gay candidates need to understand they have to be better candidates and campaigners than straight people if they are going to win," said Dison, whose group's political action committee has cut a $5,000 check to Antonio.
Dison said his group helps candidates "navigate the waters" of being out and running for office including how to handle questions about sexual orientation.
"In a lot of places in America, people jump to the conclusion that an openly gay candidate is running because of that and for that reason," Dison said. "But that's rarely the case, and Nickie is a perfect example of that as someone who is incredibly involved in her community."
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/05/lakewood_council_member_likely.htmlPhilippine gay party on ballot for the first time
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:17The Washington-based Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Leadership Institute, which supports LGBT candidates to all levels of office, said there has not been an equivalent in the United States, where same-sex marriage and military policy toward gays have generated significant debate.
"Well-known openly gay candidates and elected officials in the U.S. have almost always been affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties, with the Democrats fielding far more out candidates than Republicans," Denis Dison, vice president of external affairs, wrote via e-mail.
Public perception of gays in the Philippines has changed in the past 20 years, said Remoto, who teaches at Ateneo de Manila University.
"We made homosexuality a topic everyone can discuss openly," he said.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/08/philippines.politics.gay/Primary win in heavily Dem district puts Antonio closer to Statehouse
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:15
May
7 , 2010
Ohio likely to get its first out lawmaker
Primary win in heavily Dem district puts Antonio closer to Statehouse
Lakewood--Ohio is one step closer to its first openly gay state legislator with the victory of Lakewood councilor Nickie Antonio in the Democratic primary for the 13th District Ohio House seat.
"It's time for Ohio to join the 21st century," Antonio said of her nomination. "It's a step in the right direction. I see this as a step for equality and a step for equity. Ohio is also behind in representation of women."
"I am first and foremost a public policy person dedicated to public service," Antonio said. "It's important to have someone LGBT who is invested and connected to the community."
Antonio defeated her Democratic opponent, fellow Lakewood councilor Tom Bullock, in a race which saw Bullock sending out mailers that claimed his unnamed opponent "stands with party bosses in opposing the county government reform effort."
The claim was not true, nor were others on the flyer, and Bullock was taken to task by the weekly Scene magazine.
Fifty-four percent of the voters went for Antonio, for a total of 4,140 votes verses 3,531 for Bullock.
Antonio was endorsed by the Lesbian and Gay Victory Fund of Washington, D.C., and all of the LGBT Democratic organizations in the state. She was also endorsed by the Ohio Democratic Party.
No Republican filed to be on the ballot in November, but Antonio needs to defeat independent Jeremy Caldwell to take the seat currently held by strong LGBT ally Mike Skindell.
For his own part, Skindell easily defeated two opponents for to face the little-known Republican Dave Morris in November for a seat in the Ohio Senate. Skindell was prohibited by term limits from seeking hisHouse seat again.
Antonio spoke about raising two daughters with her partner Jean Kosmac.
"We told our daughters they could be anything they wanted," Antonio said. "I also want LGBT kids to know that anything is possible, including public service. They can run for office if they want to."
Victoy Fund president Chuck Wolfe said of Antonio's victory, "We're looking forward to finally adding Ohio to the list of states where our community has a voice in state government."
"The most dynamic and important fights for our rights are happening in state legislatures, so it's vital to have people like Nickie at the table of power," Wolfe concluded.
Commissions Calling
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:14Presidential Appointments Project's new push promotes LGBT candidates for unpaid positions
by Will O'Bryan
Published on May 6, 2010,
12:43am | 0 Comments, 5 Tweets
Plenty of people are looking for work during this recession of double-digit unemployment rates. But how many might be looking for unpaid positions? The Presidential Appointments Project, led by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund-affiliated Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute (GLLI), aims to find out -- particularly if those qualified job seekers are LGBT.
"We set it up in 2008 before even the primaries were complete," says Denis Dison, vice president for external affairs at both the Victory Fund and GLLI. "It is a coalition of a dozen national groups. We've been coordinating those efforts, primarily serving right now as a talent bank for LGBT people."
At the beginning of the Obama administration, the project worked to get qualified LGBT candidates into full-time appointments. Now, more than a year into the administration, the project has taken a slightly new tack, recently announcing a push to promote LGBT candidates for the many unpaid presidential appointments to boards and commissions.
"The key to finding any job is to look for one for which you are qualified, and at that level you want to be bringing something to the table," Dison says of the unpaid, part-time positions. "Our intention is to show our community for what it is: far more diverse and dynamic than a lot of people give it credit for."
http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=5173Lesbian Poised for Ohio State Legislator
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:12Openly lesbian Ohio councilwoman Nickie Antonio won the Democratic primary for District 13 in the Ohio state house Tuesday, according to the Advocate.
The Lakewood city legislator is poised to become the first out state lawmaker in Ohio after the general election this fall.
Now in her second term on the Lakewood City Council, Antonio said, "I'm very thankful for the support of the Victory Fund. I'm proud of their endorsement, and they really put their hearts into this campaign. Like me, they believe that Ohio will benefit from having diverse voices in government that truly represent everybody in our state."
In November, Antonio is expected to win over independent candidate Jeremy Caldwell, who filed for the race Monday. District 13 also incorporates parts of Cleveland.
Gay Politics reports that the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed 35 candidates in state legislative races so far this year, according to president and CEO Chuck Wolfe.
"We're looking forward to finally adding Ohio to the list of states where our community has a voice in state government. The most dynamic and important fights for our rights are happening in state legislatures, so it's vital to have people like Nickie at the table of power. Change can come slowly in Washington, so building our political power in state capitals can mean a quicker path to a more free, more fair America," said Wolfe.
http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm?ID=24917Nickie Antonio Poised to Be Ohio's First Out Gay Lawmaker
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:11Nickie Antonio, an out lesbian, won the Democratic primary in the District 13 Ohio State House race last night, the Victory Fund reports. Antonio has no Republican opponents and is expected to win the election this November:
"Now in her second term on the Lakewood City Council, Antonio said, 'I’m very thankful for the support of the Victory Fund. I’m proud of their endorsement, and they really put their hearts into this campaign. Like me, they believe that Ohio will benefit from having diverse voices in government that truly represent everybody in our state.'"
http://www.towleroad.com/2010/05/nickie-antonio-poised-to-be-ohios-first-out-gay-lawmaker.htmlOhio: Antonio wins primary; set to be state's first out LGBT elected state official
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:10What great news in a state that is lagging behind in LGBT equality overall. When we get elected, change comes with it. Nickie Antonio tonight won the Democratic primary in the District 13 Ohio State House race that drew no Republican opponents for the fall. With only token opposition in the general election this November, Antonio is poised to become the state's first openly LGBT state legislator.
Now in her second term on the Lakewood City Council, Antonio said, "I'm very thankful for the support of the Victory Fund. I'm proud of their endorsement, and they really put their hearts into this campaign. Like me, they believe that Ohio will benefit from having diverse voices in government that truly represent everybody in our state."
"We're looking forward to finally adding Ohio to the list of states where our community has a voice in state government. The most dynamic and important fights for our rights are happening in state legislatures, so it's vital to have people like Nickie at the table of power. Change can come slowly in Washington, so building our political power in state capitals can mean a quicker path to a more free, more fair America," said Wolfe.
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/16037/ohio-antonio-wins-primary-set-to-be-states-first-out-lgbt-elected-state-officialParker names lesbian to head municipal courts
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:07Houston Mayor Annise Parker has named Municipal Court Judge Barbara E. Hartle, 50, as chief presiding judge of the city’s municipal courts.
The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund lists Hartle as one of only a few out members of the Texas judiciary. Others are also from the Houston area.
“I believe Judge Hartle has the leadership qualities needed to direct our city’s court system to be even more responsive and efficient,” Parker said in a press release. “She is the only candidate with previous experience — both within and outside of Houston – in law enforcement, prosecution, administration, and judicial matters.”
Former Mayor Bill White, who’s currently running for governor, appointed Hartle municipal judge in April 2009. Before that, she served as an associate municipal judge.
OutSmart magazine reports that Hartle and her partner met in 1993. They have two children. Their daughter is also a lesbian and has two children.
Before moving to Houston, Hartle lived in Austin where her experience included serving as a guardianship attorney at the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, regional attorney for adult protective services at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, staff attorney for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice State Counsel for Offenders, and assistant city attorney for the city of Austin.
The court system that Hartle will head is the largest municipal court in Texas and one of the largest nationwide.
http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2010/04/29/parker-names-lesbian-judge-to-head-municipal-courts/Brunch Buddy, Part 1 [video]
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:06Houston Mayor Annise Parker (D) was a featured speaker at the Victory Fund's Champagne Brunch, held at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel on Sunday, April 18. The Victory Fund works to elect openly LGBT candidates, and Parker has succeeded in doing so for years, most recently winning election as mayor in November 2009. Parker is the first openly LGBT mayor of a city with more then 1 million residents and was introduced at the luncheon by Houston City Councilmember Sue Lovell (D), also a lesbian.
"I'm just here today to remind the people here for the brunch how much help Victory Fund is to candidates," Parker told Metro Weekly, "and how important it is to help qualified GLBT candidates achieve office -- so that they can then govern well, and we can get good government, but we also see ouselves reflected in those positions."
Photos from this event are posted in Metro Weekly's Scene section.
http://www.metroweekly.com/news/video/?ak=5135Why Texas needs an LGBT legislator
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:05Deborah Mell, 41, is an Illinois legislator.
This week, she got up on the House floor and announced her engagement to her girlfriend. From The Chicago Sun-Times:
“I know our governor and many of you on both sides of the aisle do not consider me equal to you and our relationship equal to the relationship you share with your spouse,” Mell said. “I think we are more alike than we are different.”
Other legislators got up to congratulate her and others applauded.
But they’ll get married in Iowa because Illinois does not have marriage equality.
According to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, no state has passed significant pro-equality legislation without an openly LGBT legislator. Texas has had only one, Rep. Glen Maxey, who served from 1991 until 2003. In 2001, Maxey helped pushed through the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act, the only signficant pro-equality legislation in the state’s history.
http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2010/04/29/why-texas-needs-an-lgbt-legislator/PRIDE talk spotlights LGBT public officials
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:02Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals should be open about their sexuality in order to debunk the “notion that we are other,” Denis Dison, the vice president of the Victory Fund, said in the PRIDE Week keynote speech on Tuesday. In his speech, Dison discussed the election of LGBT community members to public office.
The Victory Fund endorses, funds and trains openly LGBT candidates for elected office at all levels of government. The group works to bring the LGBT community “to the table where the decisions are being made,” Dison said.
In his speech, Dison cited as inspiration Harvey Milk, an openly gay man who was elected to public office in San Francisco in 1977.
“His dream was that if we elected more gay people, we would be accomplishing more for our community than we could if we sat outside of a legislative body and protested,” he said.
Dison also shared some of his organization’s accomplishments, including its support of Houston Mayor Annise Parker, the first lesbian elected mayor of a major American city.
“When we put our mind to winning, we can do it in places you don’t think we can do it,” he said.
Looking to the future of LGBT politics, Dison highlighted the importance of the enactment of a nationwide Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.
“We have a long, long way to go before we are proportionally represented in government,” he said.
http://thedartmouth.com/2010/04/28/news/PRIDEGay congressional candidates raking in cash
Tue, May 11th 2010, 16:00Sean Theriault, a gay government professor at the University of Texas, Austin, said Cicilline “looks to be in great shape” heading into the election.
“I would be surprised if he isn’t welcomed into the [LGBT Equality] Caucus after the November elections,” he said.
Denis Dison, spokesperson for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said the amount of money Cicilline has raised is “hugely significant.”
“This is an open seat and part of the calculus about who’s going to be considered a frontrunner is the ability to fundraise,” Dison said.
For cash on hand, or the amount of money remaining after expenditures in the race, the margin between Cicilline and his Republican opponent is even more pronounced: the Providence mayor has $713,346; Loughlin has $187,537.
“That’s a sign to other donors and to the political establishment that Mayor Cicilline is prepared to fight and win this,” Dison said.
Notable donations to Cicilline’s campaign include $2,400 from the Victory Fund as well as $1,000 from gay lawmaker Rep. Jared Polis’ (D-Colo.) political action committee.
http://www.dcagenda.com/2010/04/27/gay-congressional-candidates-raking-in-cash/Pa. incumbent: Foe feigning bisexuality for votes
Tue, May 11th 2010, 15:56So is it now a plus to be gay, lesbian or bisexual when running for office?
"It shows how far we've come; it's almost a delight," said Mark Segal, a longtime gay rights activist and publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News, which is endorsing Josephs.
But a spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a Washington-based political action committee that supports gay and lesbian candidates, said it's not necessarily a sign of increasing currency for non-straight politicians.
"This is a new one on me," spokesman Denis Dyson said.
"There are only a few places where being openly LGBT might be a net plus: in this district in Philadelphia, Dupont Circle in Washington, the Castro in San Francisco," he said. "In the vast majority of places — and vast majority is an understatement — it's still a hurdle."
Kravitz, 29, describes himself as openly bisexual and currently in a relationship with a woman. He was the one who came forward with the recording, made by a supporter he declined to identify, and called Josephs' statements "dishonest and disgusting."
"This is a part of who I am ... I hope no one would vote either for or against me because of who I am," he said. "It's unfortunate that my sexuality is a topic of discussion for her stump speech."
Josephs, a widowed mother of two, stood by her comments but said Friday that she was taking issue with her opponent's credibility, not his sexual orientation.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ggEa6Wn_AxRGWGXbv8XGx0qkClGQD9F8VTF00Penn. State Rep. 'Outs' Straight Opponent
Tue, May 11th 2010, 15:54Slinging insults about a candidate's sexual orientation has never been considered particularly high-brow, but a Pennsylvania state representative's recent attack on her opponent's professed bisexuality may be a new twist on the matter.
State Rep. Babette Josephs, a 25-year veteran of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, was recorded at a recent fundraising event accusing Democratic primary opponent Gregg Kravitz of lying about his bisexuality to pander to Philadelphia's powerful gay vote.
"I outed him as a straight person," Josephs, 69, said at the Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant, while Kravitz supporters recorded her speech.
"When we heard it, we were, frankly, shocked," Kravitz told ABCNews.com
The 29-year-old, who quit his position as campaign director for congressional candidate Manan Trivedi to run for the 182nd district, emphatically denied that he ever lied about being bisexual.
"I'm a bisexual man," he said. "I've had intimate relationship with both men and women, not that it's anyone's business. But that's what bisexual means."
Denis Dison, spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which supports LGBT candidates across the country, was familiar with the dispute between Josephs and Kravtiz, and said it was an exceptionally rare argument.
"The idea that somebody would pretend to be part of the community to improve their chances of being elected is a fairly unique situation," he said.
Dison said that most of the candidates supported by the Victory Fund have the opposite problem -- their opponents try to make sexuality a campaign issue in hopes of swaying the voter away from the LGBT candidate.
"Whether or not she was attempting to smear him or attempting to, in her mind, get the truth out there," he said, "it's not something is … 99 percent of the time legitimate to discuss in the campaign."
Josephs, who is straight, has been a longtime outspoken advocate for LGBT rights and has championed the community's causes at the state level. Her district is home to the city's well-known "gayborhood."
And while the LGBT voters on their own don't make up the majority of the constituency, they and their straight supporters do.
But Josephs sidestepped questions about the accusations she lobbed at Kravitz, telling ABCNews.com that she only made the comments to distinguish her own career of public service.
"It shows that it doesn't matter what your sexuality is, if you have no record, you're not qualified to be in office," she said.
When asked if she still believed Kravitz was not bisexual said she had "no notion" and that she never dated him or planned on it. She quickly ended the interview.
http://abcnews.go.com/m/screen?id=10460834Senate Confirms Openly Gay Judicial Nominee Marisa Demeo
Tue, May 11th 2010, 15:53Denis Dison, a vice president at the
Gay & Lesbian
Victory Fund, a group that supports openly gay candidates, told
On Top Magazine that Demeo was recommended by the Presidential
Appointments Project, a community driven effort coordinated by his
group. “We know some extremist groups oppose
her nomination because she is a lesbian,” Dison said,” but that
kind of bigotry has no place in discussions of an individual's
qualifications for a job, especially in the U.S. Senate.” Demeo, he added, is highly qualified
for the job.
Parker ‘comfortable’ as LGBT role model
Tue, May 11th 2010, 15:52The lesbian mayor of the country’s fourth largest city says she’s comfortable serving as a role model for the LGBT community and acknowledged being taken aback by the extensive international media coverage of her political victory.
In a nearly 30-minute interview, Houston Mayor Annise Parker spoke with DC Agenda before her appearance at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund’s 10th annual Champagne Brunch in D.C. on Sunday to discuss a range of issues and reflect on her first 100 days in office.
Parker recalled how she issued an executive order March 25 protecting city employees against job bias on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. She said she issued the directive because it was something she was “aware needed to be done.”
The inclusiveness of the directive makes it one of the most sweeping citywide job discrimination protections in the country for LGBT people.
Parker also encouraged President Obama to make good on his campaign promises to the LGBT community, even though she said she understands he’s had “huge economic problems, financial problems he’s had to confront.” She identified ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as an issue on which she’d like to see greater effort from Obama.
http://www.dcagenda.com/2010/04/19/parker-%E2%80%98comfortable%E2%80%99-as-lgbt-role-model/Mass. GOP OK's Openly Gay Richard Tisei As Gov. Running Mate
Mon, Apr 19th 2010, 10:57Openly gay state Senator Richard Tisei will be on the Massachusetts GOP gubernatorial ticket as Charles D. Baker Jr.'s running mate, the Boston Globe reported.
Republicans overwhelmingly picked the pair at their state convention Saturday.
Baker trounced his opponent Christy Mihos with 89 percent of the delegate votes, denying Mihos the 15 percent share needed to qualify for the September primary ballot.
“We have a job to do and that job starts today,” Baker told the crowd. “It's time to take our state back from the Beacon Hill insiders, the status quo-ers and nonreformers, and give the people of Massachusetts the government they deserve – affordable, accountable and responsive.”
Baker will face Democratic Governor Deval Patrick and state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill, who is running as an Independent, in the fall.
Patrick is a gay rights ally who supports gay marriage and transgender rights.
Baker, who supports gay marriage, has already drawn criticism from social conservatives. At the convention, they decried Tisei's co-sponsorship of a transgender protections bill being considered by lawmakers. The bill would protect transgender people in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations. Passage of the bill has been elusive for supporters, who have floated similar measures since 2007.
Opponents warn that the bill would invite sex offenders to lurk in public restrooms, endangering the safety of women and children.
The Baker campaign issued a statement saying that he does not support the bill, dubbed the “bathroom bill” by opponents.
“I think they're trying to scare people into opposing the bill and I don't think it's really an issue,” Tisei told his local paper last summer. “I know it's been dubbed the 'bathroom bill,' but this is really a bill to treat people equally and fairly under the law.”
Tisei, 47, is among the three openly gay Republican candidates endorsed so far this year by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that promotes openly gay elected officials.http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5599&MediaType=1&Category=26
ENDA Vote Coming Soon
Mon, Apr 19th 2010, 10:55Legislation aimed at ending employment discrimination against LGBT people will be marked up in committee ''this week or next,'' according to Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.).
Frank, speaking to Metro Weekly after his appearance at the Victory Fund's annual Champagne Brunch, said the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) – currently in the House Education and Labor Committee – has been ''promised'' a quick vote in the full House by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) once the bill leaves committee.
Noting that he's been speaking to Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) ''constantly,'' Frank said of the ENDA mark-up, ''It will be this week or next week.''
As both he and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) have said previously, Frank reiterated that he expected a floor vote to follow the expected committee passage in short order. ''The speaker has promised that,'' Frank said. ''We will get this done fairly quickly.''
Frank was one of the featured speakers at the Victory Fund event at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel on Sunday, April 18. Jim Kolbe, the former Republican congressman from Arizona, introduced Frank, saying of LGBT equality, ''There is no one – there is no one – who has been a more effective advocate than Barney Frank.''
Of the opposition he's faced from anti-LGBT forces in Congress, Frank told the crowd, ''Here's my radical homosexual agenda: Let us get married, join the military and hold down a job.''
As the applause subsided, he added, ''Very few radicals in history would have thought much of that.''
In the past month, Frank has been speaking with increased confidence and specificity about House passage of ENDA. The legislation, which has been introduced in different forms in Congress since 1994, would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity for employers with 15 or more employees.
Houston Mayor Annise Parker (D) was also a featured speaker at the brunch. Introduced by lesbian Houston City Councilmember Sue Lovell (D), Parker spoke about her historic campaign to become the first lesbian mayor of a city with more than one million residents.
D.C. City Councilmember David Catania (I-At Large), introduced by City Council Chairman Vincent Gray (D), spoke about his work on health care and marriage equality in the District.
Frank spoke to the group about the importance of LGBT officials.
''Legislating is a very personal business,'' he said. ''Prejudice is literally ignorance. It is people prejudging based on a stereotype that substitutes for reality. Reality undermines that. So, the more they see us, the better it is.''
He also spoke of the protesters who yelled anti-gay epithets at him and his partner, Jim Ready, during the health care debate, noting that his partner had to be held back ''from responding in a way to a protestor that would not have made him happy.''
Frank added, ''I was pleased, both that he had the impulse – and that he was restrained.''
Looking toward the mid-term elections, Frank said of pro-LGBT interests, ''We're going to have a tough November – not because of our issues, and that's very important to note,'' but because of the political environment more broadly.
Speaking of actions taken by the Democratic majority to ''contain…the economic problems we inherited from the Bush administration,'' Frank noted the political limitations of that action, saying, ''In the history of politics, no one has ever won with the slogan, 'Things would have sucked worse without me.'''
Of LGBT equality, however, Frank said, ''We're gonna win this battle, there's no question. … I know people are frustrated, 'Well, we're always fighting.' Of course we're always fighting, because we have taken on a major task: eradicating one of the great prejudices of human history.
''So, of course, we're going to keep fighting until it's all over.''http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=5095
Gay Mayor Elected in Colorado Town
Wed, Apr 7th 2010, 10:46The small Colorado town of Dillon elected a gay man as mayor Tuesday.
First-term city council member Ron Holland defeated his opponent Don
Parsons by a vote of 90-72.
Holland, a former restaurateur and
longtime HIV/AIDS activist, has lived in Dillon for more than five years
with his partner, according to the Gay and Lesbian
Victory Fund. Dillon, with a population of about 800 people, appeals
to skiers on their way to area resorts.
Holland discussed his
win with the Summit Daily News.
“I’m
ecstatic,” he said. “It was actually a larger margin than I thought,
with two well-knowns running and both of us with a lot of support.”http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/04/07/Gay_Mayor_Elected_in_Colorado_Town/
Cicilline Shows Formidable Fund-raising
Wed, Apr 7th 2010, 10:44Providence mayor David Cicilline announced that he has raised $725,000
since declaring his congressional candidacy six weeks ago, more than
triple the amount raised by his closest Democratic rival during the same
period.
According to CQ
Politics, Cicilline set a high bar for primary opponent Bill
Lynch, the former Rhode Island Democratic chairman. The men are
competing to succeed retiring congressman Patrick Kennedy. State house
minority whip John Loughlin is the likely Republican nominee.
Lynch
has raised $230,000, according to CQ Politics, a total that
includes $100,000 of his own money. Cicilline has not contributed his
personal funds, but much of his campaign cash comes from donors who
redirected money from his mayoral reelection bid.
Cicilline,
who is gay, told his supporters that the fund-raising “exceeded all of
our expectations,” according to the Gay
and Lesbian Victory Fund.http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/04/06/Cicilline_Shows_Formidable_Fundraising/
Michigan Student Assembly's first openly gay president sworn in
Wed, Apr 7th 2010, 10:43After serving two years as chair of MSA’s LGBT Commission, Armstrong has made a name for himself within the community.
His work in bringing the Midwest LGBT Conference to campus next year came from his work with the Victory Fund — a national political action committee that trains LGBT leaders to hold political positions in the government and across the country. Victory Fund also helped Armstrong — who interned with the committee last summer — in his MSA campaign, he said.
Armstrong cited that Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh, another openly gay politician, also worked with Victory Fund. Armstrong said Pugh's political success inspired him and proved that he could lead a similar role.
Gabe Javier, Armstrong’s self-proclaimed mentor and assistant director at the University’s Spectrum Center, said Armstrong’s esteemed position as MSA president will have a large effect on the campus as a whole. He said Armstrong’s election win is a “proud moment” for the University and has important implications for the LGBT community to have such representation.
“I have high confidence that Chris is going to represent the interests of all students,” Javier said. “This is an important time for Michigan.”
http://www.michigandaily.com/content/armstrong-serves-first-openly-gay-msa-presidentCould 2010 be ‘Year of the Gay?’
Wed, Apr 7th 2010, 10:41Chris Johnson | Apr 01, 2010
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which backs qualified LGBT candidates for political office, has endorsed for the November election 68 candidates for federal and local races. That’s the highest number of candidates the organization has ever endorsed at this point prior to a November election.
Denis Dison, a spokesperson for the organization, projected the Victory Fund will endorse at least 112 candidates by the time the general election arrives. It would be more candidates than the organization has ever endorsed for a general election.
“When people see someone like [lesbian] Annise Parker win election as mayor of Houston, they question their assumptions about what’s possible, and I think that when people see other LGBT candidates succeed, they believe they can they can do it, too,” Dison said.
The potential for the election of so many gay candidates to office could make 2010 a milestone in terms of visibility for LGBT officials. Such a change would echo a political phenomenon from 1992, which became known as the “Year of the Woman.” At the time, Democratic nominee Bill Clinton’s victory was accompanied by the election of four female Democrats to the U.S. Senate.
http://www.dcagenda.com/2010/04/01/could-2010-be-%E2%80%98year-of-the-gay%E2%80%99/
U of Michigan Elects First Openly Gay Student Body President
Wed, Apr 7th 2010, 10:39The University of Michigan student body has elected its first ever openly queer president. Chris Armstrong, a former intern at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund was elected president of the University of Michigan Student Assembly. The UM MSA represents tens of thousands of students at one of the country’s most prestigious schools. Armstrong and his running mate represented the MForward party which tallied over 1,000 votes more than their closest challengers. MForward focuses on student involvement and advocacy, and included lobbying for gender neutral housing in their platform. Armstrong, a junior, will serve as MSA president until March of 2011.http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2010/04/u-of-michigan-elects-first-openly-gay-student-body-president/
Video Salute to LGBT Women in Politics
Thu, Apr 1st 2010, 13:07As Women’s History Month came to a close Wednesday, the Gay and Lesbian
Victory Fund released a video to celebrate the accomplishments of out
women in politics.
The video features lesbian trailblazers like
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Houston mayor Annise Parker,
Georgia state representative Simone Bell (pictured) and New York City
Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
“The only way to really get our
voice accurately and effectively and really loudly heard is to have
members of our community at the table, and to have diverse members of
our community at the table,” says Quinn.
According to the video,
the Victory
Fund endorsed 22 women for elected office in 2009, and 82% of them
won.
“It’s a very powerful message to have women at the table,”
says Baldwin. “None of us check our life experiences at the door when we
walk into work. We bring those experiences with us, and those
experiences inform our policy making. Without a diverse group addressing
policy, we’re not going to reflect America.”http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/04/01/Video_Salute_to_Women_in_LGBT_Politics/
The Victory Fund Celebrates Lesbians in Politics
Wed, Mar 31st 2010, 12:34As Women’s History Month comes to a close, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has a nice little video out celebrating lesbians in politics.http://www.lgbtpov.com/2010/03/the-victory-fund-celebrates-lesbians-in-politics/
Victory Fund Celebrates Women in LGBT Politics
Wed, Mar 31st 2010, 12:32The Victory Fund has produced a video in honor of Women’s History Month celebrating women who have been leaders in the LGBT political movement. Take a look:http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2010/03/victory-fund-celebrates-women-in-lgbt-politics/
Univ. of Michigan Elects Gay Student Body President
Wed, Mar 31st 2010, 12:31Chris Armstrong, a junior majoring in sociology, became
the president of the Michigan Student Assembly on a platform of
advocacy and activism. Armstrong had pledged to support gay rights on
campus; he previously helped bring the 2011 Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian,
Gay, Transgender, Ally College Conference to the University of Michigan.
Armstrong also interned last summer at the Gay & Lesbian Victory
Fund in Washington, D.C.
"The significance of this event really
demonstrates the diversity of this University," Armstrong said in a
statement. "The ability of this campus to elect an openly gay president
to lead them is something that students should be proud of, and the LGBT
community should be proud of."http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/03/29/Univ_of_Michigan_Elects_Gay_Student_Body_President/
University of Michigan Elects Gay Student Assembly President
Wed, Mar 31st 2010, 12:28The Victory Fund notes that their former intern, openly gay University of Michigan junior Chris Armstrong, has been elected president of the University of Michigan Student Assembly.
Michigan Daily reports: "Armstrong and Raymond won by more than 1,000 votes — beating out the Michigan Vision Party’s Ian Margolis and Tom Stuckey — in an election with a student voter turnout of 14 percent, the highest it’s been in years."
http://www.towleroad.com/2010/03/university-of-michigan-elects-gay-student-assembly-president.htmlLesbian Included Among Obama's Recess Appointments
Wed, Mar 31st 2010, 12:23In January, Denis Dison, vice president
of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that promotes openly
gay elected officials, told On Top Magazine that the Obama
administration is on track to setting a new record on appointing
openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender officials. “Obama has appointed about 100 openly
LGBT staff to the executive branch in his first year in office,”
Dison said in an email. “[President] Clinton appointed about 140
over 8 years.” “Obama is certainly on track to set a
record in this regard,” he added. Dison cheered Feldblum's appointment in
an email: “We're very happy she will finally be able to serve on
the EEOC, and proud that she is the first openly LGBT EEOC
commissioner. Few people are as qualified for this job as Chai
Feldblum.”
Out Candidates for Elected Office Increase
Fri, Mar 26th 2010, 14:22The number of openly LGBT candidates endorsed by the Gay and Lesbian
Victory Fund for elected office at the local, state, and federal levels
has reached 76 and continues to grow, which suggests the organization
could be on track to endorse a record number of candidates in 2010.
According
to a news release from the Victory
Fund, “Among the endorsees are five candidates for the U.S. Congress,
two for statewide office, and 35 state legislative candidates.
“Current
endorsees include: Nickie Antonio, a Democrat running for the Ohio
State House; David Cicilline, a Democrat running for Congress from Rhode
Island; Dave Coulter, a Democrat running for the Michigan State Senate;
Lucia Guzman, a Democrat running for the Colorado State Senate; and
Richard Tisei, a Republican running for lieutenant governor of
Massachusetts.”
See the full list of endorsed candidates here. http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/03/26/Out_Candidates_for_Elected_Office_Grow/
