Victory in the News

Gay Navajo man poised to join Ariz. Senate

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

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

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

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

Mehlman news fuels divisive reaction

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

Mehlman coming out draws mixed reactions

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

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

Political Notebook: State lawmakers endorse Oakland judicial candidate

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

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

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

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

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

Mixed Primary Night for Gay Pols

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

Richard Sorian Latest Openly Gay Obama Appointee

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

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

The Gaying of CT Politics

“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

Denis 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

The 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!

One 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

Bryce 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

Via 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

Garner 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

Openly 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

Howard, 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

In 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

The 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

Cicilline’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.).