Victory in the News

The Other L Word: Can Tammy Baldwin Win in Wisconsin?

In 1998, Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay candidate to be elected to the U.S. Congress as a non-incumbent, winning a seat representing liberal Madison, Wisc., in the House of Representatives. Now the leading candidate to become the Democratic nominee to replace retiring Senator Herb Kohl, Baldwin would become the first out U.S. Senator in American history if she wins election in November 2012. 

Should she win, Baldwin would not be the first openly LGBT candidate to win a statewide office, though none have won top political jobs and none have won statewide seats in the Midwest. According to Denis Dison of The Victory Fund, an LGBT version of Emily's List, six people have won posts that required victory outside of gay enclaves or liberal districts -- and all in states at the country's edges. Kevin Lembo is Connecticut's current state comptroller; Ed Flanagan was Vermont's state auditor. Oregon now has three elected-while-out officials, with Kate Brown as current secretary of state, and Virginia Linder and Rives Kistler now on the Oregon Supreme Court. Meanwhile, in Hawaii, transgendered Kim Coco Iwamoto won a statewide election to be Commisioner of Education. 

Where to Put Your Political Time and Money in 2012

The November 2012 elections are 14 months away. But in this instant messenger era, the presidential, congressional, state and local races—not to mention the battles over the ballot initiatives—seem but a nanosecond away. And that means LGBTs need to start thinking now where they might want to put their time, money and hearts. 

Baldwin's election is a top priority for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund as well. Also endorsed by the Victory Fund are three other openly gay congressional candidates: Marko Liias, a state representative who is seeking to represent Washington's 1st Congressional District. He would replace Rep. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, who is running for governor. Second, Mark Pocan, a Democrat who is running to replace Rep. Tammy Baldwin in Congress. Pocan has served in the Wisconsin State Assembly for more than 12 years. Last, Mark Takano, who is running to represent California's 41st Congressional District in the U.S. House. Takano, a Democrat, is a longtime elected member of the Riverside Community College District's Board of Trustees. 

Path clearer for Baldwin to claim Democratic banner

The path is more clear for Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) to claim the Democratic nomination to run for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin now that a potential opponent has said he won't seek the office. 

Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), an eight-term House member, said Thursday in a statement to Politica that he won’t pursue the seat that retiring Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) is vacating next year.

Chuck Wolfe, CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said in a statement Kind's decision was welcome news. His organization has endorsed Baldwin upon her announcement last week. 

Calif. Gov Signs Equal Benefits Law

California governor Jerry Brown today signed into law a bill requiring businesses that have large contracts with the state to provide equal spousal benefits for all employees, gay and straight.

Victory Fund's Robin Brand on LGBT politics

As 2012 presidential candidates take to the road, The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund will be rolling into Chicago Thursday, Sept. 8, to discuss LGBT politics and strategy. Windy City Times caught up with Deputy Executive Director Robin Brand to talk about what issues are at stake in upcoming elections, the changing face of LGBT politics and the Republican role in recent wins for gay rights. 

Apple CEO urged to come out as gay

LGBT advocates are urging the new head of Apple, Inc., to make his sexual orientation public amid media reports asserting that he's gay.

Tim Cook last week became CEO of the $337 billion company — which weeks ago overtook Exxon-Mobile Corp. to become the world's most valuable business — after former CEO Steve Jobs resigned from his position. 

Denis Dison, spokesperson for the Gay & Victory Fund, said a public declaration from Cook about his sexual orientation would have a positive impact on the larger LGBT community because it would encourage his straight colleagues and others to pay attention to LGBT issues. 

Creep of the Week: Sally Kern

Haters gon' hate, am I right?

And according to Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern, the most hateful thing you can say to a gay person is that they're okay the way they are.

"Adulterers Victory Fund" is her swipe at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group she's not an especially big fan of ever since they exposed her "gays are worse than terrorism" comments.  

Chuck Wolfe: Time to Fight for America’s first LGBT senator

The United States Senate has been called both the world's greatest deliberative body and the world's most exclusive club, but it looks nothing like the country it represents. That's one reason so many people are encouraging Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin to seize the rare opportunity to run for an open Senate seat, and that's why our community should fight like hell to help her win. 

Tammy is the first woman from Wisconsin ever elected to Congress, and its only openly lesbian member. In 1998, the Victory Fund helped her become the first openly LGBT candidate to win a seat in the U.S. House as a non-incumbent. She stood out in that election because of her honesty, something that continues to shape her approach to the tough votes she takes as U.S. Representative. 

Eyeing a Senate Seat, Baldwin Campaigns in Recall Election

With a much-anticipated Wisconsin recall election set for Tuesday, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, who is considering a U.S. Senate run in 2012 and has posted impressive fund-raising numbers to back those likely aspirations, has been highly active in a final push for Democratic candidates. 

In July, Baldwin reported raising $502,000 during the second quarter, and she has $1.1 million in cash on hand. She raised $435,000 in June alone, though the showdown over Kohl's seat could ultimately cost in the region of $10 million to $20 million. "She's in a great place right now for the market that she's in," said Denis Dison, vice president of communications for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. "That said, it's an open seat. The Republicans are going to be going after it with guns blazing. Baldwin is going to be looking under every cushion for spare change, and the LGBT community is going to be an important part of her fund-raising plan." 

Transgender woman running for Houston council

Jenifer Rene Pool is running for an at-large position on the Houston city council. Sue Lovell, who reached her term limit, is vacating the seat. Before Lovell joined the council, Mayor Annise Parker also served on the council at large.

Pool said she is fashioning her campaign after Parker's and using what she learned at Victory Fund candidate training. 

White House close to naming new LGBT liaison

The White House is close to naming its new LGBT liaison and has already designated an official within the Obama administration for the role, the Washington Blade has learned.

A number of individuals within the administration who identify as LGBT could be candidates for the position. According to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, more than 200 LGBT people have been appointed to serve in the Obama administration, and more than 25 of those were nominated for Senate-confirmable positions.

Charlotte Could Elect First LGBT Councilmember

LaWana Mayfield, an out lesbian, is running in the Democratic primary to become the first openly LGBT member of the City Council in Charlotte, N.C.

Gay candidates gain acceptance

Sweeping changes in public attitudes toward sexual orientation have led to fundamental realignments this year in everything from the military, where gays now can serve openly, to marriage. Sunday, New York will become the sixth and largest state to permit same-sex marriages.

In politics, the number of gay men and lesbians running for public office and winning has begun to increase significantly, although gay candidates, especially in more conservative areas, continue to face skepticism and opposition from some voters.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund calculates that 107 openly gay candidates were elected to office nationwide in 2010, an increase of one-third from 2008 and nearly threefold the number of a decade earlier. The political action committee projects another significant jump in 2012.

Michigan sees more openly gay politicians

Though Michigan continues to lack many legislative victories that are seen as important by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents, the state is also seeing the rise of more openly gay elected officials on the local levels.

In 2008, Detroit saw the election of Charles Pugh as Detroit City Council president, making him the first openly gay black man to hold such a post in the country. Ferndale resident Craig Covey became the state’s first openly gay mayor and has since moved to the Oakland County Commission. In Lansing, City Clerk Chris Swope was elected to the Ingham County Commission, then moved into the clerkship.

But this year, the noise on openly gay candidates is reaching new levels. The Advocate, a national LGBT magazine, released a story highlighting five of the country’s up and coming gay politicos. On that list is Rory Neuner, a candidate for a Lansing City Council at-large seat. Neuner’s star is rising fast, and in the capitol city she has created a campaign message around attracting and keeping the high school and college graduates in the area.

There are at least two other openly gay candidates running in Lansing City Council races, and Denis Dison, spokesperson for The Victory Fund, a D.C. based political organization that works with out gay candidates seeking offices across the country, says this is a new trend.

“Last year the Victory Fund endorsed 164 openly LGBT candidates for public office — our largest slate ever. That’s one indication that, indeed, more and more out community leaders are beginning to see public service as a viable career path,” says Dison. “You see that long track record of service and community involvement in a candidate like Rory Neuner, who’s now running for the Lansing City Council. I think in many places LGBT people no longer feel limited to non-elected public service. So we’re beginning to see a lot more who are interested in taking that next step.”

Gay Man Elected Utah Democratic Party Chair

Democrats in Utah elected Jim Dabakis as state party chairman on Saturday, making him the first openly gay person to hold the position.

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund reports on the win for Dabakis, a founder of Equality Utah and the Utah Pride Center. An art dealer, he defeated candidate Robert Comstock by a wide margin of 528 to 71.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Dabakis said his priority would be to win races for Democrats across Utah. He also said he wanted to let Republicans, independents and Latter-Day Saints know they are welcome in the Democratic Party.

Tammy Baldwin Eyes a Senate Seat

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s potential bid for retiring Sen. Herb Kohl’s seat appears all the more plausible, given the openly gay congresswoman’s campaign coffers. Baldwin raised $502,000 in the second quarter and now has $1.1 million in cash on hand, Roll Call reports. She raised $435,000 last month alone.

“This is a remarkable showing 16 months before the next federal election, and it’s proof that Tammy Baldwin will be a formidable candidate if she decides to run,” said Robin Brand, deputy executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. “We’ve already received a tremendous response from our donors and supporters, and the excitement is really beginning to build for what will be a historic campaign.”

Gay Politics notes that Baldwin is unlikely to make a formal announcement on whether she will run for the senate seat until the state recall elections in Wisconsin have taken place.

Baldwin Posts $1.1 Million In Cash On Hand

Lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), in reports to be filed with the FEC today, posted receipts of $502,485.62 in the second quarter and more than $1.1 million in cash on hand. During June, she raised more than $435,000.

Baldwin is widely expected to pursue the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Herb Kohl.

“This is a remarkable showing 16 months before the next federal election, and it’s proof that Tammy Baldwin will be a formidable candidate if she decides to run,” said Robin Brand, deputy executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. “We’ve already received a tremendous response from our donors and supporters, and the excitement is really beginning to build for what will be a historic campaign.”

Bond’s Departure Triggers Debate Over White House Role

The announced departure last week of the White House gay liaison is being met with praise from some who worked with him on LGBT issues and calls from others who say they want more from his successor.

Brian Bond, deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, is set to leave his position mid-August to become the Democratic National Committee’s director of constituency outreach. Bond, who’s gay, handled LGBT outreach for the office.

Prior to becoming a White House official, Bond served as executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund from 1997 to 2003. He was national constituency director for President Obama’s 2008 campaign and was executive director of the DNC’s LGBT leadership council. Bond returns to the DNC as President Obama ramps up his re-election campaign for 2012.

Madison360: Possible Tammy Baldwin Senate run energizes national gay community

The prospect of Tammy Baldwin running for the U.S. Senate has grabbed the attention of national gay organizations, reports Roll Call, a highly respected Capitol Hill newspaper in Washington, D.C.
Baldwin, who represents the 2nd Congressional District that includes Madison, told me recently she is highly likely to seek the seat being vacated by fellow Democrat Herb Kohl, who does not plan to run for re-election. That possibility is attracting lots of attention. “She has been part of the (consciousness) of our organization for two decades,” a spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund told Roll Call.

Wisconsin Rep. Could Serve Senate As First Openly Lesbian Senator

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin is considered a strong candidate to become the first openly lesbian senator. She would replace Senator Herb Kohl, who plans on retiring from the Senate next year.

Understandably, the LBGTQ community is standing behind Baldwin. The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has long backed her, and is gearing up to help her win a Senate term should she choose to run. Their website even has an encouraging banner, simply saying, "Run Tammy Run!"