Victory in the News

ELECTION ROUNDUP: Va. elects first openly gay senator

Democrat Adam Ebbin, a gay man who has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2004, won election on Tuesday to the Virginia Senate, becoming the state's first openly gay senator. 

In a separate race, gay Republican Patrick Forrest lost his bid to unseat Virginia State Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston), a longtime supporter of LGBT rights. Forrest, who had been endorsed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, was vying to become the first openly LGBT Republican to win election to a state legislature 

Harris May Be One-of-a-Kind Mayor

Bruce Harris isn't a big fan of campaigning. But now he can at least enjoy the result of his efforts.

Days after beating Democratic incumbent Nelson Vaughan to become Chatham Borough's next mayor, Harris just can't stop smiling. 

Denis Dison, the vice president of communications for The Victory Fund, believes Harris is likely the first openly gay, black Republican to be elected mayor in the country.

"We could not think of another," Dison said. "There have been a few openly gay African Americans who have been elected mayors in their town, but not Republicans. 

Gay Wis. lawmaker hopes to win Baldwin’s seat

It'll be a tough act for Mark Pocan to follow.

The gay lawmaker in the Wisconsin State Assembly is seeking the seat being vacated at the end of this year by lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who's leaving the U.S. House to pursue a run for the U.S. Senate. 

Denis Dison, spokesperson for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said Pocan has what it takes to join the ranks of the other openly gay lawmakers in Congress fighting for LGBT rights. The organization has already endorsed him.

"Mark is a vocal and respected fighter for progressive values, and that's what people can expect from him as a member of Congress," Dison said. "In the same tradition as Congresswoman Baldwin, Mark won't be shy about speaking out for what he believes in, and he'll be an effective champion for LGBT equality." 

Colorado gay officials seeing more-tolerant attitudes

Colorado residents want their city councils and county commissioners to solve zoning woes and code-enforcement headaches and deliver reliable trash pickup.

What they don't seem to care about is whether the people offering the solutions are gay, lesbian or transgender.

The national Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund endorsed 75 candidates in the most recent election cycle, and 53 won seats on city councils and county commissions, said the group's spokesman, Denis Dison.

In Denver, the group endorsed lesbian Robin Kniech, who won a seat on the City Council in July.

Cincy's first openly gay councilman shows change

The election of Cincinnati's first openly gay councilman represents a shift for an Ohio city that for years had a charter amendment that was unfavorable to gays. 

Chris Seelbach's election last week is a milestone for the area's gays and lesbians. Seelbach had worked for the successful repeal in 2004 of an 11-year-old city charter amendment that banned local ordinances protecting gay people from discrimination. 

Having an openly gay person in public office helps other people feel that they can show who they really are and participate in government, said Denis Dison, a spokesman for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a Washington-based group that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political candidates.

"If some gay or lesbian kid in Cincinnati walks into school with their head a little higher after this, that's the important thing," Dison said.