Press Release

Fred Mason: A strong leader for Baltimore

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Denis Dison (202) 842-7308, denis.dison@victoryfund.org

Victory Fund endorses Fred Mason for Baltimore City Council

Three New Endorsements Announced July 3

 
WASHINGTON, D.C.—July 3, 2007—The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund today announced its endorsement of three candidates, including Fred Mason III, an architect and community activist who would become the first openly gay member of the Baltimore City Council.  Also endorsed Tuesday were Patricia Coluzzi, who is running for a seat on the city commission in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and Patrick Gossett, who is running to retain his seat on the Rehoboth Beach City Commission.

“Fred Mason is an accomplished and committed community leader, and we are proud to endorse him,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.  “These candidates are strong voices within and for their communities, but they also have the courage and honesty it takes to run for office as openly gay or lesbian.  That’s why they deserve our support.”

Coluzzi serves on the planning commission in Rehoboth and is endorsed by the city’s mayor and three of its city commissioners, including Patrick Gossett, her one-time opponent in an earlier election who is running for reelection to his seat on the city commission.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly LGBT candidates and officials. It’s the only national organization solely committed to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials at federal, state and local levels of government.  Victory is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee and one of the nation’s largest non-connected PACs.  In 16 years, Victory has helped grow the number of openly LGBT elected and appointed officials from 49 to more than 500.  Roughly 22% of all Americans are represented by an openly LGBT elected or appointed official.

For more information on these endorsed candidates, visit www.victoryfund.org.

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