Press Release

Victory Fund statement on Foley scandal

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Washington DC – October 4, 2006 -  Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, today issued the following statement regarding allegations against former congressman Mark Foley, and the ensuing commentary in the media:

"Openly gay men and women serve with distinction at all levels of government.  Until yesterday, Mark Foley chose life in the closet, but his sexual orientation is immaterial to the scandal unfolding in Washington.  Attempts by some on the extreme right to link the two constitute a transparent effort to scapegoat gays and lesbians.  The media and its political analysts should be careful not to defame hundreds of dedicated public servants and their families based on the improper behavior of one individual."

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 15 years, Victory has helped the number of openly LGBT officials grow from 49 to more than 300.

For more information, visit www.victoryfund.org.

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