LGBTQ Victory Institute

🌈 🗳👓 LGBTQ Victory Institute's Ready to Run Hub is now LIVE!👓 🗳🌈 This innovative resource is designed to provide LGBTQ candidates and individuals considering a run for office with a comprehensive suite of tips and tricks on how to start a campaign, decide which office to run for, how to make a successful fundraising ask and so much more. If you're looking for the tools to run, look no further. Check out the Ready to Run Hub today! https://lnkd.in/euhcmFuX

💛🤍💜🖤Happy Non-Binary Awareness Week! 💛🤍💜🖤 It's time to celebrate and uplift our amazing non-binary leaders making waves in offices across the country – from state legislatures to mayor’s offices, school boards, and city councils. Did you know that right now, we have 52 incredible non-binary leaders in office? 🌟 But that's not all! More and more non-binary folks are stepping up to run for office, and we couldn't be prouder. According to the 2024 Out for America Report, non-binary representation has grown by a whopping 69.6% since last year – the highest rate of growth among any gender group! 🚀✨ Let's keep this momentum going! Check out the Victory Institute's Out for America map or dive into the 2024 Out for America report to see the inspiring progress and stories of our non-binary trailblazers. 🗺️📚 https://lnkd.in/ehJwd25S

In just under one month, LGBTQ Victory Institute will head to Louisville for the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit where we will hold our annual LGBTQ State Legislators Reception on Tuesday, August 6th. All across the nation, more than 230 out LGBTQ state legislators are providing critical representation at a time when we need it most. Join us as we celebrate the work these incredible leaders do every day to ensure our voices are heard. Follow the link below or message me to learn how you, or your organization, can get involved. https://lnkd.in/eEdvrVE6

🌈✨ Exciting times during Pride! ✨🌈 LGBTQ Victory Institute, friends and allies celebrated LGBTQ political power at two incredible events: the 2024 Congressional Pride Reception and the 2024 LGBTQ Political Appointees Celebration! 🎉🏛️ These events honor the impactful contributions of LGBTQ leaders in the Biden-Harris Administration and on Capitol Hill. Let's recognize and uplift their voices as they shape a brighter future for us all. 🌟 A huge thank you to our hosts, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, for making these celebrations possible! 🙏💜

"Moving beyond defense requires LGBTQ people and our allies in office to introduce and pass proactive, protective laws—and that requires more seats at the table for LGBTQ politicians and candidates." At a time when the Supreme Court, to quote a recent speech of President Biden's, has gutted "voting rights and civil rights to taking away a woman’s right to choose" to the recent decision that enforced presidential immunity and plans to hear a defining case on trans rights this October, celebrating our democracy feels different this year. But throughout history, social progress has been forged through uncommon courage in the face of enormous challenges. The American Revolution, the abolition of slavery, universal suffrage, the 8-hour work day, reproductive choice and marriage equality were all driven by those who refused to be confined by the status quo. Pro-equality leaders are following in their footsteps today. True representative democracy that is of the people, by the people and for the people is once again at risk. Only together can we ensure it remains secure. We are proud to support and stand with LGBTQ leaders who are fighting for these inalienable rights - and are fighting for a more secure democracy for us all. Photo from Senator Shevrin Jones's Facebook page. The Florida legislature has defeated several anti-LGBTQ bills this year. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eAzVCtrd

🚀 Meet the next generation of LGBTQ leaders! 🌟 Join us in officially welcoming the Summer 2024 Victory Congressional Interns, a dynamic group of students dedicated to public service and LGBTQ advocacy. These emerging changemakers are ready to make a mark in Washington, D.C. 🏛️ Learn more about their inspiring journeys and ambitions here: https://lnkd.in/e6bNpFdG

My time at Harvard Kennedy School was unforgettable. The relationships that I made with my cohort was unparalleled. I thank my employer, my husband, but most important LGBTQ Victory Fund for selecting me as a David Bohnett Foundation fellow. All of us fellows SHINED! Their investment in these LGBTQIA leaders is a testament to the fundamental changes that we already have and will continue to make. I am forever grateful, humbled, and honored. Thank you Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education for this amazing opportunity. Thank you to my employer Construction Testing Services for allowing me to attend and be supportive throughout my educational journey! City of San Leandro was well represented!

Say hello to our latest VP! 🥂 🎉 Before joining Victory, Orie was the Director of Communications for the New York City Anti-Violence Project, where he led communications and program marketing for the nation’s largest non-profit supporting LGBTQ survivors of any violence. There, he worked to raise the visibility of AVP’s work locally and nationally through press, media, and digital engagement. During this time, he successfully placed AVP in multiple local and national outlets, including a nationally televised documentary series. Orie also co-authored the organization’s first research report on violence faced by LGBTQ organizations.

Pride isn't just in June—it's a year-round celebration! 🎊 Let's keep the spirit alive by supporting LGBTQ leaders at all levels of government. From individuals in the Biden-Harris Administration to the next generation of trans and non-binary leaders, we're proud to have their backs. These incredible individuals are our first line of defense against hateful bills and the champions who stand up for our rights. Together, we can create a more inclusive and loving world. Let's show up, speak out, and vote with pride!

Pride Month is over, and it's time to consider what we do #AfterPride. If Pride is about resistance and joy, my belief is AfterPride needs to be about resistance against the increasing legislation, hate and violence against the #LGBTQ people and of course Project 2025. This weekend, I read Randy Shilts' excellent biography, The Mayor of Castro Street, about #queer hero and icon Harvey Milk. This paragraph reminded me of why I'm proud to serve on the board of LGBTQ Victory Institute LGBTQ Victory Fund. "The lack of gut liberal outrage at the Briggs campaign provide more fodder for Harvey's contention that the future of the gay movement lay not with nurturing liberal friends through high-level politicking, but in forging strong power for gays at the grass roots. "It's not enough to have friends represent us, no matter how good friends they might be," he told a statewide caucus of gay Democrats. "if we remain invisible, we will be in limbo, people with no brothers, no sisters, no parents, no positions of respectability. The anger and frustrationsome us feel because we are misunderstood -- friends cannot feel that anger and frustration. They can sense it in us, but they cannot feel it...It's time we have many legislators who are gay, proud of that and do not remain in the closet." Of course, this was in 1978, yet it feels like traces of this initiative are resurfacing en masse today.