This week I talked with Annise Parker, President & CEO of the Victory Fund & Victory Institute about the importance of endorsing openly LGBTQ political candidates for local, state & federal elective offices. Currently there are 1200 openly LGBTQ people serving in offices across America but we need at least 30,000 to come close to leveling the political scope in this country. The LGBTQ Victory Fund works to achieve this goal & sustain equality by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve. We all know how successful the religious right has been in stacking the political field against our community. Now is the time to support LGBTQ candidates in their quest to advance our progressive values. To be considered for endorsement by the Victory Fund & Victory Institute candidates must be openly LGBTQ, pro-choice & support an individual’s right to privacy. It’s also crucial that they support the rights of transgender individuals, demonstrate community support & have a realistic plan to win. Candidates must additionally demonstrate support of federal, state or local efforts to advance LGBTQ civil rights through the legislative or regulatory process & demonstrate support of federal, state or local efforts to safeguard privacy & reproductive freedom. Victory Fund was founded in 1991 by LGBTQ activists & donors who recognized the success of EMILY’s List at attracting attention & support for women candidates for public office & applied the success of this model to advance equality for our LGBTQ community. I talked to Annise about what she hopes to accomplish at the Victory Fund & her spin on our LGBTQ issues.
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