Victory in the News

Sheriff’s 'outing' pushes Arizona to top of states with gay candidates for Congress

Babeu joins three state lawmakers — all Democrats — who are openly gay or bisexual and running for Congress this year in Arizona. Rep. Matt Heinz and state Sen. Paula Aboud, both of Tucson, are running in District 2; former state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Phoenix, who has said she is bisexual, is running in the new District 9.

But Arizona has a long history of electing openly gay candidates, said Denis Dison, spokesman for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which works to elect gays to public office.

"Arizona has a conservative reputation but it also has a history with openly gay candidates at the local and state level," Dison said. "Once those barriers are broken, people get bored with the topic and it's less of an issue." 

Oklahoma gay candidate wins in landslide

Al McAffrey is moving from one chamber in Oklahoma's statehouse to another.

The gay state representative on Feb. 14 won a special election for the state Senate. McAffrey, a Democrat, was the first openly gay candidate elected to the House and is now the first openly gay candidate elected to the Senate.

"Al's election to the state Senate is another milestone for LGBT Oklahomans, and we are proud to support his campaign," said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. "There are still a number of states that have never elected any openly LGBT state legislators, so Oklahoma can be proud that Al has been elected to both the House and the Senate." 

Gay House, Senate candidates running strong

Gay and lesbian candidates for the U.S. House and Senate are competitive with — and in some cases besting — their straight opponents when it comes to raising money. 

Denis Dison, spokesperson for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said Baldwin has "lapped everybody in the field" of Republicans.

"They're going to be spending that money in the primary," Dison said. "This is going to be a pretty ugly primary on the Republican side. They're really going to have to spend all the way to win their nomination." 

National news in brief: Feb. 10

Victory Fund staffer appointed to advisory board

WASHINGTON — Rev. George B. Walker, Jr., vice president of strategic partnerships at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Victory Institute, was named to President Obama's Board of Advisers on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, according to a White House press release.

"I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles," said President Obama, upon naming Walker and six others to key administration positions. "I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."

Victory Fund President and CEO Chuck Wolfe expressed excitement at the appointment.

"We're thrilled for our friend and colleague, George, a deeply committed and passionate advocate for equality, diversity and education," Wolfe told the Blade. "With George's appointment, President Obama continues to ensure LGBT voices are well-represented among the talented Americans who serve him and his administration." 

Washington Senate Passes Marriage Equality Bill With a 28-21 Vote

The marriage equality bill's passage on Feb. 1 was praised by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund -- as was Murray, who is the only out LGBT lawmaker in the state Senate.

"Tonight's vote is a victory for fairness in Washington, and for Senator Ed Murray, who has worked so hard for so long to make life better for LGBT Washingtonians," Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, said in a statement. "When this bill is finally signed into law, Ed and Michael, his partner of 20 years, will finally have realized the equality under state law Ed has fought for since he was first elected to the legislature in 1995." 

Barney Frank to Marry, DOMA Will Limit Federal Recognition of Congressman's Spouse

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund's president, Chuck Wolfe, said in a statement, "We are thrilled for Barney and Jim, and offer them both our congratulations and best wishes.

"As one of the world's most visible out elected officials, Barney Frank has long used his position and influence to draw attention to the freedoms LGBT Americans deserve but still do not enjoy," Wolfe said. "It's fitting that as his time in Congress comes to a close, he will finally take advantage of the freedom to marry in his home state of Massachusetts." 

N.J. gov picks gay black man, Asian for top court

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie moved to diversify the state's all-white Supreme Court on Monday by proposing two firsts: the nominations of an openly gay black man and a Korean-born law enforcer to fill two vacancies. 

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a Washington D.C., group that supports political campaigns of gay candidates, said the first two gay Supreme Court justices were both in Oregon. Rives Kistler was appointed to the bench in 2003 and elected to a full term the next year. Virginia Linder was elected in 2006.

Victory Fund spokesman Dennis Dison said all four others have been sworn in since 2010. They are: Barbara Lenk in Massachusetts, Sabrina McKenna in Hawaii, Monica Marquez in Colorado and Beth Robinson in Vermont. Robinson was previously the leader of a statewide gay rights group, Vermont Freedom to Marry.

Dison said his group helped Harris last year in his mayoral campaign, and that he is one of the few openly gay black Republican mayors in the nation. 

Meet the super super PAC

For PACs that have already gone hybrid — they range from the Conservative Action Fund to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund — the advantages are notable and immediate, several officials said.

Baldwin Raised More Than $1 Million in Last Quarter of 2011 for Senate Race

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) announced today on Facebook that her campaign for U.S. Senate raised more than $1 million in the last three months of 2011. 

Endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the group's vice president for communications, Denis Dison, told Metro Weekly today, "There's a lot of excitement around this campaign. With 16,000 donors in just a matter of months, it's clear Tammy is attracting strong grassroots support. Still, money will matter a lot in this open seat race, and having close to $2 million on hand is a great start." 

Giffords' gay savior says he's no hero

Recently, Hernandez has become involved with the Gay and lesbian Victory Institute. The institute's focus is getting qualified gays and lesbians elected to public office. "They are helping to train the new generation and this generation in what it takes to be an elected official," he said. The institute offers Hill Congressional Internships, where young LGBT individuals can intern for a senator or a congressperson in much the same way he did.

"The Victory Institute shows you that being gay isn't always a liability but could also be an asset," he said. Hernandez—who, at only 21, has won his first local election and has not yet graduated from college—offers sound advice for those in the LGBT community who would rather sit on the sidelines than be on the field. "If you think just because you are LGBT you cannot serve and could never be elected, you're wrong," said Hernandez. "The institute can show you the successes of others who are qualified and want to serve. In Wisconsin right now, the people are working to elect Tammy Baldwin as the first openly gay Senator in United States history."