Victory in the News

Queering Congress

When California teacher Mark Takano ran for Congress 15 years ago, he lost to Republican challenger Ken Calvert by a scant 519 votes. Two years later, things looked more promising. Police had caught Calvert with a prostitute; Takano should have easily clinched a win. But just three months before the election, Ray Haynes—a Calvert supporter in the state assembly—outed Takano as gay. 

Despite the growing importance of LGBT issues on the Democratic platform—two rumored contenders for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, have been fierce advocates for marriage equality—the rank of elected officials will likely change little next year. "If you were to think of this in terms of representative democracy, we are not there yet," says Denis Dison of The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that supports LGBT candidates at all levels of government. "We should have maybe 30 members of the House. But [the underrepresentation] is also true of people of color, of women. The LGBT community is fairly new to this mission we have undertaken. It wasn't very long ago that people would not have been able to run." 

Frank retiring from Congress in 2012

The longest serving openly gay member of Congress won't seek re-election to the U.S. House in 2012.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) announced his retirement during a press conference at Newton City Hall in Massachusetts on Monday. Had the lawmaker sought re-election, he would have been pursuing a 17th term in Congress.

The Victory Fund has endorsed the re-election bids of openly gay U.S. House members Polis and Cicilline. The organization also backs the election to Congress of non-incumbent Pocan as well as Mark Takano in California and State Rep. Marko Liias in Washington State.  

Barney Frank to Retire

With few regrets and a few more parting quips, Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts announced Monday that he will retire at the end of the current congressional term. 

Congressman Frank, the longest-serving openly gay member of Congress and one of four openly gay congressional members currently in office, told reporters at a news conference in Newton, Mass., that his decision not to run for reelection in 2012 was driven in part by the realities of redistricting as well as his desire to pursue writing and teaching. His announcement was met with an outpouring of gratitude by LGBT organizations who praised his gay rights legislative work and his influence on a new generation of LGBT political leaders. 

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, said, "Barney Frank's political career may be coming to an end, but his legacy will outlive us all. His decision to come out as gay more than two decades ago gave LGBT Americans an authentic voice and a persistent champion in Washington. He has used that voice loudly and often, speaking personally, humorously and effectively about the hopes and challenges of Americans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We will miss that voice very much." 

Colorado state House Dems pick gay man to lead

DENVER — Openly gay Rep. Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver) is the newly elected Democratic leader in the Colorado State House, after Rep. Sal Pace stepped down to focus on a U.S. Congressional run, according to the Associated Press.

As the Victory Fund's Gay Politics Blog notes, if the chamber returns to Democratic control in 2012, Ferrandino will become the state's first openly-gay majority leader. In 2007 the Massachusetts Republican party chose gay Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Middlesex & Essex) to lead the minority party in that state's upper house. Tisei was not officially on record as being gay, however, until November 2009, though upon coming out, Tisei claims to have never been in the closet. 

Out Gay Lawmaker Elected Minority Leader of Colorado House

Out gay Colorado State Representative Mark Ferrandino has been elected to the position of House Minority Leader, the Victory Fund reports, adding that "he could become House Speaker if the chamber flips back to Democratic control next year." 

ELECTION ROUNDUP: Va. elects first openly gay senator

Democrat Adam Ebbin, a gay man who has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2004, won election on Tuesday to the Virginia Senate, becoming the state's first openly gay senator. 

In a separate race, gay Republican Patrick Forrest lost his bid to unseat Virginia State Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston), a longtime supporter of LGBT rights. Forrest, who had been endorsed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, was vying to become the first openly LGBT Republican to win election to a state legislature 

Harris May Be One-of-a-Kind Mayor

Bruce Harris isn't a big fan of campaigning. But now he can at least enjoy the result of his efforts.

Days after beating Democratic incumbent Nelson Vaughan to become Chatham Borough's next mayor, Harris just can't stop smiling. 

Denis Dison, the vice president of communications for The Victory Fund, believes Harris is likely the first openly gay, black Republican to be elected mayor in the country.

"We could not think of another," Dison said. "There have been a few openly gay African Americans who have been elected mayors in their town, but not Republicans. 

Gay Wis. lawmaker hopes to win Baldwin’s seat

It'll be a tough act for Mark Pocan to follow.

The gay lawmaker in the Wisconsin State Assembly is seeking the seat being vacated at the end of this year by lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who's leaving the U.S. House to pursue a run for the U.S. Senate. 

Denis Dison, spokesperson for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said Pocan has what it takes to join the ranks of the other openly gay lawmakers in Congress fighting for LGBT rights. The organization has already endorsed him.

"Mark is a vocal and respected fighter for progressive values, and that's what people can expect from him as a member of Congress," Dison said. "In the same tradition as Congresswoman Baldwin, Mark won't be shy about speaking out for what he believes in, and he'll be an effective champion for LGBT equality." 

Colorado gay officials seeing more-tolerant attitudes

Colorado residents want their city councils and county commissioners to solve zoning woes and code-enforcement headaches and deliver reliable trash pickup.

What they don't seem to care about is whether the people offering the solutions are gay, lesbian or transgender.

The national Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund endorsed 75 candidates in the most recent election cycle, and 53 won seats on city councils and county commissions, said the group's spokesman, Denis Dison.

In Denver, the group endorsed lesbian Robin Kniech, who won a seat on the City Council in July.

Cincy's first openly gay councilman shows change

The election of Cincinnati's first openly gay councilman represents a shift for an Ohio city that for years had a charter amendment that was unfavorable to gays. 

Chris Seelbach's election last week is a milestone for the area's gays and lesbians. Seelbach had worked for the successful repeal in 2004 of an 11-year-old city charter amendment that banned local ordinances protecting gay people from discrimination. 

Having an openly gay person in public office helps other people feel that they can show who they really are and participate in government, said Denis Dison, a spokesman for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a Washington-based group that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political candidates.

"If some gay or lesbian kid in Cincinnati walks into school with their head a little higher after this, that's the important thing," Dison said.

Chris Seelbach's victory a milestone for gays in Cincinnati

The bar, Milton's Prospect Hill Tavern, was packed for the victory party for the man who'd become Cincinnati's first openly gay City Council member.

People cheered. And it seemed as if everyone on Election Night was offering to buy Chris Seelbach a drink. 

Electing the first openly gay council member, others say, means more than the fact that Cincinnati's long-held conservative reputation apparently is evolving.

It also changes the perspective at City Hall and shows other LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) individuals that it's OK to live an authentic life, to show who you really are and still be able to participate in government, said Denis Dison, vice president of communications for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a Washington nonprofit that promotes LGBT candidates. 

Houston Mayor Annise Parker Wins Reelection

Houston mayor Annise D. Parker has won reelection despite low approval ratings and antigay rhetoric leveled against her by a challenger. 

Next month Parker hosts the 27th International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference in Houston. “It’s a great opportunity for elected and appointed GLBT leaders from around country, and the world, to get together and share tips support each other,” she said.

More from the Victory Fund on gay election victories yesterday

Washington, D.C. – Openly gay and lesbian candidates endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund won election to municipal, judicial and state legislative offices from coast to coast Tuesday night. At least 53 of the group's 75 endorsees were victorious, with two races still undecided this morning. 

"The election of gay and lesbian candidates in places where they have never won before is a major step forward, and we could not be happier about these victories," said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. "All of the openly LGBT candidates who stepped up to run for office this year are true leaders who deserve our profound thanks." 

Off-Year Advances: LGBT advocacy organizations celebrate Election Day results

The off-year elections, normally a slow-paced night for national coverage, featured several ballot measures – including Ohio, Mississippi and Maine – that garnered significant attention. Additionally, from Texas to Iowa to Michigan, from Arizona to Ohio to Massachusetts, LGBT candidates and issues saw significant successes.

As the Victory Fund's vice president for communications, Denis Dison, told Metro Weekly late Nov. 8, ''It's been a very, very good night for LGBT candidates. Right now it looks like more than two thirds of Victory Fund-endorsed candidates will win, and LGBT candidates have made significant breakthroughs in cities and towns across the country, including Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Houston and Charlotte.''

Gay Republican accuses Dem of gay-baiting in Va.

A gay Republican running for state Senate in Virginia is accusing his Democratic incumbent opponent of engaging in gay-baiting tactics, an assertion supported by an audio recording obtained by the Washington Blade of inflammatory remarks made by a Democratic volunteer. 

Denis Dison, a Victory Fund spokesperson, said the alleged gay-baiting "has no place in politics" and came to the defense of his organization's endorsed candidate. 

Senate confirms lesbian to federal judiciary

The U.S. Senate confirmed on Thursday an out judicial nominee to become the second-ever open lesbian to sit on the federal bench.

Senators confirmed Alison Nathan, whom President Obama nominated in March for a seat on the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York, by a vote of 48-44. 

Chuck Wolfe, CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, called the Nathan confirmation "another step toward America's leadership class reflecting the country it serves." 

Longtime gay activist Frank Kameny dies

Expressions of condolences from LGBT activists and their straight supporters poured in from across the country this week following the death in Washington on Tuesday of Franklin E. Kameny, one of the nation’s most prominent gay rights leaders.

Chuck Wolfe, CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said Kameny’s death marked the “loss of a hero and a founding father of the fight to end discrimination against LGBT people.”

San Diego considers an openly gay GOP mayor

SAN DIEGO - Two leading Republican contenders for mayor of America's eighth-largest city are openly gay, and voters have barely noticed. It doesn't come up at campaign appearances or in local news coverage. 

A nationwide Gallup poll in June showed 67 percent of voters surveyed would elect a gay president, up 12 percentage points from four years ago. The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund says the number of openly gay officeholders nationwide doubled in the last four years to about 500. They include Annise Parker, a Democrat who was elected mayor of Houston in 2009. 

White House Names Gautam Raghavan to LGBT Liaison Role

Today, the White House made formal what Metro Weekly first reported on Sept. 23: Gautam Raghavan, the former deputy White House liaison at the Department of Defense, is the new LGBT liaison in the White House Office of Public Engagement.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which works to support out LGBT candidates and appointees, celebrated the news -- while pushing for more action on presidential appointments. Victory Fund vice president of communications Denis Dison told   

Chuck Wolfe: Why Tammy Baldwin Will Win

Can Tammy Baldwin, a proud progressive, become the next U.S. senator from Wisconsin and make history as America's first openly LGBT senator? Not only can she, but I expect she will.

It won't be easy. This could be one of the hardest-fought Senate contests in the country, and recent polls show the race to be a "sheer toss up," according to Public Policy Polling. But Tammy's ready for that fight, and she has some built-in advantages that will make her more competitive than some conservatives seem to understand...

The Other L Word: Can Tammy Baldwin Win in Wisconsin?

In 1998, Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay candidate to be elected to the U.S. Congress as a non-incumbent, winning a seat representing liberal Madison, Wisc., in the House of Representatives. Now the leading candidate to become the Democratic nominee to replace retiring Senator Herb Kohl, Baldwin would become the first out U.S. Senator in American history if she wins election in November 2012. 

Should she win, Baldwin would not be the first openly LGBT candidate to win a statewide office, though none have won top political jobs and none have won statewide seats in the Midwest. According to Denis Dison of The Victory Fund, an LGBT version of Emily's List, six people have won posts that required victory outside of gay enclaves or liberal districts -- and all in states at the country's edges. Kevin Lembo is Connecticut's current state comptroller; Ed Flanagan was Vermont's state auditor. Oregon now has three elected-while-out officials, with Kate Brown as current secretary of state, and Virginia Linder and Rives Kistler now on the Oregon Supreme Court. Meanwhile, in Hawaii, transgendered Kim Coco Iwamoto won a statewide election to be Commisioner of Education. 

Where to Put Your Political Time and Money in 2012

The November 2012 elections are 14 months away. But in this instant messenger era, the presidential, congressional, state and local races—not to mention the battles over the ballot initiatives—seem but a nanosecond away. And that means LGBTs need to start thinking now where they might want to put their time, money and hearts. 

Baldwin's election is a top priority for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund as well. Also endorsed by the Victory Fund are three other openly gay congressional candidates: Marko Liias, a state representative who is seeking to represent Washington's 1st Congressional District. He would replace Rep. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, who is running for governor. Second, Mark Pocan, a Democrat who is running to replace Rep. Tammy Baldwin in Congress. Pocan has served in the Wisconsin State Assembly for more than 12 years. Last, Mark Takano, who is running to represent California's 41st Congressional District in the U.S. House. Takano, a Democrat, is a longtime elected member of the Riverside Community College District's Board of Trustees. 

Path clearer for Baldwin to claim Democratic banner

The path is more clear for Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) to claim the Democratic nomination to run for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin now that a potential opponent has said he won't seek the office. 

Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), an eight-term House member, said Thursday in a statement to Politica that he won’t pursue the seat that retiring Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) is vacating next year.

Chuck Wolfe, CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said in a statement Kind's decision was welcome news. His organization has endorsed Baldwin upon her announcement last week. 

Calif. Gov Signs Equal Benefits Law

California governor Jerry Brown today signed into law a bill requiring businesses that have large contracts with the state to provide equal spousal benefits for all employees, gay and straight.

Victory Fund's Robin Brand on LGBT politics

As 2012 presidential candidates take to the road, The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund will be rolling into Chicago Thursday, Sept. 8, to discuss LGBT politics and strategy. Windy City Times caught up with Deputy Executive Director Robin Brand to talk about what issues are at stake in upcoming elections, the changing face of LGBT politics and the Republican role in recent wins for gay rights. 

Apple CEO urged to come out as gay

LGBT advocates are urging the new head of Apple, Inc., to make his sexual orientation public amid media reports asserting that he's gay.

Tim Cook last week became CEO of the $337 billion company — which weeks ago overtook Exxon-Mobile Corp. to become the world's most valuable business — after former CEO Steve Jobs resigned from his position. 

Denis Dison, spokesperson for the Gay & Victory Fund, said a public declaration from Cook about his sexual orientation would have a positive impact on the larger LGBT community because it would encourage his straight colleagues and others to pay attention to LGBT issues. 

Creep of the Week: Sally Kern

Haters gon' hate, am I right?

And according to Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern, the most hateful thing you can say to a gay person is that they're okay the way they are.

"Adulterers Victory Fund" is her swipe at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group she's not an especially big fan of ever since they exposed her "gays are worse than terrorism" comments.  

Chuck Wolfe: Time to Fight for America’s first LGBT senator

The United States Senate has been called both the world's greatest deliberative body and the world's most exclusive club, but it looks nothing like the country it represents. That's one reason so many people are encouraging Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin to seize the rare opportunity to run for an open Senate seat, and that's why our community should fight like hell to help her win. 

Tammy is the first woman from Wisconsin ever elected to Congress, and its only openly lesbian member. In 1998, the Victory Fund helped her become the first openly LGBT candidate to win a seat in the U.S. House as a non-incumbent. She stood out in that election because of her honesty, something that continues to shape her approach to the tough votes she takes as U.S. Representative. 

Eyeing a Senate Seat, Baldwin Campaigns in Recall Election

With a much-anticipated Wisconsin recall election set for Tuesday, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, who is considering a U.S. Senate run in 2012 and has posted impressive fund-raising numbers to back those likely aspirations, has been highly active in a final push for Democratic candidates. 

In July, Baldwin reported raising $502,000 during the second quarter, and she has $1.1 million in cash on hand. She raised $435,000 in June alone, though the showdown over Kohl's seat could ultimately cost in the region of $10 million to $20 million. "She's in a great place right now for the market that she's in," said Denis Dison, vice president of communications for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. "That said, it's an open seat. The Republicans are going to be going after it with guns blazing. Baldwin is going to be looking under every cushion for spare change, and the LGBT community is going to be an important part of her fund-raising plan." 

Transgender woman running for Houston council

Jenifer Rene Pool is running for an at-large position on the Houston city council. Sue Lovell, who reached her term limit, is vacating the seat. Before Lovell joined the council, Mayor Annise Parker also served on the council at large.

Pool said she is fashioning her campaign after Parker's and using what she learned at Victory Fund candidate training. 

White House close to naming new LGBT liaison

The White House is close to naming its new LGBT liaison and has already designated an official within the Obama administration for the role, the Washington Blade has learned.

A number of individuals within the administration who identify as LGBT could be candidates for the position. According to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, more than 200 LGBT people have been appointed to serve in the Obama administration, and more than 25 of those were nominated for Senate-confirmable positions.

Charlotte Could Elect First LGBT Councilmember

LaWana Mayfield, an out lesbian, is running in the Democratic primary to become the first openly LGBT member of the City Council in Charlotte, N.C.

Gay candidates gain acceptance

Sweeping changes in public attitudes toward sexual orientation have led to fundamental realignments this year in everything from the military, where gays now can serve openly, to marriage. Sunday, New York will become the sixth and largest state to permit same-sex marriages.

In politics, the number of gay men and lesbians running for public office and winning has begun to increase significantly, although gay candidates, especially in more conservative areas, continue to face skepticism and opposition from some voters.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund calculates that 107 openly gay candidates were elected to office nationwide in 2010, an increase of one-third from 2008 and nearly threefold the number of a decade earlier. The political action committee projects another significant jump in 2012.

Michigan sees more openly gay politicians

Though Michigan continues to lack many legislative victories that are seen as important by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents, the state is also seeing the rise of more openly gay elected officials on the local levels.

In 2008, Detroit saw the election of Charles Pugh as Detroit City Council president, making him the first openly gay black man to hold such a post in the country. Ferndale resident Craig Covey became the state’s first openly gay mayor and has since moved to the Oakland County Commission. In Lansing, City Clerk Chris Swope was elected to the Ingham County Commission, then moved into the clerkship.

But this year, the noise on openly gay candidates is reaching new levels. The Advocate, a national LGBT magazine, released a story highlighting five of the country’s up and coming gay politicos. On that list is Rory Neuner, a candidate for a Lansing City Council at-large seat. Neuner’s star is rising fast, and in the capitol city she has created a campaign message around attracting and keeping the high school and college graduates in the area.

There are at least two other openly gay candidates running in Lansing City Council races, and Denis Dison, spokesperson for The Victory Fund, a D.C. based political organization that works with out gay candidates seeking offices across the country, says this is a new trend.

“Last year the Victory Fund endorsed 164 openly LGBT candidates for public office — our largest slate ever. That’s one indication that, indeed, more and more out community leaders are beginning to see public service as a viable career path,” says Dison. “You see that long track record of service and community involvement in a candidate like Rory Neuner, who’s now running for the Lansing City Council. I think in many places LGBT people no longer feel limited to non-elected public service. So we’re beginning to see a lot more who are interested in taking that next step.”

Gay Man Elected Utah Democratic Party Chair

Democrats in Utah elected Jim Dabakis as state party chairman on Saturday, making him the first openly gay person to hold the position.

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund reports on the win for Dabakis, a founder of Equality Utah and the Utah Pride Center. An art dealer, he defeated candidate Robert Comstock by a wide margin of 528 to 71.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Dabakis said his priority would be to win races for Democrats across Utah. He also said he wanted to let Republicans, independents and Latter-Day Saints know they are welcome in the Democratic Party.

Tammy Baldwin Eyes a Senate Seat

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s potential bid for retiring Sen. Herb Kohl’s seat appears all the more plausible, given the openly gay congresswoman’s campaign coffers. Baldwin raised $502,000 in the second quarter and now has $1.1 million in cash on hand, Roll Call reports. She raised $435,000 last month alone.

“This is a remarkable showing 16 months before the next federal election, and it’s proof that Tammy Baldwin will be a formidable candidate if she decides to run,” said Robin Brand, deputy executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. “We’ve already received a tremendous response from our donors and supporters, and the excitement is really beginning to build for what will be a historic campaign.”

Gay Politics notes that Baldwin is unlikely to make a formal announcement on whether she will run for the senate seat until the state recall elections in Wisconsin have taken place.

Baldwin Posts $1.1 Million In Cash On Hand

Lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), in reports to be filed with the FEC today, posted receipts of $502,485.62 in the second quarter and more than $1.1 million in cash on hand. During June, she raised more than $435,000.

Baldwin is widely expected to pursue the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Herb Kohl.

“This is a remarkable showing 16 months before the next federal election, and it’s proof that Tammy Baldwin will be a formidable candidate if she decides to run,” said Robin Brand, deputy executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. “We’ve already received a tremendous response from our donors and supporters, and the excitement is really beginning to build for what will be a historic campaign.”

Bond’s Departure Triggers Debate Over White House Role

The announced departure last week of the White House gay liaison is being met with praise from some who worked with him on LGBT issues and calls from others who say they want more from his successor.

Brian Bond, deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, is set to leave his position mid-August to become the Democratic National Committee’s director of constituency outreach. Bond, who’s gay, handled LGBT outreach for the office.

Prior to becoming a White House official, Bond served as executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund from 1997 to 2003. He was national constituency director for President Obama’s 2008 campaign and was executive director of the DNC’s LGBT leadership council. Bond returns to the DNC as President Obama ramps up his re-election campaign for 2012.

Madison360: Possible Tammy Baldwin Senate run energizes national gay community

The prospect of Tammy Baldwin running for the U.S. Senate has grabbed the attention of national gay organizations, reports Roll Call, a highly respected Capitol Hill newspaper in Washington, D.C.
Baldwin, who represents the 2nd Congressional District that includes Madison, told me recently she is highly likely to seek the seat being vacated by fellow Democrat Herb Kohl, who does not plan to run for re-election. That possibility is attracting lots of attention. “She has been part of the (consciousness) of our organization for two decades,” a spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund told Roll Call.

Wisconsin Rep. Could Serve Senate As First Openly Lesbian Senator

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin is considered a strong candidate to become the first openly lesbian senator. She would replace Senator Herb Kohl, who plans on retiring from the Senate next year.

Understandably, the LBGTQ community is standing behind Baldwin. The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has long backed her, and is gearing up to help her win a Senate term should she choose to run. Their website even has an encouraging banner, simply saying, "Run Tammy Run!"

Gay Community Gears Up for Tammy Baldwin Senate Bid

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s potential to become the first openly gay Senator escalates the already sizable implications of the state’s open-seat race. When she jumps in, Baldwin will have a national fundraising network ready to mobilize.

The retirement of Sen. Herb Kohl (D) placed Wisconsin in the 2012 spotlight of states that could decide Senate control. Baldwin’s forthcoming candidacy represents another step forward for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, which has been buoyed in recent months by New York’s legalization of same-sex marriages and by polling showing a majority of Americans favor legal gay marriage.

Victory Fund endorses 2012 LA Assembly candidate Luis Lopez

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed Luis Lopez (at left) in his bid for a Los Angeles-area Assembly seat in 2012.

Lopez, 38, is one of the first LGBT non-incumbents running for state legislative office next year to be backed by the national group, which helps out candidates raise money and trains LGBT people on how to wage campaigns.

Baldwin likely to forego safety for her dream of Senate seat

She really wants to do it.
That’s the precise phrase I’ve heard for weeks from elected officials, political professionals and supporters who know her.

While the words are consistent, they are accompanied by differing tones and expressions, ranging from enthusiastic to not so much. This second group displays a scrunched face or subtle head shake, a fond but unmistakable "what’s she thinking?" semi-rebuke.

But make no mistake, U.S. Rep. Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin, 49, is steaming toward a 2012 candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Wisconsin Democrat Herb Kohl.

The headline "Run Tammy Run" scrolls across the front page of the website of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a national political action committee that helps elect openly gay candidates.

Pink carpet rolled out for Gay Pride weekend

Groundbreaking Election Looms For San Diego

In fact today the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community is seen as a strong political force in the city. And there’s a strong possibility San Diego could elect its first openly gay mayor in 2012.

The field of candidates includes three strong gay candidates. Councilman Carl DeMaio and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis have already begun campaigning for the office. State Senator Christine Kehoe is also exploring a run. Susan Atkins, National Chair of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, calls the race an embarrassment of riches. Her organization works to get openly gay candidates elected to office across the country. She said San Diego has been a model for embracing diversity.

"We have a very cohesive and generous community in San Diego who, from a fairly early time, certainly the early '90s, realized that politics matters," she said.

Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe on a Gay President

Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe on a gay President: "I think we may see a candidate in 5 cycles, that’s 20 years. [...] You have too build the bench here. So we’re spending a lot of time on the trainings, and getting people elected as mayors. We have a few state-wide elected officials today. Often somebody has a better chance if they’re a governor or U.S. senator, having been elected statewide to have an existing base to run for president of the United States."

In case you hadn’t noticed, Texas is now down to just 3 openly gay city council members

Dison said the Victory Fund, which endorsed both Hightower and Shade, doesn’t keep a running total of the number of gay city council members in each state. But he noted that Texas is one of the few big states that lack an out legislator, and city councils are often a stepping stone to higher office.

“Chris Hightower’s loss was heartbreaking, both because he came so close and because he was subject to some pretty awful anti-gay politicking,” Dison told Instant Tea today. “My understanding is Shade’s loss had nothing to do with her sexual orientation.

“Municipal offices like those are very important because that’s often where future state legislators get their start, and Texas really needs an openly LGBT voice in the Capitol.

“We hope our progress is constant, but sometimes the challenges seem to bunch up and we’ve got to redouble our efforts,” Dison said. “We’ve seen a lot of success in Texas and I think we’ll continue to see good people decide to run from both parties.”

N.J. lawmaker pushes for passage of gay marriage legislation

With the legalization of gay marriage in New York just shy of passage, a New Jersey lawmaker says it’s time to pick up the conversation here.

"They’re talking about it in New York," said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), the state’s only openly gay lawmaker, who proposed a bill (A4130) on Monday to legalize same-sex marriage. "Why aren’t we talking about it in New Jersey?"

Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe Predicts Viable Openly Gay President Within 20 Years

During an appearance this morning on CSPAN’s Washington Journal, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe predicted that America will see its first viable openly gay presidential candidate in five election cycles:

Chuck Wolfe Discusses Victory Fund, Challenges Facing LGBT Politicians

Supporting Bonnie Dumanis

Bonnie Dumanis is the first openly gay District Attorney in the U.S. Her courageous candidacy and successful election shattered a glass ceiling. It made history and inspired the LGBT community nationwide.

During her campaigns, Bonnie was endorsed by the Victory Fund – four times. Their endorsement is significant because the Victory Fund carefully screens LGBT candidates and only supports those whom they deem worthy.

For Gay Aspiring Politicians, a Workshop on Campaign Strategies

Modeled on Emily’s List, the political action committee that works to elect Democratic women, the fund, with a budget of more than $5 million culled largely from gay donors, is a powerful force behind this trend, raising money, providing strategic advice and endorsing candidates like Ms. Baldwin, one of its rising stars.

In 1991, the year the fund was founded, it endorsed two candidates. Last year, it endorsed 164. The fund also helps closeted officials come out, and, through its Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute, runs boot camps like the one in Pittsburgh several times a year.

The idea, said Chuck Wolfe, the fund’s president and chief executive, is to build a “back bench” of politicians who can win at the local level and work their way up. Across the country, only five statewide officeholders are openly gay. Mr. Wolfe says he believes voters would accept a gay candidate for president, though he expects it will take 20 more years to produce a credible candidate.

Fund holds boot camp here for gay politicians

As a gay man running for City Council in Houston, which already has a lesbian mayor, Josh Verde figured that he would have no trouble talking to voters about his sexuality. Then he came to Pittsburgh, to a boot camp for openly gay candidates, and promptly flubbed his lines.

"I have a boyfriend," Mr. Verde announced during a mock interview with a campaign consultant posing as a reporter. Instantly, he regretted the words. "It sounded like high school," he said later, amending his language to say, "I'm in a relationship."

Mr. Verde, 31, a law student and aviation consultant, was one of roughly three dozen openly gay aspiring politicians who spent last weekend in a Pittsburgh hotel conference room for a crash course in campaign strategy. Run by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which works to elect gay men and lesbians from both parties to public office, the three-day session offered stark evidence of how far gay politicians have come, and how quickly.

Victory Fund To Honor GOP Senator At Fundraiser

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has selected a Republican U.S. senator to honor with an award for her work last year in building GOP support for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal.The Victory Fund will award Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) with the 2011 Gay & Lesbian Leadership Award at the event, which will take place Oct. 5 in D.C.

Denis Dison, a Victory Fund spokesperson, confirmed Collins would be present at the event, the 11th annual Gay & Lesbian Leadership Awards.
Dison said his organization wanted to honor Collins primarily because of her role in passing legislation allowing for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal.

“It’s primarily because of her leadership — especially leadership on the Republican side of the aisle — on repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” Dison said.

Kim Coco Iwamoto and Kathy Padilla are among the 14 Bohnett Fellows

The 2011 class of David Bohnett Gay & Lesbian Leadership Fellows were recently announced by the David Bohnett Foundation and the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute.

The GLLI and the Bohnett Foundation get together to send openly TBLG people who are accomplished, mid-career professionals who are leaders in government and non-profit organizations to Harvard’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program. 

Kim Coco Iwamoto and Kathy Padilla are among the 14 Bohnett Fellows who will receive scholarships for the program that counts among its graduates Houston mayor Annise Parker, Campbell, CA Councilman Evan Low and Arizona State Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.

Gay Georgia lawmakers invited to prestigious leadership course

The Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute, a nonpartisan professional development organization for LGBT leaders, announced yesterday its 2011 class of David Bohnett Gay & Lesbian Leadership Fellows, which included out Georgia lawmakers Alex Wan and Karla Drenner.

The Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute will send the fellows to Harvard's Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government program, a two-month leadership course held in June and July, aimed at helping seasoned professionals connect with constituents.

Michigan State University senior Mitchell Rivard earns D.C. internship with Nancy Pelosi

Mitchell Rivard isn’t sure yet if he wants run for political office one day, but the Michigan State University senior knows who he does want running.“I’m interested in making sure we have the right leaders elected to office,” said Rivard, 21, of Frankenlust Township. “I have a deep-seated passion for getting women elected to office.

Rivard’s eight-week internship is part of the Victory Congressional Internship program, a new program from the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute that provides outstanding, young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered leaders with a summer experience on Capitol Hill.

Good Sandra Bernhard vibrations

Out There just scored a phone interview with the great comedienne/actress/singer Sandra Bernhard , who's coming to San Francisco later this month for some shows and appearances. She called us at our offices from her home in New York City at the appointed time, completely punctual.

Bernhard's new album was released this week. Her Marines' Memorial performances are on Fri.-Sat., June 24 & 25. She'll also be appearing on SF Pride's mainstage performing a 15-20-minute musical set. On Thurs., June 23, the VIP Kick-off Party to Celebrate Pride 2011 will transpire at the elegant Bentley Reserve in SF, 6-9:30 p.m., with hostess Bernhard performing. That soiree will be presented by PG&E and host Mark Rhoades, and it's benefiting the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute.

Alex Wan, Karla Drenner chosen for Harvard leadership program

Atlanta City Council Member Alex Wan and Georgia State Rep. Karla Drenner are among just 14 LGBT leaders in the country to receive scholarships to attend the Senior Executives in State & Local Government professional development program at Harvard.

The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute announced on Wednesday the 2011 class of David Bohnett Gay & Lesbian Leadership Fellows, and Wan and Drenner made the cut.

Drenner was Georgia’s first openly gay legislator, followed years later by Rep. Simone Bell and just last week, Rep. Rashad Taylor.

Georgia State Rep. Rashad Taylor comes out as gay

State Rep. Rashad Taylor, the youngest member of the Georgia General Assembly, came out as gay last month during a hastily called press conference.

First elected in 2008, Taylor becomes the third openly gay member of the state House, joining state Reps. Karla Drenner and Simone Bell. He also becomes just the sixth openly gay African-American state legislator in the U.S., according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Taylor came out during an emotional event at the Rush Center at the end of May.

Harvey Milk Has An Important Place In History, But He’s Not The First.

Harvey Milk is often lauded as the first openly gay elected official in America – and he’s certainly an important and historical figure – but the claim that he was the first is false.  In fact, Harvey was the fifth openly gay elected official in the U.S.  Ann Arbor’s Kathy Kozachenko was actually the first, just 3 years before Harvey.

The Victory Fund’s Gay Politics Blog has more on the four openly gay elected officials that preceded the famous Mr. Milk.

Tammy Baldwin eyes Senate run

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s office is, thus far, silent on whether the openly gay legislator might make a bid for the U.S. Senate. But buzz about that possibility is hot, particularly within the LGBT community because, if successful, Baldwin would become the first openly gay person to serve in the U.S. Senate.

“This would obviously be a top priority for us,” said Victory Fund president Chuck Wolfe, according to the website. “This would be a remarkable milestone for LGBT Americans. Congresswoman Baldwin is one of the most admired public officials I know. She would have the strong support of those who want to see our economy work for all Americans, and who believe that all voices deserve a place at the table.”

The Victory Fund even launched a petition where people can “tell Tammy Baldwin we need her voice in the Senate.” Sign it by going here.

Our First Openly Gay U.S. Senator?

Openly gay Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is reportedly mulling a run to replace the retiring Sen. Herb Kohl, who leaves office in 2012. If successful, Baldwin would become the first openly gay U.S. Senator in history. The Victory Fund is already promising Baldwin their full support.

Victory Fund: Sources Say Tammy Baldwin "Very Likely" To Run For Kohl's Senate Seat

The news of the retirement of Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.) has set off a flurry of speculation about the House's only out lesbian, Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), and whether she would run fr the seat. Although other possible names include former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), the Victory Fund's Denis Dison told Metro Weekly that sources close to Baldwin have said she is likely to run.

The Victory Fund then posted the following:

Sources close to Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., have told the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund she is very likely to run for the U.S. Senate seat now occupied by Sen. Herb Kohl, who has decided not to run for reelection in 2012. If Baldwin runs and wins, she would become the nation’s first openly LGBT member of the U.S. senate.

Tammy Baldwin Will 'Very Likely' Run for Senate; Would Be First Openly Gay Senator

Sources close to Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., have told the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund she is very likely to run for the U.S. Senate seat now occupied by Sen. Herb Kohl, who has decided not to run for reelection in 2012.  If Baldwin runs and wins, she would become the nation’s first openly LGBT member of the U.S. senate.

“This would obviously be a top priority for us.  Tammy Baldwin has been an outstanding congresswoman, and she’d be an outstanding senator,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which has endorsed Baldwin repeatedly.  In 1998, when Baldwin became the first openly LGBT candidate to win election to the U.S. Congress as a freshman, the Victory Fund raised nearly a quarter million dollars for her campaign.

Baldwin For Senate?

The opportunity for Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) to become a U.S. senator in the wake of an announcement that a Senate seat will be open in 2012 to represent Wisconsin has LGBT advocates pushing her to pursue higher office.

In a statement, Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said Baldwin’s run for U.S. Senate would be a “top priority” for his organization.“ This would be a remarkable milestone for LGBT Americans,” Wolfe said. “Congresswoman Baldwin is one of the most admired public officials I know. She would have the strong support of those who want to see our economy work for all Americans, and who believe that all voices deserve a place at the table.”

Gay California Mayor Seeks U.S. House Seat

A gay Republican from California could become the first person in a same-sex marriage elected to Congress if he wins a U.S. House seat in an upcoming special election.

Mike Gin, who’s served as mayor of Redondo Beach, Calif., since 2005, said economic and education issues would be his priorities if elected to Congress, but he would welcome any benefit that his visibility as a gay member of Congress in a same-sex marriage would impart to LGBT youth.

Gin said he’s pursuing an endorsement from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Denis Dison, a Victory Fund spokesperson, said he couldn’t comment on candidates that his organization has yet to endorse. The Victory Fund has endorsed Gin in his previous runs for political office as mayor of Redondo Beach.

Denver Lesbian Wins City Council Race

Out politician Robin Kniech will become the first openly LGBT member of Denver’s city council.

“I ran to work for all Denver families,” Kniech said Tuesday, “but I know this is a meaningful day for our LGBT community. We were happy to earn so many important endorsements, but I’m especially grateful to the Victory Fund for everything they did for our campaign.”

Victory Fund president and CEO Chuck Wolfe hailed Kniech’s election as an “important milestone for the city.

Indiana's First Openly Gay Politician?

Congratulations to Indianapolis activist Zach Adamson on winning yesterday's primary race to be one of four official Democrat candidates for the Indianapolis City-County Council. Zach has been an incredible force in Indianapolis democratic politics. He's put in countless hours working on other campaigns, supporting many different progressive causes, and working to better the eastside of Indianapolis.

Zach is a member of the Stonewall Democrats and has been endorsed by the Victory Fund.

Ortega, Kniech leaders in Council at-large race

Former councilwoman Debbie Ortega, who represented District 9 for 16 years before stepping aside because of term limits, returned to the council Tuesday night by winning one of two at-large City Council seats.

Newcomer Robin Kniech appeared to edge out former Denver fire chief Rich Gonzales and Josh Davies for the second seat.

Denis Dison, a spokesman for the Washington-based Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which endorsed Kniech, said there hasn't been an openly gay or lesbian Denver City Council member, according to the group's research.

Log Cabin Republicans share the Hilton Anatole with the right-wing Heritage Foundation

Kittleman followed the first openly gay man to run for lieutenant governor, Richard Tisei of Massachusetts, who was introduced by Chuck Wolfe of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Tisei, a former state senator who lost his bid for lieutenant governor in November, noted that three of the four Massachusetts Supreme Court justices who voted to legalize same-sex marriage were appointed by Republican governors.

Experts: Judge's sexual orientation is non-issue

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a political action committee and recruitment organization for gay politicians, said there are now 102 openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender judges in the U.S.

Gabrielle Giffords' intern savior Daniel Hernandez takes a Houston Victory lap

It was the Victory Fund, an organization that works to elect LGBT leaders to public office, that helped propel Mayor Annise Parker to her current post as head of Houston. Now celebrating its 20th year, the organization held a celebratory champagne brunch in the hallowed halls of The Corinthian downtown on Sunday.

Serving as event honoree was Daniel Hernandez, Jr., the lauded intern to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who ran to the congreswoman's side after she fell from a gunshot to the head during the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson.

Introducing Hernandez at Sunday's event was Christine Quinn, speaker of the New York City Council and prospective candidate for New York City mayor. Also offering celebratory addresses were Mayor Annise Parker and Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island.

The modest, 21-year-old Hernandez, whose previous experience includes volunteering for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, claims his race to Giffords' collapsed body was an automatic reaction, not an act of bravery. Calling upon skills learned during a certified nurses' assisting program, he prevented Giffords from choking on her own blood while stanching the bleeding with his hand. The intern held his mentor's hand and told her that he would get ahold of her family.

"People have stopped me on the street," he told CultureMap of his new hero status. Nevertheless, he's not letting the fanfare detract from his goals as a junior at the University of Arizona.

Because of his compact schedule in Houston, Hernandez did not make it by to visit Giffords at TIRR Memorial Hermann, He left the brunch directly for the airport to return to Tucson and prepare for an election on Thursday, where he is running for  student body president.
More than an ambitious intern with a knack for first aid, Hernandez works actively as an advocate for higher education in his home state. "I've lived in Arizona my whole life, so I'm kind of used to working in that red state system," he said.

While not studying, interning or campaigning for the student government, Hernandez works with the non-profit Arizona Students' Association, rallying support for higher education.

"I'm up at the state capitol interacting with legislators on a pretty regular basis, so I can work on issues that may not get a lot of traction in the red state of Arizona, such as the importance of investing in higher education," Hernandez said.

Confronted with countless requests for public appearances, Hernandez has quickly learned how to pick and choose which events to attend.
I want to make sure the only ones I do are things that I believe in — things like the Victory Fund, which encourages LGBT people who are eligible to run for office. It's something that I'm very excited about, because I've been working for years trying to get gay people to become more engaged civically and become more involved in public service. The Victory Fund trains people for office, endorses them and helps them with their campaign."

As for his political goals following graduation, Hernandez said, "Right now, I just want to get through the next year and a half," citing his decision to take summer courses to compensate for classes dropped this semester because of the Giffords tragedy.
Concluded the overwhelmingly composed college student, "I act like a 40-year-old sometimes, but I'm still only 21, so I still have a lot of time to think about what I want to do in the future."

Intern Of Gabrielle Giffords Honored At Houston Reception

Daniel Hernandez, the intern who helped save Gabrielle Giffords's life when she was shot in Tucson, was honored at a reception in Houston on Sunday. Hasti Taghi reports.

Giffords' intern Hernandez honored in Houston

Some call him the hero of the January 8 shooting, and Sunday Daniel Hernandez was honored at a special brunch in Houston.

Hernandez, an intern to Gabriel Giffords, gave first aid to the congresswoman after she was shot in January, helping save her life.

Sunday he talked about how her recovery is progressing.

"She's doing remarkably well considering what happened.  And you know what, you'll be able to ask her how she's doing, sooner rather than later, because she's just been doing extremely well," said Hernandez.

The "Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund" held Sunday's event.  The group promotes politicians like Giffords who support gay rights.

Chi. Elects 2nd Gay Alderman

Windy City Times reports that some of the campaign materials distributed by Phelan were perceived as homophobic. One flier claimed Cappleman would address crime in the ward through “anger management classes and flowers,” plus “planters, public art, decorative pedestrian lightposts and streetscaping.”
 
“Never believe that you can’t change politics as usual. You can, and we have,” Cappleman told supporters Tuesday night, according to GayPolitics.com. He also thanked the Gay and Lesbian Victory fund for its assistance. Victory Fund president and CEO Chuck Wolfe said LGBT Chicagoans have “gained another authentic voice on their city council, but more than that, they’ve gained a real fighter.”
 
Cappleman, who ran unsuccessfully for city council in 2007, will represent Chicago’s diverse 46th ward, a north lakefront area that includes portions of Boystown and Andersonville, both heavily LGBT enclaves, as well as Uptown, historically a magnet for recent immigrants. It is just north of the 44th ward, which encompasses much of Boystown and is represented by the city’s other openly gay alderman, restaurateur Tom Tunney, who won a third term in February with no opposition.

Gay Hill staffer remembered for humor, dedication

The booming voice of Katy Perry accompanying a techno-dance beat of her song “Firework” jolted Kyle Murphy from sleep a couple months ago at 3 a.m.

Curious about the disturbance, Murphy arose from bed to find his best friend and roommate Christopher Crowe dancing on top of their kitchen island.

“I didn’t know what was going on,” Murphy said. “He had brought some friends home and the first thing I saw was him standing on the island in our kitchen dancing to Katy Perry. He was kind of the life of the party.”

For Murphy, who had known Crowe for more than five years since they interned together at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the memory represents Crowe’s over-the-top personality and willingness to go to great lengths to entertain others.

“Somebody had collected some quotes he used to say in his office, and one of them was ‘I say ‘no’ to drugs, and that’s it,’” Murphy said. “And that kind of, I felt like, summed up his personality.”

Crowe died last week at the Washington Hospital Center from a staph infection that damaged his heart after he contracted meningitis last summer.

Crowe, 29, who was gay, served as president of the LGBT Congressional Staff Association and as a staffer for Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas). The death of the Kentucky native struck many Capitol Hill staffers and LGBT advocates with grief and prompted fond recollections of his life this week.

Johnson issued a statement expressing sorrow over the loss of her longtime staffer and sympathy for his family and loved ones.

“He was respected by his colleagues for his professionalism; he was beloved by many for his generous spirit and good humor,” Johnson said. “He was a person who enjoyed life and always had a smile to share. He never met a stranger.”

Many friends who worked with him on Capitol Hill and in LGBT advocacy had similar recollections of Crowe’s outgoing personality, which they said enabled him to make fast friends.

Marcus Paulsen, who’s gay and an administrative coordinator for the nonprofit group Community Wealth Ventures, said Crowe had a unique way of making others feel at ease.

“He was always laughing, and it didn’t matter if you told the dumbest joke,” Paulsen said. “He always would find it funny and could find something hysterical about it.”

A Dallas native, Paulsen said Crowe helped him obtain a position as an intern, and later a staffer, in Johnson’s office, where the two worked together for a year-and-a-half.

Paulsen recalled a time in December 2009 when he and Crowe participated in a retreat for staffers in Johnson’s office in Texas. Identifying the experience as one of his fondest memories of Crowe, Paulsen said people he knew from his home state easily made friends with Crowe.

“For me, it was kind of two worlds coming together: my D.C. life and my Texas life,” Paulsen said. “I wasn’t really sure how people would react to some of my D.C. friends and Chris, but he just had this way of becoming really close with people and everybody just absolutely adored him.”

Jason Mida, the Victory Fund’s vice president of development, knew Crowe from his days as an intern at the organization in 2005 and said Crowe had a unique way of drawing others to him.

“It didn’t matter who you were, it didn’t matter what your political affiliation was,” said Mida, who’s gay. “People were drawn to Chris. He was a ball of life and people wanted to be around him because you just felt better. You felt better about yourself; you felt better about things in general when he was around.”

Scott Simpson, press secretary of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, knew Crowe from working together on the LGBT Congressional Staff Association and said he admired the confidence that gave Crowe the ability to speak with anyone.

“He had an ease about dealing with any range of people,” Simpson said. “Chris wouldn’t think twice about calling up the highest-level person in an agency or to the lowest-level person.”

Simpson said Crowe’s care for others enabled him to stay engaged with friends even as he struggled with meningitis for several months.

“This was a man who was in the emergency room,” Simpson said. “He was sending e-mails, text messages, asking how things are going, asking if he can help. If you didn’t know that Chris was sick, if you weren’t informed about it, people never knew.”

While always eager to have a good time with others, Crowe was also known among his friends as a passionate worker in both legislative affairs and LGBT advocacy.

Murphy, a communications specialist for the National Minority AIDS Council, recalled that Crowe’s dedication enabled him to rise quickly to become a high-level staffer for Johnson and to get elected as president of LGBT Congressional Staff Association.

“Everything that I heard about him was that he was amazing — not the greatest writer — but he had dyslexia, but he worked through that very well and didn’t let anything hold him back,” Murphy said.

Simpson recalled his days as president of the LGBT Congressional Staff Association before he left Capitol Hill when Crowe served as his deputy. The two worked on recreating the association after it had long been dormant.

Even though their work in recreating the association involved activity on rewriting bylaws and other less-than-exciting tasks, Crowe found ways to make the work enjoyable.

“Chris made people come to these meetings and actually enjoy themselves and actually laugh,” Simpson said. “He understood that in order to commit people to make change, they had to have a good time and that, I believe, was his secret weapon.”

As evidence of Crowe’s jovial personality, Simpson noted that Crowe would only refer to him as “Girl!” during the course of their work together. Simpson joked that he didn’t know if Crowe actually knew his name.

In his days as a Victory Fund intern, Mida said Crowe was dedicated and passionate about LGBT advocacy. He took a personal interest in working to elect Vivian Paige, a lesbian who ran in 2005 for city treasurer in Norfolk, Va.

“I remember how visibly upset he was when Vivian lost that night,” Mida said. “We’d only been there a few days, but he was so invested. I think that across the board —whether it was his work and whether it was relationships with folks — he immediately became invested in folks, and as a result, people were invested in him.”

Among the activities that friends cited as Crowe’s favorite was travel. In his work on foreign affairs issues for Johnson, Crowe would often take opportunities to go abroad as part of his work as a congressional staffer.

Murphy recalled that Crowe traveled to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates as part of his work for Johnson, which Murphy said gave Crowe “a travel bug.”

Among the trips that Murphy took with Crowe was an expedition with him and his mother on a Key West cruise in 2009.

“We were both redheads and so we just kind of looked like brothers, so we just starting telling everybody that we were brothers from that cruise ship on — and I referred to his mom as ‘Mama,’” Murphy said.

Murphy recalled that he and Crowe went to Peru in 2008 and Crowe traveled with other friends to Bangkok and Hong Kong. Before Crowe’s death, Murphy said his friend had asked him to put together another trip together.

But dreams for travel and ambitions for further work on LGBT issues and politics were cut short. Murphy, who was present at the hospital where Crowe died, was the first of his friends to know.

“His mom had called me and was kind of frantic telling me the doctors had come out of the operating room saying they didn’t know if he was going to make it, so I rushed to the hospital,” Murphy said. “By the time I got there, he had passed.”

Murphy said in the operating waiting room he encountered Crowe’s mother, who was crying and at first unable to speak, but then said, “We lost him.” Murphy said the news was devastating, but he took on the responsibility of sending e-mails to Crowe’s friends and fellow Hill staffers to inform them.

Paulsen was one of the recipients of the e-mails and, in a state of shock, said he immediately left work upon hearing the news.

“I walked all the way over to Chris’ apartment to be with his roommate and family,” Paulsen said. “At first I couldn’t process it, but it was just very sad.”

Another e-mail recipient, Simpson said Crowe’s death came as a surprise because those who knew him thought he could just “smile through” his disease to become healthy.

“It didn’t seem real,” Simpson said. “I knew that Chris was sick, but it was never always clear that it would be this bad.”

Simpson observed that deaths at a young age are relatively uncommon in the younger generation of gay men — unlike what older gay men faced during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and early ’90s.

“We’re not used to death,” Simpson said. “He was the first of my peers to pass on. If you talk to gay men who are in their 40s and 50s, they had peers pass away all the time. That was one of those moments that I started to understand that this was just a hint of what gay men who were around in the ’80s were going through.”

Still, the memory of Crowe and his sparkling personality remain an inspiration for those who knew him.

Paulsen said he would always remember Crowe’s ability to find greater potential in others.

“He found some talents in me when we worked together and he made sure to always bring those up to the congresswoman or the chief of staff,” Paulsen said. “I think that’s what I’ll take from him — to try to make sure I see these things that might not be visible to everybody else and make sure that they’re aware of some of their talents.”

Murphy, who said he’s often a wallflower in social situations or nervous around guys he likes, expressed admiration for what he said was Crowe’s ability to embrace every situation head on and would try to emulate that approach to life.

“I think that’s something we and all of his friends really appreciated and his family, too,” Murphy said. “It’s something we’ll all probably try to live up to.”

For Simpson, Crowe’s memory inspires him to be proud of who he is and helps him stay grounded.

“Chris was aware of who he was and he fucking loved it, and played it up,” Simpson said. “Chris just knew that you have to be OK with who you are, but you have to be not just OK with it, but you have to own it and love it.”

A memorial service for Crowe is set to take place on Thursday at 12 pm in Room LJ-119 in the Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress. The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and the LGBT Congressional Staff Association are hosting the event. House chaplain Rev. Daniel Coughlin is set to officiate over the service.

Chicago has another openly gay alderman

Congrats to Alderman-elect James Cappleman. From the Victory Fund:

James Cappleman has won a runoff election Tuesday to represent the 46th Ward on the Chicago City Council. Cappleman will become Chicago’s second openly gay alderman on a city council of 50 members.

“This victory is about the future of Chicago and the future of the 46th Ward and all who live here. We set out to change our community, and I’m so grateful that the Victory Fund stood with us and helped us do that. Never believe that you can’t change politics as usual. You can, and we have,” said Cappleman, who celebrated his win Tuesday night.

Openly-gay candidate James Cappleman wins Chicago's 46th ward

Cappleman will become the second openly-gay alderman for the City of Chicago, joining the 44th ward's Tom Tunney.

Cappleman received the endorsement of 48th ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith, the LGBT advocacy organizations Equality Illinois and Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, and a number of high-profile Democrats including Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, State Senator Heather Steans and State Rep. Deb Mell.

Cohen's campaign victories

Sherrie Cohen just hit the trifecta of elections. The community organizer and LGBT candidate for City Council-at-Large just learned that she is one of only two Pennsylvania candidates who has been endorsed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund; the other is Bruce Kraus, who is running for reelection to Pittsburgh City Council. Not only has Victory Fund endorsed Cohen’s candidacy, she is one of its “focus” candidates.

So if, like me, at first you didn’t believe that Cohen’s chances were good, it might be time to sit up and take note of her campaign, since it is about as hot as a campaign can get.

The Victory Fund is a national LGBT organization that works with out candidates to get them elected. Endorsement brings both funds and organizational support along with it. It is also a seal that says, “We believe this person is in a good place to win.”

As the Victory Fund itself stated, “Sherrie Cohen was endorsed by the Victory Fund Saturday at a meeting of our Victory Campaign Board. She’s among our “Focus Candidates” ... as with all of the Victory Fund’s endorsements, the board’s decision to endorse means Cohen meets our endorsement criteria, among which is a requirement that the candidate must be deemed viable in the race.”

And the Victory Fund knows what it is doing: After all, this year the Victory Fund is celebrating 20 years of helping to elect openly LGBT candidates to public office. Since its founding, the number of out elected officials serving in the United States has gone from 49 to more than 400.

As to that trifecta. Cohen filed more signatures than any other citywide candidate from both parties for an at-large seat — and it’s a big field of more than 60 candidates in both Democrat and Republican parties. In the first financial filing of the campaign season, her campaign had raised more funds than any other candidate for an at-large seat. And, finally, she drew a top ballot spot. This campaign is really on a roll.

But let’s save the final word for the Victory Fund.

“It’s important to have authentic LGBT voices in government. People like Sherrie, who have the courage to step up and run for office while being open and honest about themselves, are making sure our community has a place at the table.”

Political Scene: Raises, longevity bonuses for some at State House

Cicilline key speaker at gay fundraisers

U.S. Rep. David N. Cicilline has raised his profile in the gay community of late.

Cicilline was the keynote speaker at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund’s National Champagne Brunch in Washington, D.C., on March 20.

About 1,200 people attended the brunch, which was held at the Hilton Washington to celebrate the group’s 20th anniversary, according to the Advocate, a national gay and lesbian newsmagazine.

Earlier this month, members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in the D.C. metro area threw the former Providence mayor a fundraiser at the city’s W Hotel.

Cicilline will also be a featured speaker in Houston on April 17 for another Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund event, to be held at The Corinthian in the city’s downtown.

He’ll be joined by Houston Mayor Annise Parker and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn for that event.

Cicilline was Providence’s first openly gay mayor and, now, he’s Rhode Island’s first openly gay congressman.

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund is a Washington, D.C.-based group that provides financial and campaign support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender candidates at all levels of government.

Dufty continues to retool mayoral campaign

Shortly thereafter Dufty announced he was abandoning his self-imposed restriction to limit donations at $200 from only people who live and work in San Francisco. That led to his gaining the endorsement last weekend of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, as the Bay Area Reporter reported on its website Saturday.

"Bevan is obviously highly qualified to lead San Francisco, and his passion for the city is well-known. He's focused on one goal – improving the lives of all San Franciscans through government that works," stated Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, in officially announcing the endorsement this week. "Bevan's commitment to city neighborhoods is legendary, and as a parent he's focused on making sure San Francisco's future is even brighter than its illustrious past."

Pushing to see Dufty receive the endorsement were a trio of lesbian friends: former San Francisco Supervisor Leslie Katz, who sits on the Victory campaign board, and Joyce Newstat and Laura Spanjian, who helped organize the fund's 2009 annual meeting in San Francisco. Newstat also sits on the fund's Leadership Institute board of directors.

Dufty, who attended the national group's training for candidates last month in Las Vegas, was in Washington, D.C. last weekend to attend the fund's 20th anniversary brunch and met with its executive committee about being endorsed. He is hoping it will give him the same boost in attracting financial support nationally as Annise Parker saw when she first ran for mayor of Houston two years ago, becoming that city's first lesbian mayor.

"The Victory Fund played a very important role of raising national visibility about her campaign and providing ongoing counsel and support," said Dufty. "I called the Victory Fund endorsement a tough love endorsement because they carefully assess a candidate's viability. They were direct with me that I had made some decisions about my campaign that were making good statements but the best statement I could make was to win this election."

SAN FRANCISCO: Victory Fund Endorses Supervisor Bevan Dufty For Mayor

Openly gay San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty has picked up the endorsement of the Victory Fund in his bid to become mayor. That's a critical development for Dufty, who faces a mayoral field cluttered with almost two dozen declared candidates. SF Weekly reports:

The Victory Fund's endorsement signals a huge shift for Dufty's campaign, political consultants said. The group is known for its fund-raising prowess and it has a strong national donor network that helped Annise Parker get elected as the first openly gay mayor in Houston, Texas. And if it can help Houston elect a gay mayor, than San Francisco should be a no-brainer. "He can raise significant money from that community," said Jim Ross, a local campaign consultant. "This is really good." Ross pointed out that Dufty remains one of the most popular politicians, and comes from the largest voting district, which puts him in a strong position. More importantly, he can now access money from LGBT communities across the nation, which will help him make a comeback in this race.

San Francisco's mayor will be chosen by a ranked-choice method: "Under ranked-choice voting, voters list their first, second and third choices. If no candidate wins more than half the vote, last-place candidates are eliminated and second- and third-place votes from those ballots are redistributed until someone wins a majority." Confusing!

Victory Fund: Dufty for SF Mayor

Bevan Dufty's mayoral aspirations were recently in trouble, but an endorsement from the Victory Fund may help the former city supervisor became San Francisco's first openly gay mayor.

The Victory Fund, which works to elect LGBT candidates to higher office and helped lesbian Annise Parker became mayor of Houston, recently announced their endorsement of Dufty for mayor. Edwin Lee is San Francisco's current mayor, but Lee is serving out the term of Gavin Newsom, elected last year as California's lieutenant governor. A mayoral election will take place in November — Lee will not be one of the people running.

The San Francisco Weekly reports that the Victory Fund endorsement will help Dufty increase donors to his campaign. "Dufty remains one of the most popular politicians, and comes from the largest voting district, which puts him in a strong position," reports the Weekly. "More importantly, he can now access money from LGBT communities across the nation, which will help him make a comeback in this race."

Bevan Dufty: Is He Making a Comeback in the Mayor's Race?

In his effort to reboot his collapsing campaign, which he is now calling Dufty 2.0., the former supervisor zeroed-in on just the right target.

Yesterday, he picked up the endorsement of the Victory Fund, a national gay and lesbian organization that helped get the first openly gay mayor elected in Houston, Texas. 

What this really means for Dufty is that he just might be back in the race -- financially speaking.

It was Dufty's self-imposed campaign cap -- which restricted him to $200 per donor -- that was setting him back, despite the fact that he had been collecting cash for more than two years.

The most recent campaign finance statements show that Dufty had raised only $108,305, as of December, although he said last month he had $225,000 in the bank. Still, that's weak compared to a less recognizable name like Joana Rees, who has managed to rake in more than $150,000 in the four months of her candidacy. 

The Victory Fund's endorsement signals a huge shift for Dufty's campaign, political consultants said. The group is known for its fund-raising prowess and it has a strong national donor network that helped Annise Parker get elected as the first openly gay mayor in Houston, Texas.

And if it can help Houston elect a gay mayor, than San Francisco should be a no-brainer.

Cicilline Brunches With Victory Fund

As a freshman member of the Rhode Island legislature in the mid 1990s, David Cicilline, now the fourth openly gay member of Congress, was given advice by colleagues about how to deal with virulently antigay forces who would spew their rhetoric for hours at committee meetings: "Let the crazies be crazy."

"But I was determined — and every nutty, unproven, mean-spirited, homophobic statement they made, I challenged," Cicilline told a crowd of about 1,200 people at the Washington Hilton Sunday. "The committee meeting dragged on for six hours, but no one left believing their arguments had an ounce of legitimacy. And for those watching and particularly for young LGBT kids, it made a difference."

Praised by event organizers for upping the percentage of openly gay congressional representatives by 33% (he joins Jared Polis of Colorado, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, and Barney Frank of Massachusetts), Cicilline was the keynote speaker at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund's National Champagne Brunch in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the group's 20th anniversary.

Cicilline, a cosponsor of House legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act introduced last week, called the Obama administration's February decision to no longer defend DOMA in court "a shining example of refusing to use the power of the presidency to sustain blatant discrimination against our community" and urged Congress to repeal the "horribly discriminatory law" it passed in 1996 (the Republican House leadership's position on defending DOMA in multiple lawsuits makes that a highly unlikely prospect in this term, though a Senate version of the bill introduced last week by California senator Dianne Feinstein was hailed by advocates as a breakthrough step forward).

"There's just so much more work ahead. Passing a fully inclusive ENDA is a top priority," Cicilline said, referring to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. "We need to wipe our laws clean of DOMA and treat all married couples equally. And we must gain the American right to sponsor our same-gender partners for immigration."

Speakers at the event included Victory Fund cofounders Vic Basile and Terry Bean; president and CEO Chuck Wolfe; Oregon secretary of state Kate Brown; Sherry Harris, the group's first endorsee, who won a Seattle city council race in 1991; and Chris Armstrong, the University of Michigan's gay student assembly president who rose to national prominence after the state's assistant attorney general attacked him for promoting a "radical homosexual agenda."

Out Vote

Since 1991 the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has propelled thousands of out LGBT candidates to electoral firsts at all levels of government. Based in Washington, D.C., the group provides financial and campaign support to candidates with the conviction that increasing the number of out elected officials improves the political climate for equality. “The Victory Fund gave me early support and mentoring that were crucial in my first run for state assembly and then for Congress,” says U.S. representative Tammy Baldwin. On the occasion of the group’s 20th anniversary, Baldwin and several other recipients of Victory Fund support spoke of their experiences in office and gave advice to aspiring candidates.

Tammy Baldwin

U.S. representative from Wisconsin

First political office held: Van Hise Middle School student council. “Our small group of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders took on problems that many people either ignored or thought they just couldn’t change. I learned that the actions of a small group of people could make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”



Advice for up-and-coming LGBT candidates: “I honestly believe that the vast majority of voters care much more about my positions on the issues that affect their lives than my sexual orientation. When I meet with constituents, I talk about our shared values: ensuring health care for all, creating jobs and growing a sustainable economy, protecting our environment, and supporting quality public education, among other things. I believe that my commitment to these causes is what my constituents care most about.”

David Cicilline 

U.S. representative from Rhode Island

First political office held: Narragansett High School class president.

Advice for up-and-coming LGBT candidates: “Be honest about who you are, recognize your talents, and fight hard to win. America needs you.”

Bonnie Dumanis 

San Diego County district attorney

First political office held: “The first leadership position I ever held was in high school when I was president of the United Synagogue Youth, an international group that brings Jewish teenagers closer to Judaism and Israel through learning and social interaction.”

Advice for up-and-coming LGBT candidates: “My advice to LGBT candidates is to be yourself, be authentic and hold your head up high.”

Annise Parker

Mayor of Houston

First political office held: Founding member of the first LGBT support group at Rice University in 1979.

Advice for up-and-coming LGBT candidates: “A favorite quote by Andre Gide: ‘It is better to be hated for what one is than loved for what one is not.”

20 years of ‘Victory’

Sometimes being conspicuous is a good thing.

It was for Sherry Harris, an electrical engineer in Seattle who holds the record for being the first candidate ever endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, an organization that works to help LGBT candidates get elected to public office at all levels of government.

The group, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this weekend with a Sunday brunch at the Hilton in Washington (go to victoryfund.org for details), helped Harris win a four-year term on Seattle City Council.

Harris, who’ll be in town this weekend to speak at the brunch, remembers that her involvement with the then-new fund in 1991, started innocuously.

She was in D.C. to meet with former U.S. Rep. Jolene Unsoeld (D-Wash.) and heard about the Fund through friends.

“Someone just told us about it, I’m not sure who,” Harris says. “But we went over to their offices. … They were going to be having an event while I was there and said, ‘Why don’t you come to this event?,’ and referred me to that. I was happy to hear about the organization but I wasn’t expecting anything.”

Harris was asked to speak that night and found herself with support. She says a “process” the Fund put her through — which it does to this day to vet candidates – was “more of a formality” in those early years.

On a mailing list sent to Fund supporters, Harris says her status as a black lesbian helped her stand out.

“I seemed to draw a lot of money,” she says. “I did very well. Back then there were almost no black women running. I think I stood out because I was so unusual.”

Though Harris served only one term — she lost her bid for a second — she is essential to the Victory Fund story. It, too, began somewhat innocuously.

Two gay political activists — Vic Basile and Terry Bean — had noticed that a group called Emily’s List had, since 1985, done wonders at helping female candidates campaign competitively against better-funded male opponents by establishing a network of donors who agreed to contribute at least $100 to two or more List-endorsed candidates. Basile and Bean wondered if the model could be adapted to help more gays and lesbians get into office. After researching the idea, they came to feel such an entity was desperately needed.

“I believe it helps change people’s opinions about members of our community and lets everybody else know there isn’t a special agenda, they have the same agenda,” says Chuck Wolfe, Victory Fund president. “They’re there working on what their constituents need. Their transportation needs, from fixing potholes to building a new highway connector. They’re there doing what everybody else is doing and the idea that they’re there and simply changing the fabric of leadership in their community has a huge advantage for us. It pays dividends in so many ways but more importantly, it lets everybody see that there’s no reason to be exclusionary in hiring practices, in the business sense. It has ramifications across sectors.”

The organization has grown enormously in the last two decades. Initially, the only employee was the first director, William Waybourn, a former Blade co-owner. About $30,000 was directed to candidates that first year. In recent years, more than $1 million has been given each year. The Fund now employees 21 full-time staff members and has endorsed 952 LGBT candidates over 20 years that has resulted in 637 wins. Last year was the organization’s most successful with 107 races won out of 167 endorsed.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), now in her seventh term in the House, credits the Fund for helping her achieve her goals.

“The Victory Fund’s early support and mentoring not only helped me get elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, but gave me the encouragement, skills and crucial financial backing to run for a seat in Congress,” Baldwin wrote in an e-mail. “By propelling openly LGBT candidates into office, the Victory Fund continues to change the face of American politics for the better.”

State Sen. Matt McCoy (D-Iowa) said in an e-mail that his years in office, aided by the Fund, have helped achieve pro-gay strides there.

“Iowa is well positioned on equality issues having adopted the non-discrimination act and applied this to [LGBT] citizens,” McCly wrote. “Iowa has also adopted anti-bullying legislation that bans school and cyber bullying based upon real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. I have had the privilege to serve while these progressive decisions were adopted and signed into law. I believe that having a visible, out gay state senator has positively impacted the public debate and ensured positive results.”

Harris, who enjoyed her time in politics but is now content in the private sector, agrees.

“It’s very important that we be open and show our presence in this country where there’s still discrimination and prejudice to this day,” she says. “It is very important for gay and lesbian candidates to run and to have people in these rooms speaking on our behalf. … It makes a profound difference when we have a seat at the table.”

U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) first became a Victory Fund candidate in the early ‘00s when he ran successfully for mayor of Providence, R.I.

“They’ve done a spectacular job over the last 20 years to ensure members of our community are elected to office,” he says. “I’m a firm believer that one of the most powerful and effective ways we move forward is by having members of our community serving in elected office. There’s no question the Victory Fund has done it very successfully.”

Gay candidates sometimes seek help from the Fund; other times the Fund contacts them. Many candidates go through a four-day training program that’s held four times a year. Between 150 and 200 are trained each year.

Candidates are evaluated for their “viability” as opposed to “winability,” Wolfe says. He says the Fund looks for “reasonable investments” and potential leaders who’ll be “solid” once they’re in office.

Fund staff occasionally help closeted officials to come out in a planned, strategic way. The Fund made a “case study” video using gay U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) as an example.

A Victory Fund endorsement can mean direct cash, independent expenditures, bundled money, technical assistance, field work or staffing, depending on the needs of the candidate.

Additional anniversary brunches will be held in Houston (April 17), Sacramento, Calif. (Oct. 23) and New York (Sept. 18). A San Diego brunch was held in February. The Fund is based in Washington.

EXCLUSIVE: Md. lawmaker comes out

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund also praised Murphy’s announcement.

“It’s still a courageous thing for public officials who are gay or lesbian to serve openly and honestly, so we applaud Delegate Murphy’s decision,” said Denis Dison, Victory Fund’s vice president of communications. “As we’ve seen during the current debate over marriage, out lawmakers can have a tremendous impact on both their colleagues and their constituents, and the Maryland LGBT Caucus has certainly been at the center of this fight.

“With eight openly gay and lesbian members of the legislature, Maryland now has the largest LGBT caucus of state legislators in the country.”

Murphy has been a member of the House of Delegates since 2007. He was born in Washington, D.C., and attended American University and George Washington University.

Gay legislators having impact in marriage debates

According to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which recruits and supports gay political candidates, the number of openly gay and lesbian legislators nationwide has increased from 44 in 2003, when it started counting, to 85.

Chuck Wolfe, the fund's president, said gay legislators were having an impact even in relatively conservative states where gay marriage has no short-term prospect of winning approval. He cited the example of Arkansas Rep. Kathy Webb, whose heartfelt arguments played a role in the rejection of a bill to bar gays from adopting or foster-parenting.

Gay lawmakers "are people, as opposed to issues," Wolfe said. "The impact of having one of your colleagues directly affected by the legislation on the table is very powerful."

Bevan Dufty scraps self-imposed campaign cap

The move also allows Dufty, the only openly gay candidate in the race, to accept contributions from supporters across the country. He is seeking the backing of the national Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

"The reality is he had friends in a lot of places that wanted to contribute ... that wanted to elect a gay candidate," said Dufty's new campaign manager, Michael Terris. "It made a lot more sense to welcome everybody into the fold then tell them they couldn't help."

For First Time, White House Picks a Man to be Social Secretary

Mr. Bernard has a long history working in the gay rights community. He has served on the board of A.N.G.L.E (Access Now for Gay and Lesbian Equality) and the National Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. He also worked on LGBT advisory committees of the Los Angelese County Sheriff, Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles mayor’s office.

White House Taps Gay Man, Jeremy Bernard, for New Social Secretary

"He previously served as a board member of A.N.G.L.E. (Access Now for Gay & Lesbian Equality) and the National Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. He was also a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's LGBT Advisory Committee, the Los Angeles Police LGBT Advisory Committee and the Los Angeles Mayor's LGBT Advisory Committee."

The White House Gets Its First Male Social Secretary

A San Antonio, Tex., native, Bernard previously served as the White House liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities and a finance consultant for Obama's presidential campaign.

Bernard also will be the first openly gay White House social secretary, having been a board member of of A.N.G.L.E. (Access Now for Gay & Lesbian Equality) and the National Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, as well as several LGBT advisory committees to Los Angeles government.

Obama Appoints Openly Gay Man as White House Social Secretary

Bernard has also been active in gay rights causes, serving as a board member of A.N.G.L.E. (Access Now for Gay & Lesbian Equality) and the National Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. He was also a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's LGBT Advisory Committee, the Los Angeles Police LGBT Advisory Committee, and the Los Angeles Mayor's LGBT Advisory Committee.  

Jeremy Bernard, former board member of gay Victory Fund, is new White House Social Secretary

The White House today announced Jeremy Bernard has been named Special Assistant to the President and Social Secretary.  He joins the White House staff from the U.S. Embassy in Paris, where he serves as Senior Advisor to the Ambassador.  Prior to this role, he worked as the White House Liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“Jeremy shares our vision for the White House as the People’s House, one that celebrates our history and culture in dynamic and inclusive ways.  We look forward to Jeremy continuing to showcase America’s arts and culture to our nation and the world through the many events at the White House,” the President said.

“I am deeply humbled to join the White House staff as Social Secretary and support President Obama and the First Lady in this role,” said Jeremy Bernard.  “I have long admired the arts and education programs that have become hallmarks of the Obama White House and I am eager to continue these efforts in the years ahead.”

“I look forward to working with Jeremy to continue the great work of the Social Office, from fun and educational student workshops to elegant State Dinners that welcome world leaders to the White House.  Jeremy’s creativity, perspective and skills will be a welcome addition to our East Wing team, as we showcase the White House and celebrating America’s arts and culture,” said Tina Tchen, Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama.

“What stood out in Jeremy’s work at the National Endowment for the Humanities was his humor, good will, and high standard of professionalism,” said National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman Jim Leach.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Bernard currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Ambassador at the U.S. Embassy of Paris.  He served as the White House Liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities from 2008 to 2010.  Previously, Bernard was a California Finance Consultant for the Obama for American campaign.  He was a Principal of B&G Associates from 2007 to 2009, Vice-President of Mapleton Investments from 1999 to 2006 and Director of Government Affairs of Falcon Cable TV from 1996 to 2006.  Appointed by President Clinton, Bernard served on the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and was a member of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2009.  He previously served as a board member of A.N.G.L.E. (Access Now for Gay & Lesbian Equality) and the National Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.  He was also a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's LGBT Advisory Committee, the Los Angeles Police LGBT Advisory Committee and the Los Angeles Mayor's LGBT Advisory Committee.

Wash. State Senate Introduces Marriage Bill

Monday's senate bill was introduced by gay state senator Ed Murray of Seattle, reports the Victory Fund's Gay Politics blog.

"Gay and lesbian families in Washington now enjoy the same state spousal rights that their married straight friends enjoy — except for the name ‘marriage,'" Murray said in a release. "The recognition that their loving, lifelong commitment is no different from the loving, lifelong commitment of straight couples is the final step to achieving full equality. I believe the legislature and the public are both ready to take that final step."

I Advocate ... Joel Burns

...The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. The Victory Fund and its research and education arm, the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute, arguably give you the most bang for your buck of any LGBT organization. Thanks in part to their financial and consulting resources, I became the first openly LGBT elected official in Fort Worth history. This support allowed me to speak up in the aftermath of the 2009 raid on Fort Worth’s Rainbow Lounge, to expand Fort Worth’s nondiscrimination ordinance, and to craft and pass a measure providing domestic-partner benefits for city employees. As a friend of mine, Houston councilwoman Sue Lovell, likes to say, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” The Victory Fund helps LGBT America secure that place at the table. VictoryFund.org

S.F. Plans Gay Walk of Fame

Dufty is running for mayor of San Francisco this year — he says he's raised $125,000 already and is preparing for a Victory Fund campaign training event in Las Vegas later this month.

"I got the biggest present when [state senator] Mark Leno decided not to run for mayor," Dufty says with a laugh. Aside from his LGBT voter base, Dufty is "working on building a base that includes the Westside, Republican voters, and the Chinese and Latino communities, and demonstrating my proven ability to build city services when our budget is challenging."

Out Md. Lawmakers Influence Marriage Debate

The Victory Fund, which endorses out LGBT candidates for elected office, reports on the presence of a record seven out state legislators in Maryland as of this year, and what their advocacy and presence means for the marriage equality bill. One first-time sponsor of the bill, Del. Eric M. Bromwell, credited out lawmakers with influencing his support, according to the Maryland Gazette.