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