Lesbian poised to become Missouri's first openly gay state Senator

Mon, Mar 26th 2007, 11:22

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Denis Dison (202) 842-7308, denis.dison@victoryfund.org

Washington DC – August 9, 2006 - Jolie Justus will likely become the first openly gay state senator in Missouri history after winning  her Democratic primary Tuesday night.  Justus will face a Republican opponent in November, but the district is considered a safe one for Democrats.

"In Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and now Missouri, excellent candidates are winning historic races.  Jolie's win is a testament to her courage, commitment and skill, but it also confirms that fair-minded voters everywhere care more about good government than they do about whether their representatives are gay or lesbian," said Chuck Wolfe, President and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which raised money for Justus' campaign from its national donor network.

Other breakthrough Victory Fund-supported candidates this year include:

• Patricia Todd—The first openly gay elected official in Alabama history
• Kathy Webb—The first openly gay elected official in Arkansas history
• Al McAffrey—The first openly gay state legislator in Oklahoma history

Jolie would join Victory endorsee Jeanette Mott-Oxford, who won easily won her primary to retain her seat in the Missouri State House.
 
In other election news last night, Allen Thornell, who was vying for a seat in the Georgia State House, narrowly lost his runoff election for the Democratic primary.
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly LGBT candidates and officials. It's the only national organization solely committed to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials at federal, state and local levels of government.  Victory is the nation's largest LGBT political action committee and one of the nation's largest non-connected PACs.  In 15 years, Victory has helped the number of openly LGBT officials grow from 49 to more than 300.  So far in 2006 the Victory Fund has endorsed 64 candidates. 

For more information, visit www.victoryfund.org. 

 

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