Elections can be a fearful time. One never knows whether their interests will get electoral approval or will get obliterated like so many of life’s dreams (tear). While gays suffered some blows in this election (read: six states banned gay marriage), it’s good to know that we’ve won some things. How many things? Sixty-seven federal, local and state offices, actually: a new record!
From an actual news report sent by the Victory Fund:
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund today reported unprecedented success in electing openly gay candidates this year. Sixty-seven Victory-endorsed candidates were elected to federal, state and local offices, with some winning historic races that make them the first openly gay or lesbian candidates ever elected in their states or legislative bodies.
“This is the tipping point election for openly gay candidates,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. “We’re proving that qualified, well-prepared candidates matched with committed donors means gays and lesbians can move from having a stake in policy to actually making policy. There’s no reason to sit on the sidelines with our fingers crossed anymore.”
Or, as Madeline Crabb may think, our fists in our asses.
We’ve gone ahead and pasted the entire press release after the jump, complete with totally awesome “Homo-Politico Win Check-List”. Rock on Homo-Politicos!
Victory Fund: Gay Candidates Win in Record Numbers Across U.S.; 67 Elected to Federal, State and Local Offices
11/8/2006 9:29:00 AM
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
To: National Desk
Contact: Denis Dison, 202-842-7308, or [email protected] , or Jenn Hererra, 202-842-7307, or [email protected] , both of Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ — The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund today reported unprecedented success in electing openly gay candidates this year. Sixty-seven Victory-endorsed candidates were elected to federal, state and local offices, with some winning historic races that make them the first openly gay or lesbian candidates ever elected in their states or legislative bodies.
“This is the tipping point election for openly gay candidates,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. “We’re proving that qualified, well-prepared candidates matched with committed donors means gays and lesbians can move from having a stake in policy to actually making policy. There’s no reason to sit on the sidelines with our fingers crossed anymore.”
10 Key Victories in 2006:
— Patricia Todd, who will represent District 54 in the Alabama State House. Todd is the first openly gay person ever elected to any office in the state.
— Kathy Webb, who will represent District 37 in the Arkansas State House. Webb is the first openly gay person ever elected to any office in the state.
— Henry Fernandez, who won a seat on the Lawrence Township School Board, making him the first openly gay person ever elected to any office in Indiana.
— Al McAffrey, who will represent District 88 in the Oklahoma State House. McAffrey is the first openly gay person ever elected to the Oklahoma state legislature.
— Jolie Justus, who will represent District 10 in the Missouri State Senate. Justus is the first openly gay state senator in Missouri history.
— Ed Murray, who will represent District 43 in the Washington State Senate. Murray, a former state representative, is the first openly gay state senator in Washington history.
— Matt McCoy, who becomes the first openly gay candidate ever elected to the Iowa legislature. McCoy, a sitting state senator, came out during his last term.
— Ken Keechl, who won a seat on the Broward County Commission in Florida, beating an appointee of Gov. Jeb Bush.
— Jamie Pedersen, who becomes the third consecutive openly gay person to be elected to represent District 43 in the Washington State House.
— Judge Virginia Linder will join Rives Kistler on the Oregon Supreme Court, making it the first state ever to have two openly gay Supreme Court Justices, according to preliminary results.
—–
Key Statistics About Victory-Endorsed Candidates in 2006
— Total Victory-endorsed candidates: 88 (55 non-incumbents, 33 incumbents)
— Total Victory-endorsed winners: 67
— Total Victory-endorsed winners running as openly LGBT for the first time: 37
— Percent of Victory Fund bundled money spent on non- incumbent candidates: 80 percent
— Percent of Victory Fund PAC money spent on non-incumbent candidates: 91 percent
— States that elected their first-ever openly LGBT officials: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana
— States that elected their first-ever openly LGBT state legislators: Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma
— Seven states that still have no openly LGBT elected officials at any level of government: Alaska, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia
— Thirteen additional states that still have no openly LGBT state legislators: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wyoming
Kevin
CONGRATS!!!! I’m really happy for all the winners. You can make a difference! For the ones that didn’t make it, you atleast had the courage to run openly at the same time raised gay people visibility and voice. I congratulate all the candidates for a great job! And the Victory Fund for a well-organized effort, thank you!
Last night, Arizona became the first state in the nation to reject a ban on gay marriage. I think this is the turning point in history. I hope New Jersey will look at Arizona and have the courage to enact the only fair law – gay marriage.