Latest news with #LGBTQ+VictoryFund
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, California AG Rob Bonta receive awards from Victory Fund
The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund presented two allies, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, with awards at its national champagne brunch Sunday at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Moore received the Equality Champion Award, while Bonta received the Allyship Award. Both are Democrats. 'We are fighting for our lives, and we need champions like Gov. Wes Moore to use their power and visibility to support our movement,' Victory Fund President and CEO Evan Low said in a press release. 'In this critical time, we proudly celebrate Gov. Moore as our Equality Champion and are grateful for his solidarity and support when we need it most.' Moore, who took office in 2023, is Maryland's first Black governor and only the third Black governor ever elected in the U.S. He has signed legislation to ensure transgender health care, protect providers from outside prosecution, and prevent banning books. He also has spoken loudly about the need to protect LGBTQ+ rights. 'I am honored to receive this award, and I thank the Victory Fund for their extraordinary leadership,' Moore said in the release. 'At a time when we are seeing an unprecedented assault on the LGBTQIA+ community from people in power, we must each step up to protect our fellow Americans. The Victory Fund is leading the way — and I am proud to be their partner inside this work. Because nobody should have to justify their own humanity.' Of Bonta, Low said, 'We are incredibly grateful for leaders like Attorney General Rob Bonta who stand alongside us in the fight to protect our rights and freedoms, and proudly celebrate awarding him our Allyship Award. At this critical time when we are facing unprecedented attacks on our communities, we must stand together with trusted allies like Attorney General Bonta, who can help us push equality forward. I'm proud to call him a friend and one of this movement's staunch supporters.' Bonta took office in 2021. He is he first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian American to be California's AG. He has vigorously opposed attempts by the federal administration to target the LGBTQ+ community and joined other states in the fight to protect gender-affirming care. He has led the California Department of Justice to fight hate crimes, ensure LGBTQ+ children are protected and affirmed, and ensure equal access for LGBTQ+ people. 'I am incredibly honored to receive this year's Allyship Award,' Bonta said in the release. 'Now more than ever, it's important that we stand bold, united, and unwavering in our commitment to equality and justice, especially as we continue to witness blatant attacks on our LGBTQ+ community. Solidarity and allyship are more than just providing support; they're about standing up against hate and protecting the freedoms we all share. They're about challenging injustice and defending the rights of all individuals and recognizing that a threat against any of our communities is a threat against all of us. Together we can create a world where every person is seen, valued, and is able to live as their true authentic self." Moore and Bonta both spoke at the event, the latter with an introduction by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Several LGBTQ+ leaders addressed more than 500 supporters dedicated to electing LGBTQ+ people to local, state, and national office. Other featured speakers included U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Reps. Sarah McBride, Mark Takano, and Emily Randall, and more LGBTQ+ and allied political leaders.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Evan Low is on a mission to get LGBTQ+ political candidates elected. Here's his plan
Evan Low, who has been a member of the California Assembly, mayor and City Council member in Campbell, Calif., and congressional candidate, is the new president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. Victory Fund backs out candidates for office, while Victory Institute offers training and leadership development. Low succeeds Annise Parker, president and CEO of the organizations since 2017, who announced several months ago that she planned to step down. The Advocate had a few questions for him as he assumed his new post, and here are his answers. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. What are your goals for Victory Fund and Victory Institute?Evan Low: Taking on this role as president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is deeply personal to me. My story is just one example for why this work is so important — I was an endorsed candidate and a graduate of the David Bohnett Leaders Fellowship Program. Victory helped to elect me as the youngest openly LGBTQ+ mayor in the nation when I was 26 years old and then again when I was elected to the California State Assembly. I know firsthand how much this organization changes lives and helps make representation a reality. My goal is simple but urgent: to ensure LGBTQ+ people are not just present in politics but leading at every level — federal, state, and local. We're facing a wave of legislation aimed at silencing our voices, and the best way to fight back is to lead, to be visible, and to make sure our voices are impossible to ignore. Related: How has your experience as an elected official and other life experience prepared you?I know what it's like to be a candidate on the front lines of working to win and achieve representation in elected office. At 20, I ran my first race [for Campbell City Council] and lost. It was crushing. But Victory was there, reminding me to get back up — and I did. I became the mayor of Campbell and then a state legislator. I also made a run for Congress, and though I ultimately didn't win, I did gain valuable insight to help guide and support our candidates. I know firsthand how much it matters to invest in races all the way down to the hyperlocal level. Candidates and officials have a pulse on what matters in their communities. So often our candidates prove themselves to be pragmatic and results-oriented problem solvers. I've been in the trenches of politics, and I understand what it takes to run, to serve, and to make an impact. My job now is to make sure others have the same support and encouragement that I had. What are the challenges you see the organization facing, especially in light of a hostile administration in Washington?We are in a state of emergency. Across the country, lawmakers are trying to legislate us out of existence. Some of them simply don't understand us; others are actively trying to erase us. These are more than just political disagreements — they are direct attacks on our mission, our values, and even our programmatic work and funding support. But here's the thing: This moment makes our mission more relevant than ever. This moment is showing us what happens when LGBTQ+ representation is missing. The policies being pushed are proof that we need more of our voices in the rooms where decisions are made. Despite these headwinds, we persevere. Our network of elected and appointed officials is mighty and ready to face these challenges head on — not just to defend our rights but to expand them. We must show up, run for office, fight for our community, and be unapologetically present in every space where decisions are made. We must also lend a hand of partnership over partisanship. Increasing LGBTQ+ representation has the power to change hearts and minds across the political spectrum. Could you elaborate on the importance of LGBTQ+ representation at this time?Representation isn't just about checking a box; it's about making sure our voices are heard. Growing up, I didn't see many visible leaders who looked like me or shared my experience. Today, we have the chance to rewrite that narrative — to show future generations that they belong in politics, in leadership, and in every part of public life. We're not asking for special treatment. We just want the same rights and opportunities as everyone else — to have our families legally recognized, to work without fear of discrimination, to serve openly, to have autonomy over our own bodies. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute will fight to make sure those rights are protected. How has Victory Fund affected your career?I wouldn't be here without the Victory Fund. They believed in me before I fully believed in myself. When I lost that first race, they were there, reminding me that losing isn't the end — it's just part of the journey. That's exactly what I want to do for the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders. I'm lucky to succeed the great leadership Mayor Annise Parker brought to LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory institute throughout her tenure. I am looking forward to honoring her legacy in my new role and picking up right where she left off. What has it been like being an out gay man in politics?I've been out my entire political career, and let me tell you, it hasn't always been easy. As mayor, I've officiated weddings but couldn't legally marry myself. I've hosted blood drives but wasn't allowed to donate blood because of outdated [Food and Drug Administration] policies. These experiences weren't just personal frustrations; they were reminders of why representation matters. When we have a seat at the table, we can fight to ensure future generations don't have to take on these same battles. Growing up, I didn't have many LGBTQ+ role models. It was lonely at times. But looking at where we are today, I see so much progress. We're no longer in the shadows — we're out, we're proud, and we're leading. That's what gives me hope. And that's why I'm here — to make sure every LGBTQ+ person who wants to serve knows that they'll have an army standing behind them every step of the way.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican state lawmakers galvanize to attack same-sex marriage
Republicans in red states across the US have been pushing a slew of anti-LGBTQ+ measures targeting same-sex marriages with an aim of ultimately securing a supreme court ban on the federally protected right. The recent wave of Republican-led bills targeting same-sex marriage comes amid a second Donald Trump presidency in which his administration has taken on more emboldened attacks against LGBTQ+ communities across the country, as seen through a flurry of executive orders he signed, assailing various LGBTQ+ rights. Numerous Republican lawmakers across red states have followed suit in both rhetoric and the introduction of bills, sparking concerns across LGBTQ+ and civil rights organizations over their social and political effects. In Oklahoma last month, a day after Trump's inauguration, the Republican state senator Dusty Deevers introduced a series of bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights, among them the Promote Child Thriving act. The Promote Child Thriving act establishes a $500 tax credit per child for a mother and father filing jointly and is escalated to $1,000 if the child was born after the marriage of the parents. Describing the bill, Deevers said: 'There is no greater factor in the wellbeing and future success of a child than whether they grew up in a two-parent household with their mother and father. It's not even close.' He added: 'I know that not everyone benefits from this act, but everyone should support what is good for kids, and growing up with one's mother and father is, in the vast majority of cases, the most important factor in a child's wellbeing.' In response to Deevers's bill, the Tulsa-based pastor Randy Lewis of the All Souls Unitarian Church told News Channel 8: 'I have a non-traditional family – my partner's kids are not mine, so it would be one of those situations. My kids aren't biologically my partner's. We'd be one of those situations [where] we're eliminated from the grant process.' Another Republican Oklahoma state senator, David Bullard, introduced a similar bill that would offer a $2,000 child tax credit per child only for married couples with biological children from the marriage. Explaining the bill to Jenna Ellis, a former lawyer for Trump, Bullard said it was introduced to challenge the supreme court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v Hodges that declared same-sex marriages as legal across the US. 'Really what we want to do is challenge that concept and see if we can get to Obergefell,' Bullard said. 'And I think that's kind of what we're pushing at all the way around the board with a bill like this, is to actually go straight at Obergefell and say: 'No, the constitution protects my right, my freedom of speech, my freedom of expression, my freedom of religion to disagree with same-sex marriage.'' 'The reality is we have to push back on Obergefell,' Bullard added. In response to the introduction of such bills, Sean Meloy, vice-president of political programs at LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, said: 'These attacks on fundamental rights for LGBTQ+ Americans, including marriage equality – which was already decided by the highest court and codified into federal law – are hateful distractions from the core issues that Americans want their government to resolve.' 'Stripping away marriage rights for LGBTQ+ couples will not lower food prices, stop corruption or increase economic opportunities,' Meloy continued. In Idaho, Republican state lawmakers passed a legislative petition last month in which they called on the supreme court to reverse its same-sex marriage ruling. Voting 46-24, the Idaho house passed House Joint Memorial 1, asking the supreme court to 'restore the natural definition of marriage, a union of one man and one woman'. During her floor debate, the bill's sponsor, the Republican representative Heather Scott, said: 'I would ask you to substitute any other issue and ask yourself: 'Do I want the federal government creating rights for us, for Idahoans,'' adding: 'Christians across the nation are being targeted,' the Idaho Capital Sun reports. In response to Scott, the Idaho House minority leader, Ilana Rubel, said: 'It's deeply upsetting to some of those folks and it makes them not want to live here … These are good, law-abiding people who are feeling like their legislature doesn't want them here and doesn't want them to be able to live the full rights that everybody else can.' Rebecca De León, the communications director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, said: 'Far-right extremists know that Idaho is their playground for stripping away people's rights because resistance isn't strong here. Let us be clear: the rights of same-sex couples to marry is settled legal precedent that continues to be affirmed by courts across the country. This unnecessary and bigoted memorial is a glaring example of how the Idaho legislature is set on eroding civil liberties.' In Michigan,the Republican state lawmaker Josh Schriver prompted widespread backlash when he introduced a resolution to 'condemn' the supreme court's 2015 landmark decision. The resolution states: 'Marriage … has been defined through time by people of varying cultures and faiths as a union between one man and one woman. Obergefell arbitrarily and unjustly rejected this historical definition of marriage.' 'This is a biological necessity to preserve and grow our human race,' Schriver said about the resolution, BridgeMichigan reports. In response to Schriver's resolution, the Michigan attorney general, Dana Nessel, who is the first out LGBTQ+ person elected to state office in Michigan, took to Instagram and wrote: 'Come and get it.' Condemning the resolution as part of a 'long line of strategy of certain politicians who would like to erase the existence of LGBTQ+ people', Jay Kaplan, the LGBTQ+ project attorney of the ACLU of Michigan, said: 'It is a distraction from their apparent inability to introduce legislation or policies that address real issues that people are facing … I think we need to call it out for the stunt that it is. It's an empty stunt.' Kaplan added: 'Let's look at the reality with the marriage equality decision. No church, temple or mosque has to perform any religious marriage ceremony. We have a thing called separation of church and state … They are not obligated to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples if they choose not to do so. So that's not happening, despite what these politicians might be trying to say.' 'But, when you decide that you can open a business and you can keep it open to the public, you have to serve the public, and that's a choice you make … you have to comply with a lot of things, including civil rights laws,' Kaplan said.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican state lawmakers galvanize to attack same-sex marriage
Republicans in red states across the US have been pushing a slew of anti-LGBTQ+ measures targeting same-sex marriages with an aim of ultimately securing a supreme court ban on the federally protected right. The recent wave of Republican-led bills targeting same-sex marriage comes amid a second Donald Trump presidency in which his administration has taken on more emboldened attacks against LGBTQ+ communities across the country, as seen through a flurry of executive orders he signed, assailing various LGBTQ+ rights. Numerous Republican lawmakers across red states have followed suit in both rhetoric and the introduction of bills, sparking concerns across LGBTQ+ and civil rights organizations over their social and political effects. In Oklahoma last month, a day after Trump's inauguration, the Republican state senator Dusty Deevers introduced a series of bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights, among them the Promote Child Thriving act. The Promote Child Thriving act establishes a $500 tax credit per child for a mother and father filing jointly and is escalated to $1,000 if the child was born after the marriage of the parents. Describing the bill, Deevers said: 'There is no greater factor in the wellbeing and future success of a child than whether they grew up in a two-parent household with their mother and father. It's not even close.' He added: 'I know that not everyone benefits from this act, but everyone should support what is good for kids, and growing up with one's mother and father is, in the vast majority of cases, the most important factor in a child's wellbeing.' In response to Deevers's bill, the Tulsa-based pastor Randy Lewis of the All Souls Unitarian Church told News Channel 8: 'I have a non-traditional family – my partner's kids are not mine, so it would be one of those situations. My kids aren't biologically my partner's. We'd be one of those situations [where] we're eliminated from the grant process.' Another Republican Oklahoma state senator, David Bullard, introduced a similar bill that would offer a $2,000 child tax credit per child only for married couples with biological children from the marriage. Explaining the bill to Jenna Ellis, a former lawyer for Trump, Bullard said it was introduced to challenge the supreme court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v Hodges that declared same-sex marriages as legal across the US. 'Really what we want to do is challenge that concept and see if we can get to Obergefell,' Bullard said. 'And I think that's kind of what we're pushing at all the way around the board with a bill like this, is to actually go straight at Obergefell and say: 'No, the constitution protects my right, my freedom of speech, my freedom of expression, my freedom of religion to disagree with same-sex marriage.'' 'The reality is we have to push back on Obergefell,' Bullard added. In response to the introduction of such bills, Sean Meloy, vice-president of political programs at LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, said: 'These attacks on fundamental rights for LGBTQ+ Americans, including marriage equality – which was already decided by the highest court and codified into federal law – are hateful distractions from the core issues that Americans want their government to resolve.' 'Stripping away marriage rights for LGBTQ+ couples will not lower food prices, stop corruption or increase economic opportunities,' Meloy continued. In Idaho, Republican state lawmakers passed a legislative petition last month in which they called on the supreme court to reverse its same-sex marriage ruling. Voting 46-24, the Idaho house passed House Joint Memorial 1, asking the supreme court to 'restore the natural definition of marriage, a union of one man and one woman'. During her floor debate, the bill's sponsor, the Republican representative Heather Scott, said: 'I would ask you to substitute any other issue and ask yourself: 'Do I want the federal government creating rights for us, for Idahoans,'' adding: 'Christians across the nation are being targeted,' the Idaho Capital Sun reports. In response to Scott, the Idaho House minority leader, Ilana Rubel, said: 'It's deeply upsetting to some of those folks and it makes them not want to live here … These are good, law-abiding people who are feeling like their legislature doesn't want them here and doesn't want them to be able to live the full rights that everybody else can.' Rebecca De León, the communications director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, said: 'Far-right extremists know that Idaho is their playground for stripping away people's rights because resistance isn't strong here. Let us be clear: the rights of same-sex couples to marry is settled legal precedent that continues to be affirmed by courts across the country. This unnecessary and bigoted memorial is a glaring example of how the Idaho legislature is set on eroding civil liberties.' In Michigan,the Republican state lawmaker Josh Schriver prompted widespread backlash when he introduced a resolution to 'condemn' the supreme court's 2015 landmark decision. The resolution states: 'Marriage … has been defined through time by people of varying cultures and faiths as a union between one man and one woman. Obergefell arbitrarily and unjustly rejected this historical definition of marriage.' 'This is a biological necessity to preserve and grow our human race,' Schriver said about the resolution, BridgeMichigan reports. In response to Schriver's resolution, the Michigan attorney general, Dana Nessel, who is the first out LGBTQ+ person elected to state office in Michigan, took to Instagram and wrote: 'Come and get it.' Condemning the resolution as part of a 'long line of strategy of certain politicians who would like to erase the existence of LGBTQ+ people', Jay Kaplan, the LGBTQ+ project attorney of the ACLU of Michigan, said: 'It is a distraction from their apparent inability to introduce legislation or policies that address real issues that people are facing … I think we need to call it out for the stunt that it is. It's an empty stunt.' Kaplan added: 'Let's look at the reality with the marriage equality decision. No church, temple or mosque has to perform any religious marriage ceremony. We have a thing called separation of church and state … They are not obligated to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples if they choose not to do so. So that's not happening, despite what these politicians might be trying to say.' 'But, when you decide that you can open a business and you can keep it open to the public, you have to serve the public, and that's a choice you make … you have to comply with a lot of things, including civil rights laws,' Kaplan said.
The Guardian
03-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Republican state lawmakers galvanize to attack same-sex marriage
Republicans in red states across the US have been pushing a slew of anti-LGBTQ+ measures targeting same-sex marriages with an aim of ultimately securing a supreme court ban on the federally protected right. The recent wave of Republican-led bills targeting same-sex marriage comes amid a second Donald Trump presidency in which his administration has taken on more emboldened attacks against LGBTQ+ communities across the country, as seen through a flurry of executive orders he signed, assailing various LGBTQ+ rights. Numerous Republican lawmakers across red states have followed suit in both rhetoric and the introduction of bills, sparking concerns across LGBTQ+ and civil rights organizations over their social and political effects. In Oklahoma last month, a day after Trump's inauguration, the Republican state senator Dusty Deevers introduced a series of bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights, among them the Promote Child Thriving act. The Promote Child Thriving act establishes a $500 tax credit per child for a mother and father filing jointly and is escalated to $1,000 if the child was born after the marriage of the parents. Describing the bill, Deevers said: 'There is no greater factor in the wellbeing and future success of a child than whether they grew up in a two-parent household with their mother and father. It's not even close.' He added: 'I know that not everyone benefits from this act, but everyone should support what is good for kids, and growing up with one's mother and father is, in the vast majority of cases, the most important factor in a child's wellbeing.' In response to Deevers's bill, the Tulsa-based pastor Randy Lewis of the All Souls Unitarian Church told News Channel 8: 'I have a non-traditional family – my partner's kids are not mine, so it would be one of those situations. My kids aren't biologically my partner's. We'd be one of those situations [where] we're eliminated from the grant process.' Another Republican Oklahoma state senator, David Bullard, introduced a similar bill that would offer a $2,000 child tax credit per child only for married couples with biological children from the marriage. Explaining the bill to Jenna Ellis, a former lawyer for Trump, Bullard said it was introduced to challenge the supreme court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v Hodges that declared same-sex marriages as legal across the US. 'Really what we want to do is challenge that concept and see if we can get to Obergefell,' Bullard said. 'And I think that's kind of what we're pushing at all the way around the board with a bill like this, is to actually go straight at Obergefell and say: 'No, the constitution protects my right, my freedom of speech, my freedom of expression, my freedom of religion to disagree with same-sex marriage.'' 'The reality is we have to push back on Obergefell,' Bullard added. In response to the introduction of such bills, Sean Meloy, vice-president of political programs at LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, said: 'These attacks on fundamental rights for LGBTQ+ Americans, including marriage equality – which was already decided by the highest court and codified into federal law – are hateful distractions from the core issues that Americans want their government to resolve.' 'Stripping away marriage rights for LGBTQ+ couples will not lower food prices, stop corruption or increase economic opportunities,' Meloy continued. In Idaho, Republican state lawmakers passed a legislative petition last month in which they called on the supreme court to reverse its same-sex marriage ruling. Voting 46-24, the Idaho house passed House Joint Memorial 1, asking the supreme court to 'restore the natural definition of marriage, a union of one man and one woman'. During her floor debate, the bill's sponsor, the Republican representative Heather Scott, said: 'I would ask you to substitute any other issue and ask yourself: 'Do I want the federal government creating rights for us, for Idahoans,'' adding: 'Christians across the nation are being targeted,' the Idaho Capital Sun reports. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion In response to Scott, the Idaho House minority leader, Ilana Rubel, said: 'It's deeply upsetting to some of those folks and it makes them not want to live here … These are good, law-abiding people who are feeling like their legislature doesn't want them here and doesn't want them to be able to live the full rights that everybody else can.' Rebecca De León, the communications director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, said: 'Far-right extremists know that Idaho is their playground for stripping away people's rights because resistance isn't strong here. Let us be clear: the rights of same-sex couples to marry is settled legal precedent that continues to be affirmed by courts across the country. This unnecessary and bigoted memorial is a glaring example of how the Idaho legislature is set on eroding civil liberties.' In Michigan,the Republican state lawmaker Josh Schriver prompted widespread backlash when he introduced a resolution to 'condemn' the supreme court's 2015 landmark decision. The resolution states: 'Marriage … has been defined through time by people of varying cultures and faiths as a union between one man and one woman. Obergefell arbitrarily and unjustly rejected this historical definition of marriage.' 'This is a biological necessity to preserve and grow our human race,' Schriver said about the resolution, BridgeMichigan reports. In response to Schriver's resolution, the Michigan attorney general, Dana Nessel, who is the first out LGBTQ+ person elected to state office in Michigan, took to Instagram and wrote: 'Come and get it.' Condemning the resolution as part of a 'long line of strategy of certain politicians who would like to erase the existence of LGBTQ+ people', Jay Kaplan, the LGBTQ+ project attorney of the ACLU of Michigan, said: 'It is a distraction from their apparent inability to introduce legislation or policies that address real issues that people are facing … I think we need to call it out for the stunt that it is. It's an empty stunt.' Kaplan added: 'Let's look at the reality with the marriage equality decision. No church, temple or mosque has to perform any religious marriage ceremony. We have a thing called separation of church and state … They are not obligated to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples if they choose not to do so. So that's not happening, despite what these politicians might be trying to say.' 'But, when you decide that you can open a business and you can keep it open to the public, you have to serve the public, and that's a choice you make … you have to comply with a lot of things, including civil rights laws,' Kaplan said.
