How LGBTQ+ Victory Fund helps achieve greater equality
Impact at a glance
0%
of endorsed candidates won their 2023 general election race
“We realized that there was a distinct need for LGBTQ+ voices in government,” says Sean Meloy, vice president of political programs at LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. "Our rights and our lives are literally on the ballot.”
Since its creation in 1991 — when less than 50 out LGBTQ+ people were serving in elected office nationwide — LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has helped support thousands of candidates to run and win their campaigns.
“We work to exclusively get LGBTQ+, pro-choice candidates into office at all levels, all across the country,” says Meloy, citing notable elections LGBTQ+ Victory Fund supported like those of State Senator Danica Roem, Congressman Robert Garcia, and Senator Tammy Baldwin.
“Now we have nearly 1,300 currently serving, out LGBTQ+ elected officials. That's the most ever in history, but we still have a long, long way to go.”
CHALLENGE
Facing political hurdles and takedown campaigns
“Queer people are underestimated when they want to step forward to run. They also face those hurdles of “Oh, you can't do it because no one's done it before.” And so, the only way to break that barrier is to win," explains Meloy.
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has been an instrumental partner in the success of thousands of campaigns. Whether they were donating directly to a candidate, conducting independent expenditures on their behalf, or connecting them to their supporter network, their support helps fuel victories and advance equality across the country.
Meloy also shares that oftentimes people are skeptical of LGBTQ+ candidates’ abilities to win over independent and Republican donors. “Studies have been done to show LGBTQ+ candidates in a purple district are actually stronger than straight candidates because people understand that the system is largely broken, and we need different people in government in order to change it.”
As more LGBTQ+ candidates step up to run for office across the country, opponents may use attack ads or whisper campaigns to undermine their campaigns. But sometimes, those efforts backfire, leading to additional fundraising and organizing support from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. And LGBTQ+ Victory Fund can help channel that support to candidates in that tough situation.
SOLUTION
Combatting anti-LGBTQ+ attacks with tech
While LGBTQ+ Victory Fund’s mission has remained the same, they’ve expanded their work to help prepare LGBTQ+ candidates to set their campaigns up for success by creating the Victory Institute. This 501(c)3 partner organization is focused on teaching candidates about the basics of campaigning (like how to calculate your win number and how to create a budget), while also diving into the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ candidates may face when running for office.
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund also merged with the LGBTQ+ Elected Officials Organization, a network of now around 1,300 out people who can lean on each other, strategize, and help share ideas to advance equality at all levels of government nationwide amidst a newfound wave of attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.
“One of the other things that we've recently been using is Mobilize to help connect our network to a candidate, whether it's for showing up to canvass, doing a text bank, or doing a phone bank,” Meloy shares. He explains the benefits of being able to quickly send out a link to help their network connect with endorsed candidates to help them rebuff some of the anti-LGBTQ+ attacks that some candidates face.
Looking ahead to this cycle and beyond, Meloy says, “Technology continues to be important, and it can hopefully help make contacting voters better and more regular. But it should also help us understand that there is no replacement for a human connection and getting out there and talking to people."
In 2023, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund provided direct support on the ground to 51 candidates across 10 states, helping them talk to voters and mobilizing them to get out the vote. In addition to that work, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund also invested nearly $1 million directly to LGBTQ+ candidates’ campaigns in 2023, helping them achieve impressive and historic wins across the country.
IMPACT
Achieving greater LGBTQ+ representation
Despite the renewed attacks against the LGBTQ+ community like banning books and access to healthcare along with other harmful legislation and initiatives, more LGBTQ+ candidates ran in 2023 than ever before. And with the support of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, 71% of endorsed candidates won their elections in 2023!
“What we're seeing is that rhetoric is actually inspiring LGBTQ+ people to step forward. Year after year, we're finding more and more LGBTQ+ candidates, and that's what we need for parity representation in our government,” says Meloy. Only 0.25% of elected officials are LGBTQ+ nationwide and 7% of Americans identify as LGBTQ+, so over 35,000 more LGBTQ+ candidates must be elected to close the LGBTQ+ political representation gap.
It’s a daunting task, but one that LGBTQ+ Victory Fund isn’t shying away from. In fact, they’re working to elect LGBTQ+ candidates everywhere to help build the bench of qualified, dedicated, and compassionate problem solvers — from school boards to state legislatures to Congress to the White House.
“We want to make sure that Pete Buttigieg wasn’t the last LGBTQ+ presidential candidate — we want to make sure he’s the first.”
Sean Meloy,
VP of political programs, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
