Eight openly LGBTQ candidates have won their races for the U.S. House and one will head to a recount – ensuring a historic number of openly LGBTQ candidates in the U.S. Congress next year. Three of the LGBTQ candidates won seats currently held by Republicans, one won in a key swing district held by a retiring Democrat, and four were incumbents. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin won a resounding reelection in Wisconsin and Kyrsten Sinema’s race for U.S. Senate in Arizona remains too close to call.
“An unprecedented rainbow wave of LGBTQ Congressional candidates helped strengthen the new Democratic majority, flipping three seats and securing eight seats in all,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “LGBTQ candidates won over independents and even Republicans to win in some of the most competitive districts in the nation, proving out LGBTQ candidates can secure big wins in tough places. With more LGBTQ candidates in the U.S. House than ever before, we have the opportunity to finally pass equality legislation too long ignored.”
“There was hand-wringing among some politicos about whether LGBTQ candidates would provide the best opportunity for Democrats to pick up seats in red districts. Instead we saw LGBTQ candidates talk openly about their lives to a degree unseen in past elections – and it resonated with voters. We tripled the number of LGBTQ women members of Congress, doubled the number of LGBTQ people of color and increased our overall number of LGBTQ members from six to eight. And we played a key role in securing a pro-equality Congress. America needs authentic, values-driven elected officials in the halls of power right now and voters found those qualities in our out LGBTQ candidates.”
LGBTQ Victory Fund raised more than $235,554 for its endorsed LGBTQ U.S. House candidates and more than $366,000 for its U.S Senate candidates this cycle.
Country star Ty Herndon has released a new music video for his rendition of the Marc Cohn classic “Walking in Memphis.” This is the third video in a four-part series of dance mixes which also contain Herndon’s smash hit “Living in a Moment” and a cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”
“Walking in Memphis has always been one of my top five favorite songs to sing,” states Herndon. “We actually cut it for the cover album that’s coming in January. I thought it would be a cool dance mix. And I was right. We had a great time in the studio with this one. We cut the video in at a place called the Rain Studio in Los Angeles.”
DNC Chair Tom Perez issued the following statement following the results of last night's elections:
“Congratulatations to all of the newly-elected LGBTQ Democrats on their historic victories last night. The DNC was proud to invest and organize in LGBTQ communities across the country this cycle, and I want to congratulate all of our LGBTQ Democrats for running extraordinary campaigns on the issues that matter most. From Oregon and Colorado, to Kansas and Michigan, Democratic LGBTQ candidates broke down barriers and made history yesterday, while voters in Massachusetts soundly rejected discrimination based on gender identity.
“We’ve come a long way as a nation in our march toward LGBTQ equality, and none of our progress would have been possible without the courage of the countless LGBTQ organizers and activists who marched for it, refused to back down, and demanded a seat at the table.
“The Democratic Party stands with the LGBTQ community in the fight for dignity and equality for all people, no matter who they love or how they identify.
“Democrats put hope on the ballot, and that’s why the American people elected Democrats up and down the ballot across the country. We never backed down from our values of inclusion and opportunity, because we know that those are not only our party’s values, they’re America’s values.”
Congratulations to all of tonight’s newly-elected and re-elected LGBTQ Democrats, including:
Federal WI-Sen: Sen. Tammy Baldwin CA-25: Katie Hill CA-41: Rep. Mark Takano KS-03: Sharice Davids MN-02: Angie Craig NH-01: Chris Pappas NY-18: Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney RI-01: Rep. David Cicilline WI-2: Rep. Mark Pocan
Statewide CO-Gov: Jared Polis CT-Comptroller: Hon. Kevin Lembo MA-AG: Hon. Maura Healy MI-AG: Dana Nessel NC-Court of Appeals: Hon. John Arrowood OR-Gov: Gov. Kate Brown Guam-LG: Josh Tenorio Some Historic State Legislative Wins: Sonya Jaquez Lewis is the first openly LGBTQ Latina elected to the Colorado State House. Jennifer Webb is the first openly LGBTQ woman elected to the Florida state legislature. Brandon Woodward and Susan Ruiz became the first two openly LGBTQ members of the Kansas House of Representatives.
Laont Robinson is the first openly LGBTQ man and first person of color elected to the Illinois General Assembly.
J.D. Ford became the first openly LGBTQ member of the Indiana General Assembly.
Mary Washington became the first openly lesbian woman elected to the Maryland state Senate, and Gabriel Acevero became the first openly gay man of Afro-Latino descent elected to the Maryland General Assembly; Jeremy Moss is the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Michigan state Senate;
Megan Hunt became the first openly LGBTQ member of the Nebraska House of Representatives.
Gerri Cannon and Lisa Bunker both won seats in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, becoming the first openly transgender people to serve in the New Hampshire State House.
Nickie Antonio became the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Ohio state Senate
Malcolm Kenyatta became the first openly LGBTQ person of color elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature
Cody Thompson restored representation in the West Virginia House of Delegates, becoming the body’s only openly LGBTQ member.
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Yesterday, Nebraska voters made history in electing Megan Hunt, the first openly LGBTQ candidate ever elected to their state legislature. LGBTQ people are severely underrepresented in Nebraska government, with just four openly LGBTQ elected officials currently serving in the entire state. Before tonight, Nebraska was one of just seven states that had never elected an openly LGBTQ state legislator. Victory Fund made Hunt a “Spotlight” candidate and launched a $32,700 independent expenditure to elect her.
“Megan defied the odds and shattered a long-standing political barrier in Nebraska, becoming the first openly LGBTQ person ever elected to the state legislature,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “Nebraska was one of the few states in the nation where LGBTQ people have never had a voice in their state government, depriving legislative debates of an LGBTQ perspective. This is a milestone moment for LGBTQ Nebraskans, but it was Megan’s values-driven agenda, not her sexual orientation, that won over voters on Election Day. Yet the openness about her life lent her an authenticity rarely found in politicians, and it clearly resonated with voters.”
There's just one month left to submit to the 31st Annual Lambda Literary Awards! Don't be a last minute Larry, submit today, but make sure to read this year's updated guidelines first.
DCPA Cabaret's new production of Xanadufeatures an all-local company and follows the journey of a magical and beautiful Greek muse, Kira, who descends from the heavens of Mount Olympus to Venice Beach, California in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest artistic creation of all time – the first roller disco. (Hey, it’s 1980.)
But, when Kira falls into forbidden love with the mortal Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation, and chaos abounds. This Tony Award-nominated, hilarious, roller skating, musical adventure about following your dreams despite the limitations others set for you, rolls along to the original hit score composed by pop-rock legends, Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Based on the Universal Pictures cult classic movie of the same title, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, Xanadu is hilarity on wheels for anyone who has ever wanted to feel inspired.
Minimalist pop-luxe masterminds Huntly have released a new single. "Wiggle" is a strikingly original and danceable track from Melbourne’s finest – out now via Barely Dressed Records.
On "Wiggle," Huntly pair an elastic bass-line with a deep percussive groove to provide the basis for the best pop song they have ever released. Lead singer Elspeth’s typically mellifluous lead-vocal celebrates space and freedom while second singer Charlie’s compelling counter-melodies provide engrossing contrast.
Elspeth confides that "Wiggle is the poolside-banger track of the record." Elspeth took an early demo of the song to Andy (band member and producer) saying, "let’s make a luxe banger you could drink an aperol spritz to," and that’s exactly what they did.
Claire Foy and Andreja Pejic share a scene in this new clip from The Girl In The Spider's Web, in theaters this Friday.
Lisbeth Salander, the cult figure and title character of the acclaimed Millennium book series created by Stieg Larsson, will return to the screen in The Girl in the Spider’s Web, a first-time adaptation of the recent global bestseller. Golden Globe winner Claire Foy, the star of “The Crown,” plays the outcast vigilante defender under the direction of Fede Alvarez, the director of 2016’s breakout thriller Don’t Breathe; the screenplay adaptation is by Steven Knight and Fede Alvarez & Jay Basu.
DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement after Jared Polis in Colorado became the first openly gay man elected governor:
“Congratulations to Jared Polis on his historic victory tonight. I know that Governor-elect Polis and Colorado Democrats are committed to building on Governor Hickenlooper’s successes and rejecting the disastrous Trump-GOP agenda. Jared is going to represent all of Colorado and fight for the issues that matter to working families.
“We’ve come a long way as a nation in our march toward LGBTQ equality, and none of our progress would have been possible without the courage of the countless LGBTQ organizers and activists who marched for it, refused to back down, and demanded a seat at the table. Jared will continue building on that progress and inspiring future leaders to break down barriers in every community.
“The DNC was proud to work with and invest in the Colorado Democratic Party to make sure Democrats win races up and down the ballot tonight.”
Tonight U.S. Representative Jared Polis of Colorado became the first openly gay man elected governor of a U.S. state, defeating his Republican opponent by a strong margin. Throughout the campaign Polis spoke with voters about his partner and children, making him one of the most visible LGBTQ candidates in the nation and a model for how other high-profile LGBTQ candidates can run a statewide campaign. Polis is just the second openly LGBTQ person ever elected governor of a U.S. state – the other being openly bisexual Governor Kate Brown of Oregon, who is up for reelection tonight.
Victory Fund made Polis one of its “Game Changer” candidates, helping him secure national and LGBTQ media attention for his campaign. Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, supported efforts to raise his profile with the Colorado LGBTQ community by joining him at Denver Pride and taking part in a bus tour throughout Colorado early last week.
“Generations of LGBTQ advocates have dreamed of the moment when voters would overcome tired stereotypes and elect an openly gay man who stands proudly with his partner and family – and this is that moment,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “Colorado has undergone a transformation that parallels the changing attitudes in the country at large. In just 25 years, Colorado went from being labeled a ‘hate state’ for its anti-LGBTQ voter-approved ballot initiative to becoming the first state in the nation to elect an openly gay governor. This is the evolution we will fight for in states all throughout the country – both red and blue – because we know voters are ready to support authentic, values-driven LGBTQ candidates who speak to the issues that matter most. Jared shattered a lavender ceiling in Colorado, but its effect will extend well-beyond the state’s borders.”
Four openly LGBTQ people ran for governor this cycle – a historic number. In addition to Polis and Brown, Lupe Valdez ran for governor of Texas and Christine Hallquist for governor of Vermont.
Empress 45, LaLa Shearz, and the Board of Directors of the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire invite you to join them tonight for Snow Ball: The Nutcracker Suite. Proceeds from this classic holiday event will benefit The Blue Bench.
The Blue Bench's mission is to eliminate sexual assault and
diminish the impact it has on individuals, their loved ones and our
community through comprehensive issue advocacy, prevention and care.
Join the ICRME for a fun filled evening of performances by entertainers from across the nation, the annual Snow King and Snow Queen Competition, and the annual Headdress Competition. Check out the silent auction tables for more chances to donate and bring yourself some holiday cheer. They will also be collecting unwrapped gifts to benefit The Colorado Health Network’s annual toy drive. Visit www.eventbrite.com/e/snowball-tickets-49058971705 to purchase your presale tickets for $20 in advance as they will be $25 at the door.
