An Announcement from Sol/BSeedz

To Our Community,

Survivors Organizing for Liberation (SOL) has provided direct survivor support, advocacy and education, and youth empowerment services through Buried Seedz of Resistance (BSeedz) under its new name since 2014. Prior to that, the work of the Colorado Anti Violence Program had been a presence and impact on the Colorado lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual community since 1986. Our letter to you today is to share an important and heavy update regarding the future of SOL.

Our organization has struggled over the last five years to sustain itself. Transitions with staff and board, fluctuating funding patterns, and community harm are among several factors that have made the journey difficult as our latest staff and board members attempted to reground our work. Sadly we have reached a point in our organization’s journey where our fiscal sponsor the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center has determined that we must close our doors and allow for a new effort to emerge.

To our community that has been supporting us through our stabilization: we are so grateful for the love and energy we have exchanged that got us this far. To our community that still feels harm from the existence of SOL: we hope that our announcement to close can help in some way release the emotions and tensions related to the harm caused directly and indirectly by our legacy.

And to all of those that we have served, supported, and struggled alongside: please know that your survival is of the utmost importance to the people who work at SOL. While we cannot say for sure what will come next in terms of direct services, members of our staff, board, volunteers, and the communities we are part of will work towards providing you support in your survival.

Our services as SOL and BSeedz will end on June 30th, 2019. Effective immediately, our hotline will answer calls and texts between the hours of 12pm and 9pm, with calls made before and after attended to within a reasonable timeframe. This is a step towards closing the hotline, which will be announced at a later date. Our staff will be reaching out to other agencies in the hopes to ensure referral networks and supports for the services we currently provide (e.g. 24/7 hotline, advocacy and education trainings, youth empowerment programs and services). Other updates will be shared as we have them by our social media pages and by email.

Thank you for your support, and for sharing this with your networks. If there are any additional questions, follow up, or feedback regarding our closing please reach out to us using the contact information provided above.

With gratitude,

Survivors Organizing for Liberation and Buried Seedz of Resistance

LGBTQ Student Resource Center: University of Colorado System Presidential Candidate

By Steve Willich, Director, LGBTQ Student Resource Center

As many of you have heard, the University of Colorado system has named Mark Kennedy as the sole finalist for the position of President of the university.  As is the case with any significant University search process, I encourage CU students to be actively engaged in the opportunities to meet with the finalists and offer insights and considerations.

Mr. Kennedy’s candidacy has sparked some significant discussion within the LGBTQ community, given his voting record on relevant issues when he was a congressman in Minnesota in the early 2000’s.  With this in mind, I encourage members of the LGBTQ communities, and allies on this listserv, to educate yourself on Mr. Kennedy and the CU Presidential search. Below are links to several recent articles that have more information on his voting record, his response to public criticism about his LGBTQ views, and his interest in the CU Presidency.

·         University of Colorado selects Mark Kennedy, former Minnesota congressman, as sole finalist to lead 4-campus system

o   https://www.denverpost.com/2019/04/10/university-colorado-cu-president-mark-kennedy/

 

·         CU Boulder students plan to demonstrate against regents’ choice for president

o   https://www.denverpost.com/2019/04/11/cu-boulder-students-protest-president/

 

·         CU presidential pick says he’s “evolved” on gay marriage in open letter addressing critics’ LGTBQ concerns

o   https://www.denverpost.com/2019/04/12/university-colorado-mark-kennedy-gay-marriage-lgbtq/

 

·         Opinion: Process, not just Kennedy, severely lacking

o   https://cuindependent.com/2019/04/18/opinion-process-not-just-kennedy-severely-lacking/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

·         Gov. Jared Polis urges CU Board of Regents to find a president who can unite the board

o   https://www.denverpost.com/2019/04/18/jared-polis-cu-president-mark-kennedy/

 

·         Mark Kennedy asked if he could skip a Colorado Public Radio question on affirmative action. Here’s his clarified answer.

o   https://www.denverpost.com/2019/04/17/mark-kennedy-affirmative-action-university-of-colorado/

Your voices matter in this issue. There are a couple of ways that you can provide input:

• The University of Colorado has published a web page where you can submit feedback on the presidential search:
• https://www.cu.edu/presidential-search/forms/cu-presidential-search-feedback
• As part of the vetting process, a series of open forums with Mr. Kennedy will be held on each of the CU campuses:
• University of Colorado Denver
• April 25 from 3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
• Student Commons, Room 2600
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs
• April 23 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
• University Center, Room 116
• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
• April 24 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
• Education 2 North, Room 1102
• University of Colorado Boulder
• April 26 from 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
• Macky Auditorium
• Times, dates, and locations of forums are subject to change.  Before attending, please confirm current details at: https://www.cu.edu/presidential-search/finalist-open-forum-schedule

We encourage anyone to visit the LGBTQ Student Resource Center in Tivoli 213 if you would like to discuss this information further or have questions.

One Colorado: Have you returned your ballot yet?

By Sarah Clark, Organizing Manager, One Colorado 

Denver elections are right around the corner and you still have time make sure your voice is heard on Tuesday, May 7th at 7 pm.

Dropping off your ballot or voting in person? Click here to find your closest polling place or ballot drop box.* 

Planning on mailing in your ballot? You have until May 1st to mail in your ballot to ensure it's counted. So make sure to find those stamps and mailboxes before May 1st.  (looking at you, fellow millennials.) 

Need to register to vote? You can register and/or update your address, get a replacement ballot, or vote in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC) which you can find by visiting www.denvergov.org 

Not sure if you're registered?  To verify your current voter status or if you need to register to vote or update your address visit www.govotecolorado.com.

Municipal elections are so important in shaping the future of the Mile High City and many contests will be so close that a small number of votes will determine the outcome. So, mark your calendar and make sure you have a plan to vote.

If you have questions about voting, you can find all the information you need here.

PS: In case you couldn't make it-- check out our live stream from the Denver Mayoral Forum on LGBTQ issues here.

Got Drugs? National Drug Take-Back Day

The Denver Police Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Denver Environmental Quality, will participate in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. This event takes place on the same day across the country. The goal of the event is to ensure the environmentally-safe disposal of prescription medicines and to reduce the likelihood of drug misuse or abuse. Please note that these sites cannot accept needles or sharps, mercury thermometers, oxygen containers, chemotherapy or radioactive substances, illicit drugs, or pressurized canisters.

Drop of your expired or unused prescription medication at any of the following locations:

District 1 - 1311 West 46th Avenue

District 2 - 3921 Holly Street

District 3 - 1625 South University Boulevard

District 4 - 2100 South Clay Street

District 5 - 4685 Peoria Street

District 6 - 1566 Washington Street

DPD Headquarters - 1331 Cherokee Street

Alexander Chee, Masha Gessen, and Barbara Smith to be Honored at the 2019 Lammys

Lambda Literary is pleased to announce that Alexander Chee, Masha Gessen, and Barbara Smith will receive special honors at the 31st Annual Lambda Literary Awards ("Lammys") for their extraordinary contributions to literature, publishing, and our community.

"For over 30 years, the Lammys have celebrated authors who bring necessary, urgent, and artful writing into the world, and these three individuals are truly exceptional in this regard," said Sue Landers, Executive Director. "We are grateful for their work and look forward to celebrating them at this year's Lammys."



ALEXANDER CHEE will receive Lambda Literary's Trustee Award for his immeasurable contributions to culture as a novelist, essayist, activist, and teacher.

Chee is the author of the novels Edinburgh and The Queen of the Night, and the essay collection How to Write an Autobiographical Novel, a 2019 Lambda Literary Award finalist. Read more about Chee here.

Award-winning actor Anthony Rapp will present Chee with this honor.

   
MASHA GESSEN will receive the 2019 Visionary Award for their work advancing public awareness around the global threat of totalitarianism.

Gessen is the author of several books, including The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia, which won the National Book Award in 2017, and The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin. Read more about Gessen here.

HuffPost Editor-in-Chief Lydia Polgreen will present Gessen with their award.


BARBARA SMITH will receive the Publishing Professional Award for her work as an author, publisher, and activist through which she opened up a national discourse about the intersections of race, class, sexuality, and gender.

Smith is the editor of several books, including All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave: Black Women’s Studies, with Akasha (Gloria T.) Hull and Patricia Bell Scott, and Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology. Her collection of biographical interviews, Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around: Forty Years of Movement Building with Barbara Smith, which she co-edited with Alethia Jones and Virginia Eubanks, won a 2015 Lambda Literary Award. Read more about Smith here.

Poet Cheryl Clarke will present Smith with her award.

Salt Cathedral featuring Big Freedia and Jarina De Marco - Go and Get It

Salt Cathedral have shared a jubilant video for their new single, “Go and Get It” featuring Big Freedia and Jarina De Marco, released last week on Ultra Records. The single is a motivational ode to hard-working hustlers that will embolden those grinding to forge their own path. The vibrant video, directed by Susan O’Brien, creates a series of multicolored dioramas with a different color palette representing each artist where they play with cartoonish indicators of wealth like oversized and customized money and hustle on the phone lines. It represents their creativity, drive, and ambition as self-made artists as well as the joy of DIY and art without compromise. The exciting and diverse grouping of artists also unites a wide range of perspectives on electronic music.

Salt Cathedral say, ”‘Go And Get It’ is our hustler anthem. Since we came to this country we worked to open doors constantly by hustling like crazy. Having Jarina and Freedia be part of this and bring their magic into it makes the message and emotion extra powerful. We hope for people to feel inspired and go and get the shit that they want in their lives.”

NCLR Responds to Supreme Court’s Decision to Hear Three Cases about the Rights of LGBT Workers

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear three cases addressing whether Title VII, a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in the workplace, protects LGBT employees.   

NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter, “The decisions in these cases will shape the legal landscape for LGBT people for decades to come.  Over the past twenty years, federal courts have applied Title VII and other federal sex discrimination laws to prohibit discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.   Millions of LGBT people now rely on those federal protections, and countless businesses across the country have changed their policies to protect LGBT workers.  A Supreme Court decision reversing these established protections would be catastrophic for LGBT people and disruptive for businesses, who would face a patchwork of conflicting state laws.      

Today’s decision by the Court also underscores the urgency of passing federal and state laws that expressly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, which have overwhelming public support.  It is time to add these protections to our nation’s laws, to ensure that no person is denied employment, housing or access to public accommodations simply because of who they are.”

The cases are:  R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC and Aimee Stephens, Bostock v. Clayton County, and Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda.

Ahead of 420, MADD Joins Traffic Safety Partners to Raise Awareness About the Dangers of Cannabis-Impaired Driving

MADD joined the Colorado State Patrol, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Uber and others here today to remind everyone to take the high road this April 20 and never drive under the influence of any impairing substance, including cannabis.

“I know firsthand that driving under the influence can end in tragedy,” said MADD National President Helen Witty. “My 16-year-old daughter, Helen Marie, was rollerblading on a bike path near our home when a marijuana- and alcohol-impaired teen driver ran off the road and struck her. Today would have been her 35th birthday. Helen Marie died an instant, violent death, and my life changed forever—all because of one person’s choice to drive impaired.”

MADD and its traffic safety partners have teamed up to remind everyone to get a safe ride home on April 20—an unofficial cannabis holiday—and any time plans include drugs such as cannabis and alcohol. While using either cannabis or alcohol alone can cause impairment, combining the two increases the risk of getting into a crash.

Driving while high is impaired driving—and can result in a DUI. Since Colorado became one of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis in 2014, the Colorado State Patrol has issued nearly 4,000 cannabis-related DUI citations. And the numbers are growing.

From 2017 to 2018, the Patrol saw a 25 percent increase in cannabis DUI citations and a 112 percent increase in DUI citations involving both cannabis and alcohol. More than 20 percent of DUI citations involved cannabis.

The Colorado State Patrol is specially trained to detect cannabis impairment, and troopers will be out in full force this weekend to raise awareness, educate drivers and enforce the laws.

“The Colorado State Patrol is committed to your safety. If you choose to participate in 420 celebrations, please remember that there is no acceptable reason to drive under the influence. We will use all available resources to reduce the number of impaired drivers on Colorado roads,” said Colonel Matt Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

“MADD is honored to partner with the Colorado State Patrol, and I’m thankful for all the brave men and women who work to keep our roads safe every day,” said MADD Colorado Executive Director Fran Lanzer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the main active ingredient in cannabis, delta-9-THC, affects areas of the brain that control the body’s movements, balance, coordination, memory and judgment—all skills needed to drive safely.

“Marijuana does not make you a better driver. In fact, it can slow reaction time, interfere with your ability to make decisions, distort perception and make it harder to solve problems,” Witty said.

Like Witty, Ed and Denise Hill of Colorado understand the impact of impaired driving.

“Less than one year ago, our daughter, Amanda, was hit head-on by a driver high on marijuana. Our beautiful daughter lost her life due to the injuries she sustained. That one decision to drive impaired changed many lives that day,” the Hills said.

Amanda Hill was just 24.

“With light rail, buses, taxis, and rideshare services like Uber, there’s never an excuse to drive high,” Lanzer said.

MADD is also proud to partner with Uber, which will be distributing a limited number of discount codes at participating Native Roots locations throughout the weekend. Riders can use the code 420SAFE for $4.20 off a ride to or from downtown Denver on April 20.

“Technology has made getting a safe ride home as easy as pushing a button,” said Uber Colorado General Manger Dave Britton. “Marijuana-impaired driving is 100 percent preventable. By providing safe ride options, we want to empower everyone to make the safe choice this 420.”

According to Canadian researchers who studied 25 years of data on fatal crashes in the U.S., the risk of being in a fatal crash is 12 percent higher from 4:20 p.m. to midnight on April 20 compared to the same time one week earlier. For drivers younger than 21, the risk is 38 percent higher. The findings were published a year ago in a research letter in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

“We urge everyone to make wise choices and plan ahead,” the Hills said. “The life you save may be your own—or a loved one.”

Lizzo featuring the Queens of RuPaul's Drag Race - Juice

 

On the heels of her fiery and fierce Coachella set, recording artist Lizzo has teamed up World of Wonder to release a brand new music video for her hit single Juice. The video for her groundbreaking body positive anthem features RuPaul’s Drag Race queens A'keira Davenport, Asia O'Hara, Detox, Mariah Balenciaga, Morgan McMichaels, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Soju, Sonique, and Mayhem Miller as they lip sync for their life to the hit song.

The queens are seen in a rainbow of different wigs and outfits, suited up with rhinestones, feathers, glitter, and leather. Lizzo stuns in a magenta and red sequin jacket with eyeshadow and lipstick to match. The girls prove the juice is definitely worth squeezing as they are seen dancing with grapefruit, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and oranges.

Lizzo's debut album, “Cuz I Love You” (featuring "Juice") will be released this Friday, April 19th via Atlantic Records.

HRC Launches Powerful New Video of Transgender Singer and Songwriter Shea Diamond in “Americans for the Equality Act” Campaign

 

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, released a new video from HRC’s Americans for the Equality Act campaign featuring singer and songwriter Shea Diamond. In the new video, Diamond shares her powerful story as a transgender woman and artist from the South and calls on Congress to advance the Equality Act — bipartisan legislation that would finally extend clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections to millions of LGBTQ people nationwide. The Americans for the Equality Act series, filmed by award-winning directors Dustin Lance Black and Paris Barclay, first launched last month with a debut video featuring Academy Award-winning actress Sally Field and her son Sam Greisman.  

“Shea Diamond is a profoundly gifted singer and musician whose story of being a proud transgender woman of color from the South is giving hope to countless people across the nation. We are grateful to partner with her as she speaks out for the Equality Act,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The harsh reality is that LGBTQ Americans face real and persistent discrimination in their everyday lives, and it’s far past time Congress take action and pass this legislation providing clear, comprehensive nationwide non-discrimination protections. Shea is a phenomenal talent and incredible advocate, and she delivers an empowering message of resilience and hope to LGBTQ youth, letting them know they deserve to feel safe, supported and protected under our nation’s civil rights laws.” 

“So much of the progress of the LGBTQ movement has hinged on our ability to tell our stories and move people — and that’s the same spirit with which we’ve approached this compelling project,” said Emmy Award-winning director Paris Barclay when the campaign launched last month.  

“Every American deserves a fair shot at a job to support themselves and their family,
 and the security of a roof over their head. These are key ingredients in what we’ve long cherished as our ‘American Dream.’” said Academy Award-winning director Dustin Lance Black. “But until the Equality Act is signed into law, this dream may not be a reality for far too many Americans in many areas of our wild and wonderful country.”  

As a black transgender woman, Shea Diamond has always had to fight to live her truth and is committed to amplifying the voices and experiences of her community. This game-changing new singer-songwriter is living her dream with Seen It All — her soulful and soul-baring debut EP (Asylum Records) that was executive-produced by hit songwriter Justin Tranter. On Seen It All, Shea — who is now calling Los Angeles home as she sets out to conquer the music world — bravely tells her truth to a world that hasn’t always wanted to really see her. “I’m the flame that you can’t un-see,” she announces with unapologetic honesty on the haunting opener “American Pie.” Read more about Shea’s trailblazing journey as a recording artist here. 

Currently, 50 percent of LGBTQ Americans live in one of the 30 states without statewide legal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people — leaving millions at risk of being fired, denied housing or refused service simply because of who they are or whom they love. The Equality Act would guarantee existing civil rights laws apply to LGBTQ people by providing clear, consistent non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally-funded programs and jury service.  

Reintroduced in Congress on March 13, the Equality Act has growing unprecedented support, including from nearly 70 percent of Americans, hundreds of members of Congress, 180 major businesses and more than 350 social justice, religious, medical and child welfare organizations. Recent polling finds that a growing majority of Americans support federal non-discrimination protections and LGBTQ equality. A recent survey by PRRI found that nearly seven in 10 Americans support laws like the Equality Act, including majorities in every single state and majorities of Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike.  

Over the coming weeks, HRC will roll out additional videos in the Americans for the Equality Act series featuring a powerhouse lineup of supportive film and television actors, influencers, musicians and professional athletes, including Adam Rippon, Alexandra Billings, Charlie and Max Carver, Dustin Lance Black, Paris and Christopher Barclay, Gloria Calderon Kellett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita, Justina Machado, Karamo Brown, Marcia Gay Harden and Nyle DiMarco. The Americans for the Equality Act series is modeled after HRC’s successful Americans for Marriage Equality campaign.

One Colorado: ACTION ALERT! HB19-1039: Jude's Law moves to the full Colorado Senate!

By Daniel Ramos, Executive Director, One Colorado

For the first time in five years, we are headed to the full Colorado Senate for a vote. HB19-1039: Jude's Law, passed out of the Colorado Senate Committee on Appropriations. Now, we need your help to get this legislation into law.

This is a huge milestone, as previous versions of this bill had been sent to the anti-LGBTQ controlled kill committee. As soon as Tuesday, the full Senate will have the first opportunity to vote on supporting our transgender and nonbinary Coloradans.

This is it. This is where we've worked so hard to get - and we're almost there. The Senate will decide whether or not Jude's Law makes it to the Governor's desk.

Contact your State Senator and ask them to support HB19-1039: Jude's Law.

AHF Supports Introduction of ‘Medicare for All Act of 2019’ in the U.S. Senate

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) praised U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for his introduction of the Medicare for All Act of 2019, which would make everyone living in the U.S. eligible for Medicare.

“Senator Sanders has been a tireless champion in the cause to guarantee quality health care as a human right. His bill addresses the underlying forces that make our health care system so expensive, such as the enormous administrative overhead of the health insurance industry and obscene drug prices,” said Tom Myers, AHF’s chief of public affairs and general counsel.

“The U.S has the most complicated and expensive health care system in the world,” said Myers. “Senator Sanders’ Medicare for All legislation will make sure that people living with HIV will have access to treatment and not have to pay for exorbitant prices for life-saving anti-retroviral medication.”

The U.S. Medicare program, which has a 50-year record of success, is now only available to everyone over 65. This legislation would make tax-funded healthcare available that is medically necessary including primary care and prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care, long-term care, mental health services, dental services and vision care. Like Medicare, patients would choose from participating physicians and institutions.

The program would be funded by taxes replacing insurance premiums. Funds from existing government sources for health care, increasing personal income taxes on the top five percent of income earners, a progressive excise tax on payroll and self-employment income, a tax on unearned income, and a transaction tax on stock and bond purchases would be enacted by the legislation. These taxes would be offset by the elimination of premium payments to health insurance companies. Health insurers would be prohibited from selling health insurance that duplicates benefits provided in the legislation.  They may sell insurance for services that are not medically necessary.

“This legislation will help all our patients and it will eliminate barriers to ending the AIDS epidemic.  Everyday support is building in the U.S. for expanding Medicare. AHF looks forward to the enactment of this bill into law,” said Myers.

To view Senator Sanders’ statement on his introduction of the ‘Medicare for All Act of 2019’ click here.

DNC Chair on Implementation of Trump’s Trans Ban

DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement as the Department of Defense began implementing President Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the military last Friday:

“Despite the vocal opposition of dozens of former and current military leaders with decades of experience, President Trump will begin implementing his discriminatory, unnecessary ban on transgender Americans serving in our military.

“This decision will only weaken our military, endanger our national security, and hurt the brave transgender Americans currently serving or hoping to serve their country. We should be celebrating the patriotism and courage of our servicemembers, not attacking them because of their identity.

“This President once promised he would be an ally of the LGBTQ community. But time and again his policies, actions, and words have shown that he believes LGBTQ people are second-class citizens.

“Discrimination is not a national security strategy, and prejudice is not patriotism. I’m encouraged that the new House Democratic majority recently took a stand against hate and voted to reject President Trump’s arbitrary ban. Democrats will continue to fight alongside transgender Americans and the entire LGBTQ community.”

Grayson - Cherry Pits

 

Non-binary American singer-songwriter Grayson has released their latest song "Cherry Pits" with an accompanying lyric video. This marks Grayson's second single following the release of "Brother" last year. Both tracks are from Grayson’s forthcoming debut EP Head To Head, produced by Aidan, which will be released on May 10 via One Half Records.

Of the track, Grayson says, “It is important to let other people help you and be a part of the process of growth, but at the end of the day, you are alone with yourself and your thoughts. 'Cherry Pits' is about the need to take ownership of my self. This desire brought up many questions: What are my needs? What are our needs People often say, 'You can’t have everything.' You definitely can’t have it by stepping on someone else in order to get there. It warps the success of whatever that thing may be. Misery loves company, as the cliche goes. Confrontation has never been my strong suit, but 'Cherry Pits' is a firm voice giving me permission to no longer stay in a damaging cycle. Toxic behaviors often repeat, but when you can finally turn the corner of letting go, the energy around you feels super-charged.”

It’s Official. Mayor Pete Buttigieg Is First Openly LGBTQ Democratic Presidential Candidate in U.S. History

Mayor Pete Buttigieg officially launched his presidential candidacy before a crowd of thousands in his hometown city of South Bend, Indiana yesterday. The announcement makes Mayor Buttigieg the first openly LGBTQ Democratic presidential candidate in U.S. history – a milestone in American politics and for an LGBTQ community increasingly able to win high-level elected office.

The first openly LGBTQ presidential candidate was Fred Karger, who ran in the Republican presidential primary in 2012. 

“Mayor Pete shattered a lavender ceiling once thought unbreakable, becoming the first openly LGBTQ Democratic presidential candidate in American history and our first real shot at the Oval Office,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “There is enormous power in an openly gay presidential candidate stumping at town halls in Iowa and speaking to Americans from the presidential debate stage – it changes perceptions of our community and raises the bar for candidates who seek LGBTQ support. While Mayor Pete’s candidacy is historic and a milestone moment for our community, his meteoric rise is most notable for the support he’s receiving from diverse groups of voters. There are enormous minefields and hurdles to running as an openly LGBTQ candidate, and so far, Mayor Pete has gracefully leapt over them on the world’s largest political stage. He’s the real deal.”