Today is a milestone for America. The 2008 election comes to a close in mere hours amid promises to change our country, but fundamental change will already have occurred by the time the last polling place closes.

At that moment Americans will have elected either the first African-American president or the first female vice president. And in cities and towns across the country, they will have elected the largest number of openly LGBT candidates in history.

The Victory Fund endorsed an astounding 111 candidates this year because growing numbers of very brave men and women are deciding they are not content to sit on the sidelines and let their straight friends do the heavy lifting. Instead, they’re preparing to lead and asking their communities to elect them to public office.

Why is this important to you and me? Because out elected officials shorten our path to equality. They don’t just fight for what’s right for some abstract group. They fight for themselves and their families, and that irreplaceable authenticity changes hearts and minds, and it even changes votes.

But these candidates also serve another important and powerful role. They’re visible proof that being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender doesn’t have to limit potential, and that being honest and out doesn’t have to be a barrier to success. Their elections send the unmistakable message that we are not less than, but equal to. We can help lead this country.

It’s not always easy for these folks. This may be a “change election,” but that didn’t stop some Victory Fund candidates’ opponents from using ugly, last-minute anti-gay smears designed to scare voters. In just the last couple of days, our candidates have been hit with some appalling radio spots, unsigned attack mailers, and desperate media stunts – all designed to highlight their sexual orientation and divide people against each other.

This is why the Victory Fund exists. With the generous support of people like you, we work directly with candidates on strategies to help them counter anti-gay attacks and rise above the fear-mongering. We steer precious resources where they’re needed most, and we make sure candidates spend their time and dollars wisely at crucial moments in their campaigns. And we do this work in the same way we advise our candidates to run their campaigns – wasting nothing and taking even less for granted.

So as we close out this historic election season, I want to say thank you on behalf of our board, our staff and the 111 candidates we endorsed in 2008. Whether you contributed to a candidate’s campaign, gave the Victory Fund the resources to make strategic investments, helped to battle anti-gay marriage amendments across the country, or simply stood in solidarity with LGBT candidates who are working for fairness and equality, you have helped make this a very different kind of Election Day.

Today our country will take an enormous step toward making ours a more representative democracy. And that’s something we can all be proud of.

– Chuck Wolfe,
President and CEO
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund