The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund today announced it has endorsed 11 more openly LGBT candidates for public office, including Dr. Dana Beyer, whose 2010 election would make her the first openly transgender state legislator in U.S. history.

The newly-endorsed candidates are:

Brian Bates–Doraville, Georgia City Council
Dana Beyer–Maryland House of Delegates (2010 race)
David Carden–Palm Springs, California City Council
Steve Camara–Mayor, Fall Rivers, Massachusetts
Ginny Foat–Palm Springs, California City Council
Matt Haag–Rochester, New York City Council
Dave Kaplan–Des Moines, Washington City Council
Joe Lacey–Dayton, Ohio Board of Education
Lori Schreiber–Abington, Pennsylvania City Council
Dawn Segal–Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Municipal Court Judge
Barbara Smith–Albany, New York Common Council

Go to www.victoryfund.org to learn more about these candidates and how you can help their campaigns.

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has endorsed Charles Pugh for Detroit City Council’s August 4 primary election, according to The Detroit News.  Rep. Conyers made the announcement on behalf of the Democratic Party of the 14th congressional district, which represents the City of Detroit and surrounding areas.

Victory Fund endorsee Charles Pugh has already secured the endorsement of outgoing city councilwoman Sheila Cockrel, who has announced that she thinks Charles is the best person to replace her.

If Charles is elected, he will become the first openly LGBT person elected to the city council of Detroit, a top 50 U.S. city.

For more information on Charles Pugh’s candidacy, click here.

Houston City Controller Annise Parker yesterday posted substantial fundraising results for the period ending June 30 in the race to be the city’s next mayor.  Parker reported more individual donors than any of her opponents, an achievement one local campaign consultant said proves “she’s probably one of the scrappiest grass-roots fighters we’ve seen in Houston politics in recent years.”

Parker, a Victory Fund-endorsed candidate, faces at least one millionaire candidate, Peter Brown, who is writing his own checks to his campaign.  The Houston Chronicle reported:

University of Houston political scientist Richard Murray said Brown may need the money more than his opponents, who both have clearer paths to victory.

Murray said Parker will likely enjoy the support of Houston’s progressive community and Locke that of African-Americans, but Brown’s base is less clear. The X factor could be the city’s conservative voters, he said.

“This is a very up-for-grabs race,” Murray said. “Nobody has any idea where it’s going to go.”

For more information about how you can help Annise Parker’s campaign, go here.

Palm Springs, Calif., Mayor Steve Pougnet, who is running for Congress next year, is among 15 new endorsements of openly gay and lesbian political candidates announced today by the Victory Fund.  The other 14 candidates are:

Toni Atkins–California State Assembly, District 76 (2010 election)

Jay Barth–Arkansas State Senate, District 34 (2010 election)

Adam Brackman–Atlanta City Council

Todd Connor–Water Reclamation District of Chicago Commission (2010 election)

Michael Gongora–Miami Beach Commission

Rob Holland–Seattle Port Commission

Sharyn Keiser–New Hope City Council, Pennsylvania

Jeff Kingsbury–Olympia City Council, WA

Sandra Kurt–Akron City Council, OH

Sue Lovell–Houston City Council, TX

Sherry Roberts–Miami Beach Commission

Mark Tumeo–Cleveland Heights City Council, OH

Kyle Williams–Decatur City Commission, GA
Jack Zatz–Marlboro Township Council, NJ