Just two weeks into the new year, the Victory Fund announced today it has already endorsed 36 openly LGBT candidates for 2010 races, with dozens more to come before November.

The newly-endorsed candidates include two, running  in Michigan and Ohio, who would become their state’s only openly LGBT state legislators.  In Arkansas, Jay Barth could become that state’s first openly gay state senator, and in Alabama State Rep. Patricia Todd will be fighting to keep her seat.  This is Todd’s first re-election campaign since she became the state’s first-ever openly LGBT elected official in a nail-biter of a race in 2006.

The Victory Fund’s deputy political director, Shawn Werner, said the large number of early applications for endorsement could mean another banner year for openly LGBT political candidates:  ”I think more out candidates have decided to run, and clearly more of them understand that lining up support early is crucial.  I’m excited about the year ahead.”

For a regularly updated list of endorsed candidates, go to the Victory Fund’s Web site.

In 2006, the Victory Fund helped elect  Patricia Todd as the first openly LGBT elected official in Alabama. Now, after her first term, Todd has been named 2008’s Freshman Legislator of the Year by the Alabama House Democratic Caucus.

In presenting the award, Rep. Ken Guin, majority leader of the House, spoke of Todd’s “passion for the people she serves — particularly those in poverty — and the issues that face her District.”

Rep. Todd has won bipartisan support and praise for her work in establishing Alabama’s first Poverty Task Force and for her sponsorship of a permanent Alabama Poverty Commission.  Her efforts and leadership in this work has spurred the creation of numerous legislative initiatives including a bill that she will introduce in the coming session that dedicates a State funding source for public transportation and another calling for the creation of the state’s first Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

In addition to these bills, Representative Todd remains committed to improving the lives of those in her District.  “Despite how frustrating the work can be at times,” she noted, “I have no doubt that we are making progress.  I am honored by this recognition and remain committed toward building coalitions in Montgomery while bringing viable solutions to the table for those I am privileged to serve.”

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford won’t stand in the way of plans for next month’s gay pride parade, but he will not sign a proclamation for the celebration or allow banners on city property. According to The Birmingham News, previous mayors have quietly signed the proclamation and permitted the banners.

Openly lesbian state Rep. Patricia Todd spoke with Langford about his position on the parade, which is sponsored by Central Alabama Pride.

“We don’t agree on everything, but I still want to maintain a relationship and have an open dialog with him,” Todd told the News.

Langford justified his decision by saying it was inappropriate for the government to endorse a lifestyle.

“I thought I had stated my position very clearly. If I were to sign the permit to put up banners on city right of ways I would be condoning that which I don’t condone,” he said. “To give a proclamation is totally under the purview of the mayor.”

Openly lesbian Alabama state Rep. Patricia Todd helped usher two pro-gay bills through the Alabama House of Representatives on the same day earlier this month. While Todd’s presence in the legislature has been called “transformative” by Equality Alabama Executive Director Danny Upton, the legislation now moves to the state’s Senate where one of the bills is scheduled to be voted on today.

The bill scheduled to go to a vote today would add sexual orientation to the state’s hate crimes law. The other bill, which passed unanimously, aimed to reduce bullying in schools.

The hate crimes law passed by a vote of 46-44, with a pivotal vote being cast by Republican Rep. Pat Moore. Moore sits behind Todd in the House chamber and broke party lines to pass the bill.

“She’s very open-minded and is not someone who always votes along party lines, and I don’t either,” Todd told the Southern Voice. Todd called Moore a friend but said she wasn’t sure if their friendship influenced her vote.

The Southern Voice reported that a quiet campaign to pass the bills was effective. The paper reports:

Todd and gay activists conducted a mostly stealth campaign to pass both bills, “depending on the relationships we’ve built in the legislature the last couple of years,” said Todd, who was elected in 2006.

“When [the hate crimes bill] came up in the House, nobody spoke,” Todd said. The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Alvin Holmes (D-Montgomery), waited until just before the bill was introduced to alert his key supporters that it was pending with the hopes of preventing conservatives from rallying against the bill, Todd said.

Opting for a quiet strategy over media campaigns and constituent mobilization allows gay rights proponents to make progress without conservative lawmakers enduring serious political pressure in their districts, Todd said.

“I think most lawmakers are not strongly opposed to [the hate crimes] bill — they just don’t want to be called out on it,” Todd said. “I hope the national groups will step back and take a look at how we’re operating, and be open to having a little bit more ammunition in our arsenal.”

Victory endorsees Evan Low and Patricia Todd are among a record number of newly elected LGBT standing committee members for the Democratic National Committee.

Low, a council member for Campbell City, and Todd, a state representative in Alabama, were unanimously elected by the DNC’s Executive Committee after being nominated by Chairman Howard Dean.

“These outstanding leaders reflect the great strength, diversity and energy of the Democratic Party, and I’m confident their efforts will ensure our Convention in Denver is reflective of our shared values and our nominee’s vision for America,” said Dean