Minnesota State Sen. Paul Koering, an openly gay Republican who was defeated in a primary election Tuesday, said yesterday he was quitting the GOP and politics.  Koering is one of just three openly gay Republican state legislators currently in office, all of whom are set to leave their seats at the end of this year.  Among the other two, Massachusetts State Sen. Richard Tisei is his party’s nominee for lieutenant governor, while California State Sen. Roy Ashburn is leaving due to term limits.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed just two out Republicans for state house seats so far this cycle, but the group’s deputy political director, James Dozier, said more may be in the pipeline for endorsement soon.

A Republican whose experience in gay politics includes stints with the Log Cabin Republicans and Gill Action, Dozier says the Victory Fund is reaching out to LGBT conservatives to make sure they understand there are resources available to help them win election to public office.

So why are there so few openly LGBT Republicans in elective office? Continue reading »

Three new members have been elected to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund’s board of directors.  They are:

Emily Giske (New York, N.Y.) (pictured center)—A former political consultant with extensive experience in both national and New York politics, Giske is a lobbyist representing not-for-profit entities, local municipalities and corporations in Albany and New York City.  She is vice-chair of the New York State Democratic Party and was elected to the Democratic National Committee.  Giske married her partner, Anne Washburn, in Provincetown, Mass., last weekend.

Gabriel Catone (New York, N.Y. and Los Angeles, Calf.) (pictured right)—Catone is co-founder of Ruth | Catone, a private consultancy for collectors of modern and contemporary art.  In California in 2008, Catone married his partner, Bruce Cohen, the Oscar-winning producer of films such as Milk and American Beauty.

Alex Martinez (Houston, Texas) (pictured left)—Martinez is founder and principal of Versatil Group, offering client representation for government and public relations, business development, fundraising and strategic communication.  In 2009 he organized and chaired “Latinos por Annise,” supporting Annise Parker’s campaign for mayor.  He lives with his partner, David Arpin, in Houston.

Board Chair Mark Burstein said the new directors bring diverse and deep expertise at a pivotal moment for the Victory Fund and its mission.  “With record numbers of LGBT candidates seeking office, both our work and its impact are expanding rapidly.  I am thrilled we will be able to rely on the wisdom and talent of these accomplished individuals to help guide the Victory Fund as we work to change America’s politics,” Burstein said.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund today announced it has endorsed 123 openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates for public office so far in 2010, already surpassing its 2008 total of 111 candidates, the previous record.

Included in the newest slate of candidates is the Victory Fund’s sixth endorsement in a race for the U.S. House of Representatives this year.  Scott Galvin is competing in a crowded Democratic primary to represent Florida’s 17th Congressional District, where he currently serves on the North Miami City Council.

Also endorsed for Congress this year are Steve Pougnet for California’s 45th District, David Cicilline for Rhode Island’s 1st District, Barney Frank for Massachusetts’ 4th District, Tammy Baldwin for Wisconsin’s 2nd District and Jared Polis for Colorado’s 2nd District.

But Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the group, said with more than four months to go until the general election, the Victory Fund isn’t done endorsing candidates yet.

“We’ve already broken our record, but I expect we’re actually going to smash it to bits,” Wolfe said.  “I think people are tired of being misrepresented by extremist politicians who lie about the LGBT community.  So we’ve been blessed this year with an amazing number of qualified, experienced people who are willing to run for office and tell the truth about themselves, about their families and about how fair-minded most Americans really are.”

Since 1991, the Victory Fund has helped to grow the number of openly LGBT elected officials serving in office in the U.S. from 49 to nearly 500.  It’s endorsement means candidates are recommended to a national network of donors, and they also receive expert campaign and technical advice from an experienced political staff.

A map of currently-endorsed candidates is available here.

For more information, visit victoryfund.org.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), speaking to some 700 supporters of the Victory Fund at the group’s annual fundraising brunch in Washington yesterday, said the LGBT community will win full equality in America, but not unless we keep fighting hard for it.

“We’re gonna win this battle, there’s no question. … I know people are frustrated, ‘Well, we’re always fighting.’ Of course we’re always fighting, because we have taken on a major task: eradicating one of the great prejudices of human history.  So, of course, we’re going to keep fighting until it’s all over,” said Frank.

Frank also urged the community to focus on politics as a means to achieve their goals, and said helping to elect more openly LGBT candidates is an effective way to change the minds that still need to be changed.

“Legislating is a very personal business.  Prejudice is literally ignorance. It is people prejudging based on a stereotype that substitutes for reality. Reality undermines that. So, the more they see us, the better it is,” Frank said.

Also appearing at the brunch yesterday, Houston Mayor Annise Parker urged attendees to support local LGBT candidates for offices such as city council and school board, explaining that’s how most higher-profile elected officials get their start in politics.

Read more about the event at Metro Weekly.

Seventy-six openly LGBT political candidates have been endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund so far this year—an unusually high number this early in the election cycle, suggesting the group could support a record number of candidates in 2010.  Among the endorsees are five candidates for the U.S. Congress, two for statewide office and 35 state legislative candidates.

“We’re proud that more LGBT Americans are stepping up to run for public office and refusing to wait for others to lead.  When they win, many more of our authentic voices will be in positions of real power, and our democracy will be strengthened.  This is good for the LGBT community and good for our country,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund.

Current endorsees include: Nickie Antonio, a Democrat running for the Ohio State House; David Cicilline, a Democrat running for Congress from Rhode Island; Dave Coulter, a Democrat running for the Michigan State Senate; Lucia Guzman, a Democrat running for the Colorado State Senate; and Richard Tisei, a Republican running for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.

For a full list of currently endorsed candidates, go here.