Record Number of Gay Candidates Running in 2007

[Kurtz]

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has announced ten new endorsements, increasing the organization's number of supported candidates to 71 for the 2007 political season. The number sets a new record for an odd-numbered year -- years in which there are no scheduled federal elections. Of the 71 candidates endorsed this year, 45 still face a general election on November 6.

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, said the breakthrough year is another sign gays and lesbians are embracing the power of participating fully in the decision making process by getting elected to public office. "Our community increasingly understands that politics is a path to equality," said Wolfe. "Having a place at the table of power also means we have an equal voice and an equal vote. That's long overdue, and it leads to real change."

"In 2007, dozens of pro-equality laws were passed in cities and states where openly gay elected officials served as powerful examples for their colleagues. Being there makes a difference," Wolfe said. The Victory Fund expects to endorse more than 100 candidates in 2008.

Six states still have no openly LGBT elected officials at any level of government: Alaska, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina and West Virginia. Tennessee came off the list this year when Keith Durbin was elected to the Nashville City Council. In addition to those six states, 13 others have no openly LGBT members of their state legislatures, including Florida and Pennsylvania.

The ten newly-endorsed candidates are:
Justin Armintrout -- City Council, Missoula, MT
Brian Bates -- City Council. Doraville, GA
Michelle Bruce -- City Council, Riverdale, GA
Jonathan Cote -- School Board, Manchester, NH
Frank Ferri -- State Representative, Warwick, RI
Lydia Lavelle -- Board of Alderman, Carrboro, NC
Steve Pougnet -- Mayor of Palm Springs, CA
William "Bill" Schmidt -- Mayor of Peekskill, NY
Jass Stewart -- Mayor of Brockton, MA
Patrick Wojahn -- City Council, College Park, MD

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is the only national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT elected officials, and the nation's largest LGBT political action committee. Since its founding in 1991, the Victory Fund has helped to grow the number of out officials from 49 to more than 380.

For more information and a full list of endorsed candidates, go to http://www.victoryfund.org/.


Record Number of Gay Candidates Running in 2007 (http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2007/10/record-number-of-gay-candidates-running.html)

[Kurtz]

Gay candidates victorious across the U.S.

Wed, Nov 21st 2007, 13:02

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Dozens of openly gay and lesbian candidates running in municipal and state legislative races across the country won their elections Tuesday, according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Of the record 71 candidates endorsed by the group in 2007, at least 31 won their races on Tuesday, while 10 were elected earlier this year. At least three more endorsed candidates received enough votes to advance to runoff elections.

Victory Fund president and CEO Chuck Wolfe said the growing number of out candidates demonstrates the gay community’s increasing involvement in electoral politics. “This is the path to change. We are not content to sit on the sidelines and hope that others do the right thing for our community. We will step up and lead the fight for a more equal and fair America, and we will win,” Wolfe said.

The Victory Fund’s 71 endorsements set a new record for an odd-numbered year in which there are no scheduled federal elections. In 2006, the group endorsed 88 candidates and it expects to endorse more than 100 candidates in 2008, according to Wolfe. He added that planning has already begun for next year’s races.

“2008 will be another record-breaking year for gay candidates, and they’ll need help to counter the inevitable attacks from anti-gay hate groups. We’ll be ready to fight,” Wolfe said.

Among the highlights Tuesday:

Joel Burns, a candidate for the Fort Worth, Tex., City Council advanced to a December runoff election as the top vote-getter after being subject to anti-gay smears from an opponent.
Craig Covey won his race for mayor of Ferndale, Mich., becoming the first openly gay mayor elected in the state of Michigan.
Michelle Bruce, an openly transgender incumbent on the Riverdale, Ga., City Council was the top vote-getter in her race and advances to a runoff election.
New Jersey State Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, who became the state’s first openly LGBT state legislator when he came out publicly during his current term, won re-election to his seat.
Jeffrey Anderson was elected to the Duluth City Council, becoming the first openly gay elected official in northern Minnesota.
Tim Eustace won his race for mayor of Maywood, N.J.
Brian Bates, won a seat on the Doraville, Ga., City Council, becoming the first openly gay Republican ever to win office in the state.
Lydia Lavelle won a seat on the Carrboro, N.C., Board of Aldermen, becoming the seventh openly LGBT candidate ever elected in the state.

Winning candidates Tuesday night include (alphabetical by state):

CA Steve Pougnet--Palm Springs Mayor
CA Ruth Atkin--Vice Mayor-Emeryville,CA (i)
CA Henry Lo--Garvey School District Board of Education (i)
CO Karen Kellen--Lakewood City Council
CT Mike Pohl--Manchester Board of Education
CT Adam Gutcheon--Windsor Board of Education (i)
GA Lance Rhodes--East Point City Council (i)
GA Kecia Cunningham--Decatur City Commissioner (i)
GA Brian Bates--Doraville City Council
MA Joe DeMedeiros--New Bedford City Council (i)
MA Denise Simmons--Cambridge City Council (i)
MA Timothy Purington--Holyoke City Council
MD Patrick Wojahn--College Park City Council
MI Craig Covey--Mayor-Ferndale
MN Greg Lemke--Moorhead City Council (i)
MN Jeffrey Anderson--Duluth City Council
NC Lydia Lavelle--Carrboro Alderman
NH Jonathan Cote--Manchester School Board
NJ Reed Gusciora--NJ General Assembly
NJ Randy Bishop--Neptune Township (i)
NJ Timothy Eustace--Mayor- Maywood,NJ
NY Jon Cooper--Suffolk County Legislator (i)
NY Debra Silber--Judge, NYC Civil Court (i)
NY Ken Zalewski--Troy City Council
PA Geri Delevich--New Hope Borough City Council (i)
PA Bruce Kraus—Pittsburgh City Council
TX Sue Lovell--Houston City Council (i)
TX Annise Parker--Houston Controller (i)
WA Tom Rasmussen--Seattle City Council (i)
WA Sally Clark--Seattle City Council (i)
VA Adam Ebbin--Virginia House of Delegates (i)

(i) = incumbent
Other races are too close to call. For up-to-date election results for all endorsed candidates, go to www.victoryfund.org.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is the only national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender public officials at all levels of government. It is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee. Since its founding in 1991, the Victory Fund has helped grow the number of out elected officials from just 49 to nearly 400 in the United States. For more information, visit www.victoryfund.org.



www.victoryfund.org (http://www.victoryfund.org/news/view/url:gay_candidates_victorious_across_the_u_s)

[cassandra]

Very interesting. Can you give me some feedback on your thoughts on this?

To me this seems more like racism. :shrug I guess I just see it in the same vein of something that would be promoting only black candidates.

Am I alone in those thoughts.

I appologize if this is not the place to ask these questoins.

[issac the dragon]

Years ago, in the 70's and 80's, when they started coming out, cities all over the country found that they had gays and lesbians working for them. And many volunteers. Horrified, the cities asked the gays and lesbians to leave. They did. No one likes to be where they're not wanted.

Soon, the cities noticed nothing was getting done. So they put pressure on the fine upstanding pillars of the communities, and found they were to busy to do the work. They had piano recitals, football games, etc, that they had to attend. And birthday parties.

Quietly, they asked the gays and lesbians to come back. They were better educated. Concerned about the cities they lived in. Hard working. And often volunteered. Many if not most had no children or grandchildren to keep them to busy. But mostly, they cared.

I am proud that the gays and lesbians today are sometimes able to run for office openly. And I hope many more will in the future.

[cassandra]

Issac I am very glad that lesbian's and gay's feel like they can run in major races and that they can be in society like others.

It is a private group and they can support who they want. I fully respect that. I am just thinking is this really equality? :shrug

[issac the dragon]

Sandi Claus, I don't think that every time a group supports themselves it is discrimination.

The military support the military, Boy Scouts do it. The ABA sends out lists every years promoting lawyers and judges. Emily's List is another.

I think that to be discriminatory, they would have to be saying, elect these people because they are gay/lesbian, and that makes them better people. All the group is doing is pointing out that some people are gay/lesbian. And I'm sure part of the reason they are doing that is to keep the religious right from pointing it out.

[Kurtz]

Sandi Claus, I don't think that every time a group supports themselves it is discrimination.

The military support the military, Boy Scouts do it. The ABA sends out lists every years promoting lawyers and judges. Emily's List is another.

I think that to be discriminatory, they would have to be saying, elect these people because they are gay/lesbian, and that makes them better people. All the group is doing is pointing out that some people are gay/lesbian. And I'm sure part of the reason they are doing that is to keep the religious right from pointing it out.

Bingo!

This group is very non picky about who they support, they just support the idea of promotin' gays to participate in government affairs. I personally cringe when I think about gays who promote Christianity, makes no fuckin' sense to me. This group actually supports candidates who are Republican, makes no sense to me. :shrug

[Wabash]

I'll put my two cents in...I won't be voting for ANY of them!

[cassandra]

Kurtz I think that is interesting too.

Issac very good. Thank you for taking the time to explain your feelings to me.

BTW I feel the same way about all things of this nature. I feel the same when I see Jewish people wanting to be treated the same and then they set up lots of organizations to make sure everyone knows they are Jewish.

I can see wanting to be up front about it. I cannot stand when politicians talk about things that are unimportant in politics.

[Kurtz]

I'll put my two cents in...I won't be voting for ANY of them!

:rofl

You've voted for 'em before,
you just didn't know it! :lmao

[Wabash]

:rofl

You've voted for 'em before,
you just didn't know it! :lmao

I still don't......

[Lone Laugher]

:rofl

You've voted for 'em before,
you just didn't know it! :lmao


Best Case Scenario 2008:

Rudy Giulliani wins Republican nod.

Hillary Clinton wins Democratic nod.

Mitt Romney announces that he is gay.

Wabby's head explodes.

:LL

[Kurtz]

Best Case Scenario 2008:

Rudy Giulliani wins Republican nod.

Hillary Clinton wins Democratic nod.

Mitt Romney announces that he is gay.

Wabby's head explodes.

:LL

:rofl

[issac the dragon]

Some day that rod up Romney's ass is going to snap and who knows what will happen.

[Lone Laugher]

That should have read as follws:


Best Case Scenario 2008:

Rudy Giulliani wins Republican nod.

Hillary Clinton wins Democratic nod.

Rudy Giulliani announces that he is gay.

Wabby's head explodes.

:LL

I suppose Mitt can be Rudy's gay running mate. Even better!

[patriotsblade]

That should have read as follws:




I suppose Mitt can be Rudy's gay running mate. Even better!

I don't know how that would work. You saw the way they went after each other at that CNN debate.

I can imagine conversations between them going something like this. "You suck Mitt." "No you suck Rudy". Rudy whispers in Mitts ear "we both suck."

(Giggles and ass-slapping all around.)

[Oceanbreeze]

Best man or woman for the job. But, I really hope the celebrity parading won't happen. It's tired and played out.



pssst....I'm really happy LookandLearn is banned. He would have a colossal meltdown. :lmao

[crazierthanever]

I'd vote for Jody Foster for anything. She finally came out of the closet. I'm really happy for her.

[Oceanbreeze]

I'd vote for Jody Foster for anything. She finally came out of the closet. I'm really happy for her.

I would vote for her on her credentials alone. Brillant, grounded, and well rounded woman. :paclap

[toxic]

It seems they tend to be another Single Issue voting block that can tip the scales the wrong way for the wrong reason.

FYI, frightened pro-choice Soccer Moms and Gays were the two unexpected voting blocks that pushed George W. Bush to victory in the 2004 election:

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/11/14/who_reelected_bush/?page=2

WHO REELECTED BUSH
By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist

Page 2:
... Bush's advantage came from liberal, urban, or suburban prochoice women who think we were wrong to invade Iraq, rarely if ever go to church, are worried about healthcare, and think the economy is in the toilet. Most of the rest came from gay people, 23 percent of whom helped reelect the president. They are all concerned about terrorism and unsure about Kerry. Go figure, ...

[crazierthanever]

It seems they tend to be another Single Issue voting block that can tip the scales the wrong way for the wrong reason.

FYI, frightened pro-choice Soccer Moms and Gays were the two unexpected voting blocks that pushed George W. Bush to victory in the 2004 election:

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/11/14/who_reelected_bush/?page=2

WHO REELECTED BUSH
By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist

Page 2:
... Bush's advantage came from liberal, urban, or suburban prochoice women who think we were wrong to invade Iraq, rarely if ever go to church, are worried about healthcare, and think the economy is in the toilet. Most of the rest came from gay people, 23 percent of whom helped reelect the president. They are all concerned about terrorism and unsure about Kerry. Go figure, ...

A gay voting block? Be serious! People are just people. Each person has his/her own opinions about a lot of issues. There is no one type of gay or lesbian person.

[issac the dragon]

And how wrong they were. Bush has created 90 America haters for every one killed. Maybe the moral here is that people should vote with their heads, not their cowardly guts.