BUILDING LGBT LEADERS

GAY AND LESBIAN VICTORY INSTITUTE

2 3

LGBT LEADERS

You can help build a new generation of leaders.

Thanks to partners like you, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute has cultivated,

trained, and connected thousands of out and proud LGBT Americans seeking to

serve in politics, government, business, and advocacy since 1993.

There are a few things you should know about us and our mission:

WE ARE OUT TO WINWe believe that all people – gay, straight or transgender – deserve leadership

that represents our country in all its diversity. The Institute trains the LGBT

leaders who are making our voices heard, taking our seats at the table, and

strengthening our democracy and society.

WE ARE MAKING HISTORYThe progress the LGBT community has made in just a few decades is

astounding. When the Institute began, there were fewer than 50 openly

LGBT elected officials nationwide; twenty years later, there are more than

500 – and we’re just getting started.

WE ARE A POWERFUL FORCEThe New York Times calls the Institute a “powerful force” in American pol-

itics because we provide efficient, effective, innovative training to some

of the most ambitious, talented and committed leaders our nation has to

offer – a new generation of out LGBT leaders.

Read the stories of the leaders we’ve trained, the people we’ve touched,

the community we’ve built, the cause of equality we’ve fought for – and

take action:

DONATE NOW to Victory Institute, so we can make sure LGBT leaders

represent us in every state, at every level.

PARTICIPATE by signing up for one of our programs, and spread the

word about our work.

CONNECT with Victory, and give our community a powerful voice in

decisions that affect our lives.

Chuck Wolfe, President and CEOGay & Lesbian Victory Institute

and THOSE LEADERS NEED YOU

ARE CHANGING THE WORLD

4 5

WE ARE TAKING OUR PLACE

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute is a unique, non-partisan 501(c)3

organization with one purpose: to increase the number of openly LGBT

elected and appointed officials at every level across America and

the world.

HOW DO WE DO IT? By vetting, cultivating, and training the most committed, most talented

out LGBT leaders our country has to offer.

WHY DO WE DO IT? Because our voices have value. LGBT Americans deserve a seat at the

table, a vote in the halls of power – and the opportunity to serve our

country and strengthen our communities.

BECOME A SUPPORTER TODAYThe Institute is supported by the generous donations of individuals,

foundations and corporations who share our commitment to making

sure LGBT Americans have a voice in every debate, and a seat at every

table. Their generosity makes it possible for us to return their invest-

ment with LGBT leaders in office, in the boardroom, and in public life.

Help us prepare LGBT leaders to run, fight and win. Contact us at

victoryinstitute.org/donate »

SUPPORT TOMORROW’S LGBT LEADERS TODAY

VICTORY BY THE NUMBERS

1,000% – the growth in out LGBT elected officials in 20 years 100% – the percentage of your contribution that is tax-deductible 92¢ – the amount of every dollar we receive that supports our programs

6 7

You want to run for office. You have the ambition, the talent, and the commitment.

We can give you the skills, the guidance, and the connections you need to succeed.

That’s why the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute runs workshops for LGBT candi-

dates nationwide, teaching our trainees how to build winning campaigns from the

ground up.

During our four-day basic training, participants will:

LEARN from some of the country’s best political strategists

WORK with your peers on complex campaign simulations

PRACTICE hands-on skills in media relations, voter contact, and

campaign strategy

CONNECT with other LGBT candidates who support each other

Do you want to run for office? Or make sure more openly LGBT

candidates serve at every level? That’s why we’re here.

Learn more at victoryinstitute.org/training »

TAKE PART in CANDIDATE and CAMPAIGN TRAINING

RUN. DON’T HIDE.

COME OUT — ON YOUR TERMSCOMING OUT TOOLKIT

Victory Institute has a Coming Out Toolkit that guides LGBT public servants through the planning and execution of coming out strategies that help, not hurt, careers and communities.

LUPE VALDEZ SHERIFF, DALLAS COUNTY, TX

Lupe Valdez worked hard to achieve her dream of

protecting lives and property as a police officer. But

when she wanted to run for Sheriff of Dallas County,

she was faced with a new challenge.

“My victory began with the expert Candidate

and Campaign Training I received through the

Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute, which provid-

ed the guidance, skills, and support I needed

to run for a seat that no woman had ever won

– let alone a lesbian woman.”

8 9

1974

The first openly LGBT candidates win office in Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota.

Harvey Milk is elected to office in San Fran-cisco, leads a statewide effort to help defeat anti-gay legislation, and pioneers out LGBT politics.

1977

OUR HISTORY OF LEADERS

10 11

MEET, TRAIN & CONNECT

You are not alone. You have a community.

You have a network of brothers and sisters across the country – and

the world – to help you, guide you, teach you, and keep you connected.

And every year, they come to one place.

The International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference attracts hun-

dreds of openly LGBT officials from around the world to connect,

exchange ideas, and develop their leadership skills.

Register. Sponsor. Speak. Share. Listen. Learn more at

victoryinstitute.org/conference »

MARY WASHINGTON DELEGATE, MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Mary Washington is the first African-American lesbian elected

to the Maryland House of Delegates, where she has been

instrumental in leading the fight for gay marriage.

“I look forward to the Conference, because it’s so good

to know you’re not alone. It is different running as a gay

or lesbian candidate, and seeing and meeting other

people from around the country and the world, it buoys

you. Thanks to the people I’ve met there, I’m more

involved and I’m keeping in touch with other trainees,

creating a group to go back to the Conference.”

INTERNATIONAL GAY and LESBIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The world’s openly LGBT elected officials meet for the first time – an international conference of only a “few dozen” lesbian and gay leaders.

1984

WITH THE WORLD’S LGBT LEADERS

12 13

THE HARVARD DAVID BOHNETT GAY and LESBIAN LEADERSHIP FELLOWSYou’re a public servant, but you’re not satisfied. You want to learn best

practices, meet the most talented peers in your field, and one of the

world’s elite universities – Harvard.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute has partnered with the David Bohnett

Foundation since 2002 to send the best-qualified LGBT leaders to

the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local

Government program. In our first ten years, the number of Bohnett

fellows has increased by over 500%.

Apply for the David Bohnett Fellowship, or learn more at

victoryinstitute.org/bohnett »

Rep. Barney Frank comes out, the second mem-ber of Congress to do so.

1987

BLAKE OSHIRO FORMER MAJORITY LEADER, HAWAII HOUSE

OF REPRESENTATIVES

A State Representative in Hawaii for nine years, Blake was

looking for an opportunity to bring his career to the next level –

and the Bohnett Fellowship made that possible.

“Coming to this program gives you the opportunity

to question and reflect on why you ran, what you’re

doing, and whether there is more you could be doing

to affect changes that are needed for society.”

CONNECTION

14 15

You have the talent to serve at the highest levels of the federal govern-

ment. The commitment. The experience.

You’re ready for the Presidential Appointments Program, a talent bank

of the most skilled out LGBT Americans ready to lead our nation.

Through the Project, hundreds of LGBT leaders have been appointed

to posts in the Obama Administration – more out leaders than in every

other administration in American history combined.

Learn more at victoryinstitute.org/presidential »

JOHN BERRY DIRECTOR, U.S. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

Keynote speech at the International Gay & Lesbian Leadership

Conference, 2009

“The President did not name these people just because

they are LGBT. He named them because they are the

best and the most qualified people for these jobs.”

LEADING AT

PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS PROJECT

Sherry Harris becomes the first openly lesbian African-American elected to public office.

1991

THE HIGHEST LEVEL

16 17

JAE HENDERSON UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

Internship: Office of Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)

“Being in D.C., a part of this internship – it’s opened my

eyes and expanded my network to so many I never

thought I’d ever come in contact with.”

You’re passionate about changing America, but you don’t know how to begin. You

need the connections to start a career in public service. We can help.

Each semester, we select an elite group of outstanding LGBT college students

from across the country for an intensive leadership program – the Victory Congres-

sional Internship, or VCI.

VCI is not about making copies or getting coffee. After an eight-week internship

with a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, interns also benefit

from a career development program and perform a community service project.

VCI alumni emerge prepared to become informed, connected decision-makers

and influential leaders who can change their communities and our world.

Apply for the Victory Congressional Internship, or learn more at

victoryinstitute.org/vci »

VICTORY CONGRESSIONAL INTERNSHIP

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute begins training future candidates and campaign work-ers to help LGBT leaders achieve careers in public service.

1993

YOUNG LEADERS A HEAD START

GIVE OUR BEST

18 19

Ed Flanagan becomes the first openly LGBT candidate elected to a statewide office, winning his race for State Auditor in Vermont.

1996

1998

Tammy Baldwin becomes the first openly LGBT candidate to win a seat in Congress as a non-incumbent. Jim Kolbe becomes the first openly gay Republican to win election to Congress.

James Hormel becomes the first openly LGBT American appointed to represent the U.S. as an ambassador.

1999

KEEP INFORMED

Leaders need quick access to key information. The Gay Politics Report

is a must-read news resource for more than 20,000 readers around

the world, and with its active job board, a first stop for those looking

for careers throughout the LGBT movement.

GAY POLITICS REPORT

20 21

2009

Annise Parker makes history by winning election as Mayor of Houston, Tx. – the nation’s fourth-largest city.

New York becomes the sixth state to pass marriage equality legislation. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is repealed.

2011

WE MADE OUR VOICES HEARD.

WE TOOK OUR SEATS AT THE TABLE.

WE DEMANDED AN EQUAL CHANCE AT THE AMERICAN DREAM.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN.

WHAT COMES NEXT is UP TO YOU

Massachusetts introduces equal marriage. Openly LGBT candidates win office nation-wide, including Idaho and Texas.

2004 2008

Victory Institute launches the Presidential Appointments Project, leading to the more than 200 out LGBT leaders serving in the Obama Administration – more than in every other administration combined.

WE WROTE OUR OWN HISTORY —

22 23

WE ARE OUT TO WINThe Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute is changing America’s politics.

We train, cultivate and connect a new generation of openly LGBT

leaders who fight for equality and serve their communities nation-

wide.

WE ARE WINNINGWe’ve trained hundreds of LGBT leaders to run for office, and con-

nected thousands more. Since we started, the number of out LGBT

public officials has risen from fewer than 50 to more than 500.

WE ARE HERE TO STAYAs successful as we’ve been, we know our fight for equality is not

over. Victory is training leaders who will keep fighting for rights all

Americans deserve – gay, straight or transgender.

DONATE NOW to Victory Institute, so we can continue to raise the

voice of LGBT leadership.

PARTICIPATE by signing up for one of our programs, and spread the

word about our work.

CONNECT with our community, and be a part of the new generation

of out LGBT leaders changing the nation.

WE BUILD LGBT

BE a LEADER

LEADERS

Paid for and authorized by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute.Contributions or gifts to the Victory Institute are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

WRITE TO US1133 15th Street NW, Suite 350,

Washington, DC 20005

CALL US 202.567.3320

VISIT US ONLINE www.victoryinstitute.org