Representation Matters
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REPRESENTATION MATTERS How Victory Fund, Victory Institute, and LGBT Leaders Are Transforming America By Karen Ocamb Photo on the back of the dust jacket and hard cover: Courtesy of Tammy Baldwin's 2012 Senate Campaign Copyright © 2017 by Victory Fund and Victory Institute All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this work in any form whatsoever without permission in writing from the publisher, except for brief passages in connection with a review. For information, please write: The Donning Company Publishers 731 S. Brunswick Brookfield, MO 64628 Lex Cavanah, General Manager Nathan Stufflebean, Production Supervisor Pamela Koch, Senior Editor Chad Casey, Graphic Designer Katie Gardner, Marketing & Production Coordinator Susan Adams, Project Research Coordinator Dennis Walton and Ed Williams, Project Directors Victory Fund Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBT Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBT officials at all levels of government. Cataloging-in-Publication Data LGBT elected officials are critical voices for change that speak authentically about themselves, [Insert when received from the Library of Congress. If not received in time, ensure ISBN on this page.] their families, and their community. Printed in the United States of America at Walsworth 2 Table of Contents 6 Preface 9 The Courage to Stand Up 14 Turning Point in LGBT Political Power 30 Shattering Lavender Ceilings 57 Power at the Table 76 Transforming Government 93 Developing Future Leaders 108 The Road Ahead Victory Institute 113 Bill Beck Dedication Victory Institute works to achieve full equality for LGBT people by building, supporting, and advancing a diverse network of LGBT public leaders through training and professional 116 Donors development programs. It assists hundreds of leaders who influence government and politics for the betterment of LGBT people. 117 Acknowledgments Celebrations and protests outside San Francisco City Hall as Del Martin and Phyliss Lyon get married. Courtesy of Nick Gorton, via Wikimedia Commons How did that happen? It might seem simple: LGBT people, elected officials, the effect of perpetrating a more general premise—now emphatically rejected by this and political appointees stood up and claimed full marriage equality. But nothing state—that gay individuals and same-sex couples are in some respect ‘second-class about achieving civil rights is simple—it requires strategy, courage, and a core citizens,’” George wrote in the May 15, 2008, decision that enabled Newstat and Susan determination to serve a greater communal good, especially in tough times, like Lowenberg and thousands of other same-sex couples to be legally married that year. 2004, when the conservative right wing seemed hell-bent on demeaning or erasing But this is why political representation matters: as Victory Institute research Courtesy of Nick Amoscato the LGBT community. shows, knowing an openly LGBT elected official or appointee impacts the humanity “Obviously gay marriage was not one of our 21 policy papers, but I’m really proud in non-LGBT colleagues. After the courts stopped the ability of same-sex couples to to have been at the table when the decision was made to” grant marriage licenses, marry, marriage equality could have subsided and lain dormant as the issue wound its Newstat, then Victory Institute board chair, told Hub Bay Area on September 27, way through the courts. But out elected officials in California and around the country 2011. “I worked really, really hard on that with Mayor Newsom and my colleagues. I’m were fired up and ready to fight. In California, despite politicos calling him “crazy,” gay Preface proud of the fact that not only my own life was impacted . but an entire community.” Assembly member Mark Leno introduced a marriage equality bill in 2005 and organized The images and stories of loving couples seeking recognition for their relationships its passage by the state legislature—the first such legislative effort in the nation. Gov. “What the hell did you just do?” California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom recalls his Recorder Mabel Teng officiate at the wedding of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, who touched the humanity in non-LGBT people, including California Supreme Court Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed that marriage equality bill and another bill two years later. fellow politicians asking him in 2004 when, as mayor of San Francisco, he ordered had been together for fifty-one years. Some politicians said same-sex marriage was Chief Justice Ronald George, who watched the couples line up in the rain, waiting to But the debate had changed. Suddenly, the once unthinkable was achievable the issuance of marriage licenses to thousands of same-sex couples in response to “too much, too fast, too soon,” Newsom told the Los Angeles Times on June 26, 2015, get into San Francisco City Hall. He wrote the majority opinion for the consolidated through legislation and efforts by openly LGBT officials and their allies. Indeed, President George W. Bush calling for a federal constitutional amendment banning on the day the United States Supreme Court ordered marriage equality for same-sex lawsuit that resulted from that 2004 resistance of “love warriors.” retired Laguna, California–based political consultant Fred Karger felt so inspired by same-sex marriage. Newsom and his out policy director, Joyce Newstat, orchestrated couples in all fifty states. To honor that day, the White House lit up with rainbow “Retaining the designation of marriage exclusively for opposite-sex couples and the prospects of full equality, he sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2012 as the tipping point for marriage equality in California—including having Assessor- colors and tweeted: “America should be very proud. #LoveWins.” providing only a separate and distinct designation for same-sex couples may well have an out gay Jewish Republican. 6 Preface 7 President & CEO Aisha C. Moodie- Mills with 2016 The Courage to Stand Up Victory Institute Congressional Interns on Capitol Hill. Few people today remember that the 1969 Stonewall Gay activist Jim Yeadon, twenty-six, a University of Rebellion resulted from total vexation with routine police Wisconsin graduate and lawyer, was first appointed to raids and abusive treatment from a society that deemed the Madison City Council in 1976, then elected in 1977. homosexuality “evil,” “perverse,” and literally a crime Rick Trombly and Jim Splaine were elected to the New against nature. But some brave souls risked humiliation, Hampshire House of Representatives in 1978 and state beatings, and death threats to live an open, authentic senate in 1979, respectively, and re-elected thereafter, life—and believed change came through public service reflecting the state’s “Live Free or Die” values. In 1989, and the ballot box. Keith St. John became the first openly gay black person elected to public office, winning a seat as alderman in the EARLY LEADERS city of Albany, New York, where he served for eight years. Jose Julio Sarria, aka “the Widow Norton,” a famous drag performer at Black Cat Café and founder of the Imperial Court, ran for San Francisco Supervisor in 1961. Sarria garnered roughly 6,000 votes in a citywide election with thirty-four candidates, demonstrating to shocked politicians that there was a consolidated gay constituency. During a 2015 Jose Julio Sarria effort to have Sarria named to the California Hall of Fame, San Diego City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, chair and executive director of the International Court Council, called Sarria the “Rosa Parks of the gay rights movement.” In 1974, Kathy Kozachenko ran on a platform to enforce the city’s On November 8, 2016, the unthinkable happened again. In the blink of We are closer to achieving the promise of the American Dream—full equality human rights ordinance protecting gay an election, all the stunning progress on LGBT rights and equality over the past in a progressive democracy—but much work remains. This book shows how, despite people in housing and employment, two decades seemed in jeopardy with the conservative Republican takeover of the incredible odds, disappointments, and setbacks, we endure, survive, and thrive. and won a seat on the Ann Arbor presidency and both chambers of Congress. And yet there was a bright patch of blue Here we aspire to tell the story of how LGBT people have successfully stepped City Council in Michigan, replacing nudging through the dark pall in a deeply divided country: bisexual Kate Brown was up to use the political and electoral process to secure civil rights for ourselves and the Nancy Wechsler who came out while elected governor of Oregon, and 87 of Victory Fund’s 135 endorsed candidates won next generation. Assuming its awesome and honorable responsibility, Victory Fund serving. Kozachenko became the first their races. and Victory Institute offer hope and guidance for the next step and a new day. openly gay person to be elected to This book is a pictorial essay celebrating the twenty-five years that Victory public office in America. Another Fund and Victory Institute have encouraged, supported, and trained LGBT leaders, Karen Ocamb, LGBT journalist, December 2016 Midwesterner, Allan Spear, was appointees, and aspiring and successful candidates for elective office. Importantly, it elected state senator in Minneapolis, is also the story of the LGBT leaders Victory Fund and Victory Institute supported Minnesota, in 1972, came out in and continue to support, as they