LGBTQ Victory Fund

{{Short description|United States political action committee}} {{more citations needed|date=December 2009}} {{Use American English|date=April 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox organization | name = LGBTQ+ Victory Fund<ref name="merged1">{{cite tweet |author=LGBTQ+ Victory Fund |user=VictoryFund |number=1630956633848270848 |date=March 1, 2023 |title=Allow us to reintroduce ourselves. Hello 👋 We're LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the only national organization that recruits, trains and supports LGBTQ+ candidates at every level of government across the U.S. Join us today at https://t.co/vKxAzIq1qW https://t.co/mV4GqHv64E |language=en |access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref> | logo = Fund-logo-Navy-Blue.png | type = [[527 group]] | founded = 1991 | founder = | location = [[Washington, D.C.]] | origins = | key_people = [[Evan Low]] (President and CEO) Richard Holt ([[Chair (official)|Chair]]) Chris Abele ([[Chair (official)|Chair]]) Campbell Spencer ([[:wiktionary:vice-|Vice]]-Chair) Mattheus Stephens ([[Secretary]]) Chrys Lemon ([[Treasurer]]) | region_served = | product = | focus = [[LGBTQ]] [[politician]]s | method = [[Political endorsement]] [[Fundraising]] | revenue = | endowment = | num_volunteers = | num_employees = | num_members = | subsib = | owner = | website = {{URL|http://www.victoryfund.org/}} | dissolved = | footnotes = | former_name = Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund }} '''LGBTQ+ Victory Fund''' (formerly the '''Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund''' and '''LGBTQ Victory Fund'''),<ref name="merged1"/> commonly shortened to '''Victory Fund''', is an American [[political action committee]] dedicated to increasing the number of out [[LGBT|LGBTQ+]] public officials in the [[United States]]. Victory Fund is the largest LGBTQ+ political action committee in the United States and one of the nation's largest non-connected PACs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://victoryfund.org/ |title=Homepage |website=Victory Fund |access-date=April 11, 2021}}</ref>

==Background== LGBTQ+ Victory Fund was founded in 1991 as a non-partisan political action committee. It provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer candidates and officials across the United States running for all levels of government. Its partner organization, Victory Institute, offers programs and training to elected officials.<ref name="ballotpedia.org">{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Gay_%26_Lesbian_Victory_Fund|title=Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund|website=Ballotpedia|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref>

To be considered for endorsement, candidates must identify as LGBTQ+, demonstrate community support and a realistic plan to win, demonstrate support of federal, state or local efforts to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights via the legislative or regulatory process, and demonstrate support of federal, state or local efforts to safeguard privacy and reproductive freedom. These requirements are less stringent for judicial endorsements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://southfloridagaynews.com/Local/victory-fund-gearing-up-for-elections.html|title=Victory Fund Gearing Up For Elections|first=John|last=McDonald|website=southfloridagaynews.com|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref>

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund employs a tiered system of endorsements. The categories are: "Game Changer," designating candidates who can become historic firsts and directly impact LGBTQ+ representation in the highest levels of government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.hudsonvalley.com/fray/2018/07/27/lgbt-victory-fund-endorses-maloney-in-ag-dem-primary/|title=LGBT Victory Fund endorses Maloney in AG Dem primary|website=blogs.hudsonvalley.com|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref> "Spotlight," designating candidates who can make history or increase LGBTQ+ representation in low-equality states or in states with few or no LGBTQ+ lawmakers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Victory-Fund-Endorses-36-More-LGBTQ-Candidates-for-2018/63838.html|title=Victory Fund Endorses 36 More LGBTQ Candidates for 2018 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News Archive|website=Windy City Times|date=August 21, 2018 |access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref> Non-designated candidates are candidates who will increase the number of LGBTQ+ voices in government.

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute are led by a president-CEO and a team of staff based in Washington, D.C. The Fund also has a board of directors, composed of top leaders of government, politics, and business. Additionally, the Victory Campaign Board is elected to recruit and endorse candidates, as well as provide financial resources.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://victoryinstitute.org/about/board/ |title=Board of Directors |website=Victory Institute |access-date=April 11, 2021}}</ref>

==History== LGBTQ+ Victory Fund was founded in 1991 by [[Vic Basile]] and William Waybourn, with Waybourn becoming its first executive director.<ref name="RimmermanWald2000">{{cite book|last1=Rimmerman|first1=Craig A.|last2=Wald|first2=Kenneth D.|last3=Wilcox|first3=Clyde|title=The Politics of Gay Rights|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vMghaleR8RoC&pg=PA71|access-date=May 20, 2012|date=July 1, 2000|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226719986|pages=71–}}</ref> It provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly [[gay]], [[lesbian]], [[bisexual]] and [[transgender]] candidates and officials across the United States, helping them win elections at local, state and federal levels. Victory has helped elect several hundred out LGBTQ+ candidates to Congress, state legislatures, school boards and city councils. In addition, it works to help openly gay and lesbian officeholders develop professionally through its collaboration with the International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials and co-sponsorship of the annual Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nalp.org/lgbtq_organizations|title=NALP - National Association for Law Placement - LGBTQ Organizations|website=www.nalp.org|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref>

The group's founders, Dallas gay-rights activist William Waybourn and [[Human Rights Campaign]] Fund Executive Director Vic Basile, were inspired by the use of [[EMILY's List]] funds to power the 1990 election of former Governor of Texas [[Ann Richards]]. Waybourn and Basile planned an organization that would employ EMILY's List methodology—early money given sufficiently transforms "qualified candidates from 'fringe' status to 'front-runners'"—to propel gay and lesbian candidates to elected office.<ref name="ballotpedia.org"/>

In 1995, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund was a principal organizer of a meeting between representatives of the Clinton administration and several dozen leaders of gay and lesbian organizations.<ref>''New York Times'': [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/14/us/clinton-names-first-liaison-to-gay-and-lesbian-groups.html David W. Dunlap, "Clinton Names First Liaison To Gay and Lesbian Groups", June 14, 1995], accessed Dec 9, 2009</ref> This meeting followed on the heels of the Presidential Appointments Project, whose goal was getting openly gay people appointed to all levels of the Clinton administration (and subsequently, the Bush and Obama administrations).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-thanks-victory-fund-ceo-president-he-announces-departure |title=GLAAD thanks Victory Fund CEO & President as he announces departure |date=September 12, 2014 |website=GLAAD |access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref>

In 1997, activist Brian Bond was hired as executive director of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund from his position as the director of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council at the [[Democratic National Committee]] from to rebuild the nearly-bankrupt organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/politics/2009/01/08/brian-bond-be-tapped-deputy-director-obamas-public-liaison-office|title=Brian Bond to Be Tapped as Deputy Director of Obama's Public Liaison Office|date=January 8, 2009|website=www.advocate.com|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref> He is credited by Tammy Baldwin with helping grow the visibility and size of the organization.<ref>[[Brian Bond (activist)#cite note-eisenla-7]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=March 2019}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.queerty.com/brian-bond-to-be-obamas-deputy-public-policy-director-lgbt-point-person-20090108|title=Brian Bond to Be Obama's Deputy Director of Public Liaison, LGBT Point Person|first=Japhy|last=Grant|date=January 8, 2009|website=www.queerty.com|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref> He stepped down in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/07/08/bond-leaves-white-house-for-dnc/|title=Bond leaves White House for DNC|first1=Peter Rosenstein|last1=July 8|first2=2011 at 5:22 pm EDT at 5:22|last2=pm|date=July 8, 2011|website=washingtonblade.com|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref>

Former LGBTQ+ Victory Fund board member [[Chuck Wolfe (executive)|Chuck Wolfe]] was named executive director in 2003. Under his leadership, the organization's budgets grew exponentially{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=April 2019}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stetson.edu/administration/trustees/wolfe.php|title=Charles A. Wolfe|website=www.stetson.edu|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref>

[[Chuck Wolfe (executive)|Chuck Wolfe]] stepped down as president of the organization at the end of 2014. In 2015, [[Aisha Moodie-Mills]] became the new president and CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, which made her the first woman, first person of color and first lesbian to become the head of the organization.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bendix |first=Trish |url=http://www.afterellen.com/tv/423309-morning-brew-gillian-anderson-would-date-a-woman-again |title=Morning Brew - Gillian Anderson would date a woman again |publisher=AfterEllen |date=2015-03-27 |access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/leading-national-lgbt-organization-names-first-wom#.qa8wBvKrq |title=Leading National LGBT Organization Names First Woman, First Black President - BuzzFeed News |publisher=Buzzfeed.com |date=2013-07-24 |access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref> In 2017, Moodie-Mills' departure was announced and the new president and CEO was named, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker.

In 2018, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute was renamed the LGBTQ Victory Fund and Institute to accurately reflect the environment in which it works.

On March 3, 2023, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund announced the addition of the "plus" in their name to be formally known as LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.<ref name="merged1" />

On March 4, 2025, the Victory Fund announced that former [[California State Assembly]]member [[Evan Low]] would be its next president and CEO, succeeding Parker.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://victoryfund.org/news/lgbtq-victory-fund-and-lgbtq-victory-institute-announce-evan-low-as-new-president-and-chief-executive-officer/|title=LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute Announce Evan Low as New President and Chief Executive Officer|date=March 4, 2025|access-date=April 4, 2025}}</ref>

==Candidates supported== LGBTQ+ Victory Fund endorses dozens of out LGBTQ+ candidates each year, increasing exposure to potential donors and providing both strategic and material support. Past endorsees include [[Tammy Baldwin]],<ref>{{cite web |date=November 6, 2018 |title=First LGBTQ U. S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Wins Reelection; Defeats Anti-LGBTQ Opponent in Key Senate Race |url=https://victoryfund.org/news/first-lgbtq-u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-wins-reelection-defeats-anti-lgbtq-opponent-in-key-senate-race/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |website=Victory Fund}}</ref> [[Barney Frank]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenstein |first=Peter |date=April 12, 2018 |title=Victory Fund Crucial to Electing LGBTQ Candidates |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/04/12/victory-fund-crucial-electing-lgbtq-candidates/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |website=Washington Blade}}</ref> [[Sean Patrick Maloney]],<ref>{{cite web |last=mthomas |title=Our Candidates |url=https://victoryfund.org/our-candidates-2019/ |access-date=April 28, 2019 |website=LGBTQ Victory Fund}}</ref> [[David Cicilline]],<ref name="nine">{{cite web |last=Younker |first=Lauren |date=November 15, 2017 |title=Victory Fund Endourses Nine Congressional Candidates; Wins Can Secure Pro-LGBTQ Majority in House |url=https://victoryfund.org/victory-fund-endorses-nine-congressional-candidates-wins-can-secure-pro-lgbtq-majority-house/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |website=Victory Fund}}</ref> [[Lupe Valdez]],<ref>{{cite web |date=May 22, 2018 |title=Lupe Valdez Makes History With Texas Gubernatorial Primary Win; Gina Ortiz Jones Takes TX-23 Democratic Nomination |url=https://victoryfund.org/news/lupe-valdez-makes-history-with-texas-gubernatorial-primary-win-gina-ortiz-jones-takes-tx-23-democratic-nomination/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |website=Victory Fund}}</ref> [[Victoria Kolakowski]],<ref>{{cite web |date=November 11, 2010 |title=Transgender judge breaks barriers |url=http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=5228 |access-date=October 29, 2012 |work=Bay Area Reporter}}</ref> [[Patricia Todd]]<ref>{{cite web |date=August 26, 2006 |title=Patricia Todd Wins - For Real This Time |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2006/08/patricia-todd-wins-for-real-this-time/233687/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |website=The Atlantic}}</ref> and [[Virginia Linder]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Nicola |first=George T |date=March 27, 2017 |title=Community Profile: Virginia Linder |url=https://www.glapn.org/6049VirginiaLinderProfile.html |access-date=April 11, 2021 |website=GLAPN Northwest LGBTQ History}}</ref> The first candidate the Victory Fund endorsed was [[Sherry Harris]], who was elected to the City Council in Seattle, Washington, in 1991, making her the first openly lesbian African-American elected official.<ref>{{cite web |last=mthomas |title=Our Mission |url=https://victoryfund.org/about/mission/ |access-date=April 28, 2019 |website=LGBTQ Victory Fund}}</ref>

In 2008, 80 of the group's 111 endorsed candidates won their elections.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 6, 2008 |title=Victory Fund reports gay candidates elected across U.S. |url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=32873 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235323/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=32873 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=October 29, 2012 |work=PrideSource}}</ref>

In 2009, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund donated $40000 to the election of [[Annise Parker]] as mayor of Houston.<ref>{{cite web |last=McKinley |first=James C. |date=December 13, 2009 |title=A Fallen Barrier, but Little Fanfare |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/us/14houston.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128165705/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/us/14houston.html |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |access-date=April 11, 2021 |website=New York Times}}</ref> In electing an out lesbian as its chief executive, Houston became the largest city in the country to have elected an out gay person as mayor. Local gay groups, particularly the [[Houston GLBT Political Caucus]], had nurtured Parker's political career and were openly supporting her race. Victory Fund became a huge player in the race by providing a much-needed source of cash for Parker's grassroots efforts and helping her stay financially competitive with her two chief rivals, both of whose campaigns were lavishly funded. After the campaign, Parker referred to Victory Fund as her "secret weapon" and thanked the organization for its help.<ref>{{cite web |last=Adam |first=Seth |date=December 14, 2009 |title=Annise Parker Becomes First Openly Lesbian Mayor of Major U.S. City after Houston Win |url=https://www.glaad.org/2009/12/14/annise-parker-becomes-first-openly-lesbian-mayor-of-major-u-s-city-after-houston-win |access-date=April 11, 2021 |website=GLAAD}}</ref>

In 2019, the Victory Fund announced it was endorsing [[Pete Buttigieg]] for president, which was its first presidential endorsement.<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/nations-largest-lgbt-pac-endorses-mayor-pete-buttigieg Nation's Largest LGBT PAC Endorses Mayor Pete Buttigieg]. Thedailybeast.com (1970-01-01). Retrieved on 2019-06-30.</ref>

In 2022, [[Becca Balint]] won her primary<ref>{{Cite web |title=Live Vermont House Election Results 2022 – NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-primary-elections/vermont-house-results |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=www.nbcnews.com}}</ref> in part with $1 million from the Victory Fund, "putting her [https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/09/politics/becca-balint-democratic-primary-vermont-house-seat/index.html on a path] to become" [[2020 United States presidential election in Vermont|Vermont's]] first Congresswoman.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Gregory Krieg |date=August 10, 2022 |title=Becca Balint will win the Democratic nomination for Vermont's House seat, CNN projects |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/09/politics/becca-balint-democratic-primary-vermont-house-seat/index.html |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=CNN}}</ref> After the primaries, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund made 16 endorsements in congressional elections to expand LGBTQ+ representation in Congress by eight seats or approximately six million people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeSilver |first=Drew |date=May 31, 2018 |title=U.S. population keeps growing, but House of Representatives is same size as in Taft era |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/05/31/u-s-population-keeps-growing-but-house-of-representatives-is-same-size-as-in-taft-era/ |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 3|2022 United States House of Representatives election in New York's third congressional district]], LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and Human Rights Campaign endorsed Democrat Robert Zimmerman over Republican nominee [[George Santos]], in the first congressional race where both candidates were openly gay.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 23, 2022 |title=In first gay v. gay Congressional race, the candidates are "just very different," Gay City News |url=https://gaycitynews.com/in-first-gay-congressional-race-the-candidates-are-just-very-different/ |website=[[Gay City News]]}}</ref>

==Programs and events== ===International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference=== LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, the non-profit sibling organization of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Its most prominent is the International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference hosted annually between November and December, bringing LGBTQ+ elected officials from around the world for a weekend of panels, speakers, and receptions. This conference grew out of a joint conference in 2004 with the International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials (INLGO). LGBTQ+ Victory Institute and NLGO merged in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosenstein |first1=Peter |date=December 9, 2017 |title=International LGBTQ Leaders Conference a rousing success |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/international-lgbtq-leaders-conference-a-rousing-success_b_5a2c2589e4b04e0bc8f3b507 |access-date=April 28, 2019 |website=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref>

===U.S. gatherings=== LGBTQ+ Victory Fund also hosts a number of champagne brunches and receptions around the United States, in cities such as Chicago, Kansas City, and San Diego. The events bring together local LGBTQ+ elected officials and supporters and serve as fundraising for the organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://houston.culturemap.com/eventdetail/victory-fund-champagne-brunch/|title=Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund's Champagne Brunch|website=CultureMap Houston|date=March 24, 2013 |access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref>

===Other events === Other events include various pride receptions celebrating LGBTQ+ Capitol Hill staffers and LGBTQ+ political appointees.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lgbtcsa.org/victory2015 |title=Victory Fund and Institute Pride Reception |last=Sloves |first=Todd |work=Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Congressional Staff Association |access-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915002002/https://www.lgbtcsa.org/victory2015 |archive-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref>

LGBTQ+ Victory Institute hosts events of its own as well as stewards several fellowship and internship programs. Events include LGBTQ+ Leadership Summits, which are day-long intensive trainings for LGBTQ+ leaders, and Candidate and Campaign Trainings, which are weekend-long crash courses on how to run for office. LGBTQ+ Victory Institute also hosts international trainings, and has received funding from [[USAID]].

The Victory Congressional Internship program brings LGBTQ+ college students to Washington, D.C. for an intensive leadership program, and includes a semester-long internship with an LGBTQ-friendly member of Congress. Participants also attend the International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference.

The David Bohnett Victory Congressional Fellowship brings an emerging LGBTQ+ leader to Washington, D.C. for a year-long intensive fellowship that supports the executive director of the LGBTQ+ Congressional Equality Caucus. It also includes a generous stipend and access to the International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference.

The Victory Empowerment Fellowship was implemented by Aisha Moodie-Mills and helps emerging LGBTQ+ leaders of color and transgender leaders expand their campaign skills and policy-making power through a year-long membership and access to a Candidate Campaign Training and the International LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference.

The Bohnett Leaders Fellowship brings senior-level executives working with state and local governments, including government officials and elected officeholders, to a three-week intensive Executive Education program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thecentralvoice.com/stories/is-an-internship-for-you,1242|title=Is an internship for you?|website=The Central Voice|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref>

The Political Appointments Program works with LGBTQ+ leaders and pro-equality presidential administrations to ensure qualified LGBTQ+ representation in all agencies and levels.

===Executive directors=== {| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#b0c4de;" ! Years ! Name |- |   1991–1996 ||[[William Waybourn]] |- |   1996–1997 ||[[David Clarenbach]] |- |   1997–2003 ||[[Brian Bond (activist)|Brian Bond]] |- |   2003–2015 ||[[Chuck Wolfe (executive)|Chuck Wolfe]] |- |   2015–2017 ||[[Aisha Moodie-Mills]] |- |   2017–2025 ||[[Annise Parker]] |- |   2025–{{small|present}}  ||[[Evan Low]] |}

==Criticism from LGBT Republicans== LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has attracted criticism from LGBT Republican politicians and operatives for apparent bias in favour of candidates running for office as Democrats.

[[Richard Grenell]], the first [[List of first openly LGBTQ politicians in the United States|openly gay]] acting [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet]]-level official in the US,{{Efn|Grenell was the acting [[Director of National Intelligence]] from February to May, 2020. At no point did he hold a cabinet-level position. The first openly LGBTQ person to hold a cabinet-level position was [[Pete Buttigieg]], [[United States Secretary of Transportation|Secretary of Transportation]] 2021-25.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2020/07/gay-former-trump-appointee-richard-grenell-unleashes-tweet-storm-attacking-lgbtq-victory-fund-and-joe-biden/|website=[[Metro Weekly]]|author=John Riley|title=Gay former Trump appointee Richard Grenell unleashses tweetstorm attacking Joe Biden|date=July 22, 2020 }}</ref> leveled criticism at their alleged bias against LGBT Republicans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-fake-mission-of-the-lgbtq-victory-fund|title=The fake mission of the LGBTQ Victory Fund|author=Brad Polumbo|website=[[Washington Examiner]]|date=July 25, 2020 }}</ref> Robert Turner, head of the D.C. Chapter of the [[Log Cabin Republicans]] wrote an op-ed for the [[Washington Blade]] criticizing the then-Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund's pro-choice litmus test as harmful to its goal of electing LGBT candidates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/03/31/no-pro-choice-litmus-test-for-victory-fund/|title=No pro-choice litmus test for Victory Fund|author=Robert Turner|date=March 31, 2011 }}</ref> The Victory Fund, however, has said that its vision of the "Right to Privacy" can be as conservative as supporting abortion only in cases of rape and incest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2020/07/path-to-victory-annise-parker-on-helping-elect-lgbtq-people-across-america/|website=[[Metro Weekly]]|author=John Riley|quote="Candidates have to believe in some level of a right to privacy, which includes the right to abortion. Some of our candidates only believe in it after rape and incest, all the way to others who support the full Planned Parenthood position."|title=Path to Victory: Annise Parker on helping elect LGBTQ people across America|date=July 20, 2020 }}</ref> [[Carl DeMaio]], a gay Republican member of the [[San Diego City Council]] who sought but did not secure the Fund's endorsement during his 2020 Congress bid<ref>{{cite web|last1=Trageser |first1=Claire |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/10/14/356177208/gay-republican-house-candidate-demaio-hasnt-won-fans-in-lgbt-community|title=Gay Republican House Candidate Hasn't Won Fans In LGBT Community|website=[[NPR]] |date=October 14, 2014 }}</ref> alleged that the Victory Fund gave campaign documents of his, given as part of the Victory Fund's endorsement process, to his opponent.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=DeMaio |first=Carl |author-link=Carl DeMaio |user=carldemaio |number=1285237279724695552 |date=July 20, 2020 |title=.@AnniseParker Stop lying - Victory Fund claims to be non-partisan, but it is hyper-partisan in all its actions. In '14 you hosted my gay-baiting Democrat opponent at an event you organized in my district. You worked against the gay candidate in a top-tier race. #TrueColors https://t.co/U2uZ8uXib4 |language=en |access-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112033910/https://twitter.com/carldemaio/status/1285237279724695552 |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

According to its filings with the [[Federal Election Commission]], between 2009 and 2024 the organization donated over $ 600,000 to 58 Democratic candidates seeking federal offices, and $13,400 to 5 state democratic parties. It further incurred over $1.15 million of independent expenditures in favour of five candidates in Democratic primaries, of which close to $1 million was in support of [[Becca Balint]] during the 2022 Democratic primary for Vermont's at large congressional seat, a contest she won by over 20 points. (It also spent approximately $62,000 against two Democrats facing LGBT primary rivals.) During that same period, it donated a total of only $20,000 to two Republican congressional candidates, [[Massachusetts Senate]] Minority Leader [[Richard Tisei]] in 2012 and 2014 (both unsuccessful) and [[University of New Hampshire]] professor [[Dan Innis]] (later state senator) in 2014 (defeated in primary phase).<ref>{{cite web |title=LGBTQ Victory Fund Federal PAC, Line 23: Contributions to federal candidates/committees and other political committees |url=https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?cycle=2026&data_type=processed&committee_id=C00476978&line_number=F3X-23 |website=Federal Election Commission}}</ref>

As of November 2025, the organization's website lists over two hundred Democratic candidates seeking various offices as having been endorsed by the organization, along with two independent candidates and zero Republican candidates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Candidates |url=https://victoryfund.org/our-candidates/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=LGBTQ+ Victory Fund |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also== * [[ProudPolitics]], a similar group in Canada

==Footnotes== {{notelist}}

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==Sources== * ''New York Times'': {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/06/us/1994-campaign-homosexuality-struggle-over-gay-rights-moves-statewide-level.html|first=David W.|last=Dunlap|title=The 1994 Campaign: Homosexuality|newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 6, 1994|access-date=December 9, 2009|quote=Some 130 candidates nationwide requested financial help from the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a political-action committee, said its executive director, William W. Waybourn. The fund has supported 27 candidates this year, he said, almost twice as many as in 1993.}} * ''New York Times'': [https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/25/us/as-gay-marchers-gather-mood-is-serious-and-festive.html Jeffrey Schmalz, "As Gay Marchers Gather, Mood Is Serious and Festive," April 25, 1993], accessed Dec. 9, 2009. "At a celebration lunch sponsored by the Victory Fund, half a dozen appointed and elected officials who had not previously been known to be gay made an appearance."

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website|http://www.victoryfund.org/}}

[[Category:LGBTQ political advocacy groups in the United States]] [[Category:United States political action committees]] [[Category:527 organizations]] [[Category:LGBTQ in Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:1991 establishments in the United States]]