J.D. Vance's anti-LGBTQ record, AZ and TN prepares to vote, and more!

The latest in LGBTQ+ Politics. [LGBTQ+ Victory Fund logo]( [The Agenda]( LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About Upcoming Elections: Arizonians and Tennesseans Prepare to Vote! July has been a quiet month for LGBTQ+ elections, but the wait is now over! Victory Fund endorsed candidates will be on the ballot in Arizona and Tennessee next Tuesday. [Meet all the candidates running here](. In Knox County, TN, Spotlight candidate [Matthew Park is getting ready for his August 1st election]( – the [winner here will be the next Knox County Commissioner](. [Check out Matthew’s latest ad]( – or [learn more about his campaign today]( In the state legislature, incumbent State [Representative Lorena Austin]( has gained a reputation for reaching across the aisle. They spoke with the [AZ Mirror about their time in office (so far!) – and how they get the work done](. Incumbent State Senator Analise Ortiz and State Representative Oscar De Los Santos both faced [ethics complaints recently in the Arizona state house](. Their crime? [Protesting in the state’s ludicrous abortion]( ban that was later repealed. Even more reason to reelect them, we think! Meanwhile, incumbent state Representative Patty Contreras joined [Abortion Access for All Arizonans to deliver over 800,000 signatures to place the right to choose on the ballot](. Judge Deborah Ann Begay, running for [reelection as Moon Valley Justice of the Peace]( is hyper-focused on her upcoming primary. She laid [out her campaign and platform in a recent conversation with The Navajo Times]( Anti-LGBTQ Rhetoric Takes Center Stage at the RNC Alarm bells rang at the Republican National Convention with the nomination of Senator J.D. Vance to the Vice Presidency. [Trump’s first V.P.]( [who is no longer in the position due to the January 6th insurrection and threats against his life]( was no friend to the LGBTQ+ community. But Vance, [who fully embraced the MAGA brand]( and [denied the 2020 election results]( [has been described as an “anti-LGBTQ nightmare”](. His anti-LGBTQ and anti-choice stances include [pledging to vote against marriage equality]( once stated that exceptions for [rape and incest shouldn’t be included in abortion bans because “two wrongs don’t make a right”]( and when asked about the heated increase in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, [stated “Look, if you don’t want to be called a ‘groomer,’ don’t try to sexualize six- and seven-year-old children.”]( Several other speakers at the Republican National Convention also had their anti-LGBTQ and anti-choice talking points on hand during the recent convention, [spouting hateful speech that villainizes our community](. U.S. [Senator Ron Johnson kicked off the convention by calling LGBTQ+ issues a “fringe agenda” that involves "the sexualization and indoctrination” of children]( while [Marjorie Taylor Green leaned into anti-trans rhetoric, as she typically does](. [While there are already clear signs that the Trump-Vance ticket is energizing and empowering the worst factions of their party]( there are also indications this rhetoric will once again impact LGBTQ+ candidates down ticket. Eric Hovde – [Tammy {NAME}’s opponent for the U.S. Senate, used his speech to attack {NAME}'s record and background](. While [polling shows Tammy has a lead]( and [solid fundraising]( this is set to be an extremely close race. And with [Hovde already calling election results into question]( – in alignment with Trump, Vance and [the authors of Project 2025]( – we can reasonably another election cycle filled with election denial and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. Only 108 days until Election Day. [DONATE BUTTON]( QUICK HITS: The News in a Moment Last week we celebrated [Non-Binary Awareness Week]( It’s great to shine a light on all the wonderful out non-binary candidates working hard on the campaign trail. [Read about many of our endorsed non-binary candidates in The Advocate here]( or [learn more about their campaigns here]( In a troubling development, [West Virginia and Idaho have filed appeals with the Supreme Court to enforce laws banning trans athletes from playing sports](. The [Court has already agreed to here arguments on a trans healthcare ban](. Victory Fund President & CEO Mayor Annise Parker recently spoke with [Yes! Magazine]( the historic levels of anti-LGBTQ legislation and the need for increased representation](. [Read the full piece here]( Meanwhile, Vice President of Political Programs Sean Meloy and Mayor Parker both joined [Talk It OUT]( give an update on our biggest 2024 races, the state of equality and more](. [Listen in here]( Victory Fund candidate [Will Rollins posted another huge fundraising in the race to flip California Congressional District 41: he raised over $2.2 million dollars]( LGBTQ+ representation is rising in Michigan: [meet 10 LGBTQ+ candidates on the ballot now]( [DONATE BUTTON]( LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is the political arm of the LGBTQ+ community. Since our founding in 1991, we’ve supported and elected LGBTQ+ candidates like U.S. Senator Tammy {NAME}, Governors Maura Healey, Tina Kotek and Jared Polis and thousands of LGBTQ+ candidates around the country. We’re proud to be the only national organization endorsing pro-equality and pro-choice LGBTQ+ candidates in the United States. We’ve shattered rainbow ceilings in all 50 states and broken election records. [Meet our latest endorsements here!]( We’ve shattered rainbow ceilings in all 50 states and broken election records. [You can power our work and the next Rainbow Wave with a donation today!]( [DONATE TODAY]( [DONATE MONTHLY]( FOLLOW ALONG: [Instagram]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( Paid for by LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. Your contribution may be used in connection with federal, state and local elections and be subject to federal, state and local laws. Contributions to LGBTQ+ Victory Fund are not tax deductible. Victory Fund members do not have governance participation rights. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund 1225 I Street NW, Suite 525 Washington, DC 20005 United States This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Don't unsubscribe just yet — you can change how many & what type of emails you receive by [by updating your account here](. Unsubscribing will remove you from ALL Victory Fund email contact. If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive ANY email from us, please [unsubscribe](.