| Type | 527 group |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Key people | Susan Atkins-Weathers (Chair) Robert Gleason(Vice-Chair) Steve Elmendorf (Secretary) Harvey Hurdle(Treasurer) |
| Focus | LGBT Politicians |
| Method | Political endorsement Fundraising |
| Motto | Out To Win |
| Website | www.victoryfund.org |
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.
The Victory Fund was founded in 1991. It provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly gay and lesbian candidates and officials across the United States, helping them win elections at local, state and federal levels. Victory has successfully helped elect several hundred openly LGBT candidates to Congress, state legislatures, school boards and city councils. The organization also offers programs and training to elected officials.
The Victory Fund endorses dozens of openly LGBT candidates each year, increasing exposure to potential donors and providing both strategic and material support. Past endorsees include Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank, David Cicilline, Lupe Valdez, Patricia Todd and Virginia Linder.
In 1995, the Victory Find was a principal organizer of a meeting between representatives of the Clinton administration and several dozen leaders of gay and lesbian organizations.[1]
In 2008, 80 of the group's 111 endorsed candidates won their elections.[2]
In 2009, the Victory Fund played an important role in the election of Annise Parker as mayor of Houston. In electing an out lesbian as its chief executive, Houston became the largest city in the country to have elected an openly 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. The 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 the Victory Fund as her "secret weapon" and thanked the organization for its help.
The Victory Fund is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee and one of the nation’s largest non-connected PACs. Its President and CEO since 2003 is Chuck Wolfe.