Each March, we have the opportunity to examine the contributions of women throughout history and honor those who inspire us. As an advocate working to get more LGBTQ+ people elected to public office, I have the privilege of supporting many incredible leaders in their campaigns and beyond, including many inspiring women.  

As we look back on the milestones in our movement for equitable representation, LGBTQ+ women have much to celebrate.

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The first successful out LGBTQ+ candidate in American (and possibly world) history was Kathy Kozachenko, who won local office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a third-party candidate in 1974. The first out LGBTQ+ state legislator was a woman, Elaine Noble, who won her seat in the Massachusetts House in 1974 as well. All three out LGBTQ+ people who have served in the U.S. Senate have been women. As executives, lesbians and bi women have served as governors of three states and have been elected mayor in cities like Chicago, Houston, Madison, Tampa and Seattle. And in recent years, we’ve made even more progress in Congress, with the first out trans representative, the first Native, Black and Latina women in the House, and many more state-level “firsts”– all LGBTQ+ women.  

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Running for office as an out queer woman brings many challenges, and we must all do our part to give extra support to the women leaders in our communities. Based on survey research conducted by LGBTQ+ Victory Institute and Loyola Marymount University, LGBTQ+ women are more likely to be discouraged from running for office than their gay and bi men counterparts – even more so for transgender women candidates. The research also found that LGBTQ+ women seeking public office faced attacks on their appearance and clothing at an alarming rate and that women are more likely to be undermined by the media.  

LGBTQ+ women making history this year 

Many people are unaware that various jurisdictions in the U.S. hold elections every year and that nearly every month there is an election taking place. Working for an organization that endorses candidates for offices large and small and in states, territories and tribal governments across the country, I see firsthand the impact our candidates have when they win their elections and take office. These women are often our community’s fiercest champions, and we need even more of them to win and fight for us. Even though we’re only three months into this election year, there are already dozens of women candidates for state and local office who have been endorsed by LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and deserve our support.  

From major cities to small villages, LGBTQ+ women are running for mayor – a role that touches the daily lives of each of their constituents. In San Antonio, Texas, former Air Force official Gina Ortiz Jones is running to bring down the cost of housing and increase opportunities for workers in her hometown. In Downington, Pennsylvania, scientist and businesswoman Erica Deuso – who has broad community support in her race – could make history as the first out trans person elected to executive office in state history.  

Elsewhere across the country, women are stepping up to lead in their communities. Environmental justice advocate Charlene Wang is running for Oakland City Council to ensure growth and sustainability go hand-in-hand. Downstate in San Diego County, Imperial Beach Mayor Poloma Aguirre is running to represent the concerns of over 700,000 constituents as a county supervisor for District 1. In Madison, Wisconsin – where lesbian Satya Rhodes-Conway serves as mayor – Carmella Glenn is running to add important LGBTQ+ representation to the city council, where she’ll fight for more opportunities for constituents affected by bias in the criminal justice system.  

As culture wars continue to rage over schools and libraries, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund candidates are answering the call to fight disinformation and work to create inclusive school districts and library systems all around the country. Candidates like Vanessa Abundiz, Emily Gilbert, Alena Hansen, Elana Jacobs and Ali Muldrow all are running for key seats on school or library district boards and deserve our support.  

Now more than ever, we must double down on our efforts to elect LGBTQ+ candidates – and especially queer and trans women – to offices big and small. It’s often said that if you’re not at the table, then you’re on the menu. With hostility against our community growing in statehouses around the country and now the White House, I urge you to join the fight to ensure our voices are heard in the halls of power.  

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