All 50 States Have Seen LGBTQ+ Candidates in 2022, Says Advocacy Group
Out LGBTQ+ political candidates have had a landmark year in 2022. For the first time, out candidates have run or are running in every state, with a record total of 1,065 running for state, local, federal, and judicial offices.The information comes from the LGBTQ Victory Fund’s third annual “Out on the Trail” report, released Wednesday.
The report shows not only record numbers but increased diversity.“Voters are sick and tired of the relentless attacks lobbed against the LGBTQ community this year,” said a statement from Victory Fund President and CEO Annise Parker. “Bigots want us to stay home and stay quiet, but their attacks are backfiring and instead have motivated a new wave of LGBTQ leaders to run for office.
When they tried to ban books and censor LGBTQ kids and teachers, a record number of LGBTQ people ran for school board. When they introduced a historic number of anti-LGBTQ laws in state legislatures, LGBTQ people ran for state legislatures like never before.
When they tried to stall federal pro-equality legislation, we ran for Congress like never before.” The number of out candidates, 1,065, represents a 5.9 percent jump from the previous record of 1,006, set in 2020.
