There are currently 28 LGBTQ elected officials in Florida, and Victory Institute wants to add to that number.
On March 16, Victory Institute partnered with Equality Florida to host a one-day candidate and campaign training for LGBTQ students and leaders in Orlando.
The Orlando LGBTQ Leadership Summit, which trained a record-setting 52 LGBTQ Floridians, featured skills-building exercises, networking, and in-depth conversations that were designed for queer people interested in running for office or entering public service.
Joining Victory and several incredible LGBTQ leaders were Florida State Representatives Carlos Guillermo Smith, Jennifer Webb, and Shevrin Jones, who shared their experiences running and serving in office as LGBTQ individuals. Additionally, Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and St. Petersburg Councilmember Steve Kornell set the tone for the day by offering guidance and words of encouragement to those in attendance.
A special thanks to the Equality Florida Team: Joe Saunders, Senior Political Director; Gina Duncan, Director of Transgender Equality; Brandon Wolf, Central Florida Development Officer and Media Relations Manager, and Wes Davis, Field Organizer, for their support and hard work throughout the Summit’s planning and execution.
Last year, Victory Institute trained 128 LGBTQ leaders in five cities: Phoenix, Columbus, New Orleans, Harrisburg, and Milwaukee. In total, Victory Institute has recruited and trained 316 LGBTQ leaders since the Leadership Summit program began in 2016.
The next one-day candidate and campaign trainings will be held in Birmingham (May 11), Missoula (Sept. 14), and Omaha (Oct. 19). If you know of any LGBTQ leaders who would like attend, please encourage them to register.
