Hundreds of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund supporters gathered at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington on April 27 for the organization’s annual National Champagne Brunch, which celebrated LGBTQ+ political representation. The event celebrated wins in LGBTQ+ representation and rallied support for LGBTQ+ elected officials to help fight against anti-equality forces in government.
Rep. Sarah McBride spoke about what she has faced as a freshman member of Congress and about the challenges of serving in this anti-LGBTQ+ climate.
“We are serving in a congress and seeing an administration that has targeted our community, and particularly trans people, for discrimination and vitriol,” said McBride, who was a spotlight Victory Fund candidate during her historic congressional run. “They are trying to use vulnerable people in this country as political pawns. Some of my colleagues are trying to use me as a pawn, to gain attention, to get clicks on social media. And I refuse to be used as a pawn.”
Gov. Wes Moore, recipient of the 2025 Equality Champion award, spoke about the impact of allyship and the importance of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
“To those who would take away the rights of our LGBTQ+ community, I say, ‘You will have to go through me first.’ You will have to go through Maryland first,” said Gov. Moore. “You will have to go through us all first. An attack on one is an attack on all.”
Senator Tammy Baldwin participated in a panel discussion with Tim Gunn and Evan Low, President and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. Sen. Baldwin shared insights from one of the most anti-LGBTQ+ campaign cycles she has experienced.
“I worried so much, not just, you know, for myself, but what does this say to young people, to people in the LGBTQ+ community, that they were weaponizing our community as part of an electoral campaign. And, I worry about the most vulnerable in Wisconsin who did turn on their TVs and see, on social media, the onslaught of negative”
Rep. Emily Randall made history in 2024 as the first out Latina elected to Congress, and spoke about the impact of having people like her in the halls of power.
“Because of my unique identity, because of the strength of the LGBTQ+ caucus and the candidates you have supported, we are uniquely positioned to fight back against the attacks on our people,” Rep. Randall told the crowd. “We also know how to build connections and resilience and love in our communities.”
Rep. Mark Takano, head of the Congressional Equality Caucus, discussed the parallels between this moment in history and our past.
“I feel it’s really important to understand that defiance of a 9-0 Supreme Court decision cannot stand, and we should all be concerned about due process rights,” said Rep. Takano, who says his parents and grandparents were sent to internment camps.”Right now, we are seeing another vulnerable group of people who have been disappeared from our country and sent to a brutal prison.”
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund candidate Rep. Chris Pappas, who is running for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire, spoke about how we must stand up to protect freedom. If elected, Pappas will become the first out gay man in Senate history.
“I’m stepping up to run for an open U.S. Senate seat in New Hampshire because we’ve got to confront the damage being done to our democracy, our way of life, and our economy and get our country on track,” said Rep. Pappas.
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President & CEO Evan Low addressed the crowd and spoke about the importance of this moment in our history, and how he turned disappointment into victory by making history in California.
“Our community must stand together,” Low told the crowd on Sunday. “We must fight–until out politicians are not simply the exception, but the expectation. We cannot be what we cannot see.”
The event featured a section of ‘Frontline Heroes’, state and local elected officials who are working directly to combat anti-LGBTQ+ politics in low equality states. Rep. Sam Park of Georgia, Rep. Aime Wichtendahl of Iowa, and Eagle Pass, Tx. City Council member Elias Diaz spoke about their experiences as pro-equality voices in their states.
“The oldest trick in politics is to say ‘look over there’ surely you don’t want those people in your community, surely you don’t want those people to have civil rights while they are picking your pocket,” said Wichtendahl, who was the first out transgender legislator in state history. After all, while they were proposing over 800 anti-LGBTQ bills, did they do anything to bring down the cost of groceries? Were they doing anything to bring down the cost of childcare? Were they doing anything to achieve a living wage? Of course not. Honestly, if they put as much energy into bringing down costs for Americans as they do targeting transgender people, eggs would basically be free right now.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel introduced California Attorney General Rob Bonta at the event. Both AGs have worked diligently to protect constituents in their states from anti-LGBTQ+ federal policies.
“I’m committed to using every tool at my disposal to ensure the LGBTQ+ community has access to all the rights and resources they deserve,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the recipient of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund’s 2025 Allyship award. “While the president likes to peddle in falsehoods and scare tactics, I like to operate in reality. In facts. In the law.”
The full slate of featured speakers included Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, U.S. Reps. Sarah McBride, Chris Pappas, Emily Randall, Mark Takano; California Attorney General Rob Bonta; Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel; LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President & CEO Evan Low; Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, Georgia State Representative Sam Park; Iowa State Representative Aime Wichtendahl; Eagle Pass, Tex. City Council Member Elias Diaz and special guests Tim Gunn and Blake Cooper Griffin.
Our next event is San Diego Champagne Brunch on May 18th, get tickets here. If you want to donate to support LGBTQ+ Victory Fund’s work, visit our donate page.
