Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund endorsed candidates Eunic Ortiz and Janelle Perez advanced in their primary elections for Florida’s 18th and 38th state Senate Districts. With these historic victories, both are now on track to become the first LGBTQ women elected to the state senate in Florida history. LGBTQ representation in the state senate now stands to triple if these two leaders join incumbent state Senator Shevrin Jones with wins in November. Jones – who also won his primary tonight – was the first out LGBTQ person elected to the Florida state Senate when he won in 2020.
According to LGBTQ Victory Institute’s Out for America Map, the only national database of out LGBTQ elected officials, there are currently just three out LGBTQ state legislators in Florida.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, issued the following statement about their historic victories:
“Florida has been ground zero for anti-LGBTQ legislation this year, most of which has been aimed at LGBTQ children. The unfortunate reality is that this wave of hate will not stop unless we activate our political power and push back. Eunic and Janelle represent the best in us – they have the experience and political power to be groundbreaking legislators and make real change for Florida and our nation. Their success tonight will surely inspire many more LGBTQ people to run for office and is a deafening rebuke to the bullies and bigots hell bent on trying to erase our existence. Our message is clear: we won’t stop fighting, we won’t stop organizing and we won’t stop running for office.”
Victory Fund named Ortiz and Perez Spotlight candidates, a designation given to state or local candidates in history-making races that comes with additional support and services from LGBTQ Victory Fund to ensure they win on Election Day.
More information about all of Victory Fund’s endorsed candidates is available at www.victoryfund.org/ourcandidates.
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LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to achieve and sustain equality by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.