Why run as an out candidate now?

Today is National Coming Out Day, a day we celebrate living openly as LGBTQ+ people. [LGBTQ+ Victory Fund logo]( My husband of nine years sat at the table in what I imagine was stunned silence. “What’s going through your mind right now?” I asked, picking at the remains of my scrambled eggs and soyrizo breakfast. “Are you leaving me?” “What? Why would you think that?” “The only other friend whose wife came out to him, left him.” Friend, I had just come out to him as bisexual. The only other person I had come out to at that point was my best friend and my therapist. This was different. This had real repercussions. Today is National Coming Out Day, a day we celebrate living openly as LGBTQ+ people. Like me, people may be having uncomfortable – or hopeful! – conversations. Coming out is a journey – one that I relive on the campaign trail. It isn’t always easy running for office as an out candidate. But I’m so glad I am. If elected, I’ll be the first out bisexual woman elected to the California State Assembly. [If you can support Victory Fund’s work to elect out candidates like me with a special donation for National Coming Out Day, I appreciate it.]( If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Express Donate: $5]( [Express Donate: $15]( [Express Donate: $35]( [Or, donate another amount]( I’ve been bisexual my whole life – as in, I’ve been attracted to men and women for as long as I can remember. In first grade I had crushes on my two best friends, a girl and a boy. I’m not sure at what point I learned what gay or lesbian meant, but in my world the idea of homosexuality had always carried a negative connotation. In the late 90s, middle schoolers rampantly chastised each other with “that’s gay.” Our high school’s support group was the Gay-Straight Alliance. As far as I knew, there was no “both.” There was no middle. There was no LGBTQ+. Last year, as I was deep into a run for Los Angeles City Council, I was applying for endorsements from different organizations that shared my values. I was repeatedly asked if I identified as LGBTQ+. Every time I said no, a little piece of me crumbled. I was contributing to the bi erasure in our society. As I realized this, I looked around at my campaign team – most of them queer youth themselves – and felt so ashamed that I didn’t have it in me to live my life as authentically and pridefully as they do. So why run as an out candidate now? Well, I’m 37 years old, and I will continue being bisexual whether in or out of the closet. I am choosing not only to live authentically, but to hopefully create space for others to do the same. I haven’t experienced the kind of discrimination that we are seeing run rampant throughout our country — especially directed at the trans community. And part of me feels I haven’t suffered enough to earn the label. At the same time, I want to spotlight that we exist and that I am proud of who I am. I want all of our voices and experiences to be heard, valued, and validated. And we need those voices on the campaign trail. Seeing my staffers live open and authentic lives inspired me to do the same – and I know our campaign shows others that they can be out and proud too. [That’s why we need LGBTQ+ candidates – and the help of supporters like you. Pitch in today to celebrate National Coming Out Day and elect more LGBTQ+ candidates!]( If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Express Donate: $5]( [Express Donate: $15]( [Express Donate: $35]( [Or, donate another amount]( Adelante, Dulce Vasquez Candidate for California State Assembly [DONATE]( LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is the political arm of the LGBTQ+ community. Since our founding in 1991, we’ve supported and elected LGBTQ+ candidates like U.S. Senator Tammy {NAME}, Governors Maura Healey, Tina Kotek and Jared Polis and thousands of LGBTQ+ candidates around the country. We’re proud to be the only national organization endorsing pro-equality and pro-choice LGBTQ+ candidates in the United States. We’ve shattered rainbow ceilings in all 50 states and broken election records. [Meet our latest endorsements here!]( We’ve shattered rainbow ceilings in all 50 states and broken election records. [You can power our work and the next Rainbow Wave with a donation today!]( [DONATE TODAY]( [DONATE MONTHLY]( FOLLOW ALONG: [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( Paid for by LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. Your contribution may be used in connection with federal, state and local elections and be subject to federal, state and local laws. Contributions to LGBTQ+ Victory Fund are not tax deductible. Victory Fund members do not have governance participation rights. 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