Trans candidates under attack in Ohio, endorsement announcements and more!

The latest in LGBTQ+ Politics. [LGBTQ+ Victory Fund logo]( [The Agenda]( LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About Trans Candidates Facing Ballot Challenges, Governor Signs Executive Order Banning Trans Care Anti-trans actions are taking place in Ohio. Last week, the state selectively enforced little-known laws to force trans candidates off the ballot, while the Governor plays political games with gender-affirming healthcare access. Here’s the latest: The anti-equality majority in the Ohio state house has been working to pass a slate of anti-trans legislation. The bills – which would both ban gender-affirming care for trans kids and sports participation for trans youth – [were initially vetoed by Governor Mike DeWine](. [The House, however, has officially overridden the Governor’s veto](. But do not mistake DeWine as a friend of the trans community. In the interim between the veto and the override, DeWine issued [an executive order banning gender-affirming care for people of any age]( [going well-beyond the proposed laws (and he leaned on anti-choice laws to do it!)]( In response to laws like these, more trans people are stepping up to have a voice in government. But they are facing unprecedented barriers against their campaigns. One trans candidate in Ohio [(Vanessa Joy) has been kicked off the ballot]( (her challenge is pending), while [two more face after-the-fact-reviews of their campaigns](. The logic? They hadn’t informed the state of their [‘deadnames’]( while filing to run. But here’s the rub: [the state has never enforced this law – nor does the state ask about previous names on the filing or list the rule in the candidate requirement guidelines](. As Vice President of Political Programs Sean Meloy pointed out in interviews with [The New York Times]( [the Associated Press]( and [The Guardian]( among others, [this is selective enforcement of the law]( deliberately used to force trans candidates off the ballot. In response to bigoted laws, more and more trans candidates [are stepping up to run for office across the country]( – and they are winning. The selective enforcement of this law makes it clear that bigots will do anything to keep them off the ballot, [even if it means digging through the rulebooks to find standards other candidates did not have to abide by](. This is another wave of anti-trans action to keep trans people from holding public office. [DONATE BUTTON]( Mondaire Jones’ Latest Fundraising Haul Politico reports that Mondaire Jones [raised $1 million last quarter]( [(after raising another 1.15 million the previously quarter](. Mondaire has cleared the primary field, all but ensuring he’ll be taking on incumbent [U.S. Congressman Mike Lawler]( in this battleground House race. WATCH: Mark Gonzalez’s New Campaign Ad! Victory Fund endorsed candidate [Mark Gonzalez]( running for the California State Assembly, just released his latest campaign ad! [Watch the full spot here](. BONUS ROUND: ENDORSEMENTS GALORE! Evan Low, running for California’s 16th U.S. House district, [announced a slate of 20 endorsements]( Two new endorsements for Sarah McBride, running for Delaware’s at-large House seat: [the U.S. Congressional Progressive Caucus]( and [Elect Democratic Women]( are standing with her! [Elect Democratic Women]( also issued an endorsement for Julie Johnson in TX-32. [Julie has also been hard at work knocking doors and getting out the vote]( Our candidate for U.S. House district WA-06, Emily Randall, announced endorsements from [The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe]( [the South Kitsap Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 2876]( and [Alfie Alvarado Ramos, Former WA Director of Veterans Affairs]( In her race for the California State Senate, [Sabrina Cervantes announced that Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest is endorsing her campaign]( Clarissa Cervantes, running for the California State Assembly, announced a series of endorsements from [the National Union of Healthcare Workers]( [HONOR PAC]( [Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Assembly Speaker Designate Robert Rivas]( [DONATE BUTTON]( 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: [Instagram]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [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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