5 Signs Romance is Still Alive
It’s National Romance Awareness Month – and while it might not always feel like love is in the air if you are dating today, singles say they want Romance and are motivated to find it. Here are the 5 signs that Romance is still alive and kicking today! Foreva eva: 54% of singles believe in […]

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After Landmark Primary Win, Vermont’s Christine Hallquist Could Become the Nation’s First Transgender Governor

Christine Hallquist / Twitter

Vermont’s Christine Hallquist won her Democratic primary on Tuesday, making her the first transgender gubernatorial nominee from a major party in U.S. history.

She will now face incumbent Republican Governor Phil Scott in November.

On to November! Thank you all for your support – this is Vermont’s victory!

Join us→t.co/ONRg5t7VZJ

Donate→t.co/WdplXlJP7N #vtpoli #victory #bluewave #tearitupsister #firsttransgov pic.twitter.com/C5HBocqhrU

— Christine Hallquist (@christineforvt) August 15, 2018

Write the Daily Beast: “Hallquist is a former energy company CEO who came out as a transgender woman in 2015 after living in Vermont since 1976. If she wins the gubernatorial election in November, she will not only be the first transgender governor but only the second governor to be elected while out as LGBT. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, who took office in 2015, is bisexual. (Former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey came out as gay in August 2004 in the midst of a political scandal and resigned shortly thereafter.)”

DNC Chair Tom Perez issued the following statement:

“The DNC is proud to congratulate Christine Hallquist, Vermont’s Democratic nominee for governor and the country’s first-ever openly transgender nominee for governor, along with all of tonight’s Democratic nominees in the Green Mountain State. Christine’s historic victory tonight is an inspiration to LGBTQ people everywhere, and we are excited to stand behind her and the entire slate of fantastic Democratic nominees in Vermont. There’s no doubt that Christine and her fellow nominees will join a strong ticket this November that will fight for our values and serve as dedicated advocates for Vermont’s working families. Vermont voters know that Democrats have their backs and share their values, and they’re ready to organize to turn more seats blue this November.”

Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about Hallquist’s primary win:

“Christine’s victory is a defining moment in the movement for trans equality and is especially remarkable given how few out trans elected officials there are at any level of government. Many thought it unthinkable a viable trans gubernatorial candidate like Christine would emerge so soon. Yet Vermont voters chose Christine not because of her gender identity, but because she is an open and authentic candidate with a long history of service to the state, and who speaks to the issues most important to voters.

“Christine’s business experience and progressive vision for Vermont means she’s perfectly-positioned to take on Governor Scott – whose approval numbers continue to plunge because of his inability to manage the state government and his failed attempts to hide his conservative policy positions. When voters head to the polls this November, we are confident Vermonters will make her the first openly trans governor in the nation and just the second openly LGBTQ person elected governor in American history.

“Christine often attributes Vermonters’ accepting her gender identity to the hard work and bravery of LGBTQ pioneers who came before her – those at Stonewall, the Harvey Milks, and other courageous activists. Now, Christine is a pioneer deserving of that appreciation. Her authenticity, poise and presence on the campaign trail will undoubtedly inspire more trans people to pursue their dreams of a career in elected office, and that will inevitably change America and the world.”

The post After Landmark Primary Win, Vermont’s Christine Hallquist Could Become the Nation’s First Transgender Governor appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

After Landmark Primary Win, Vermont’s Christine Hallquist Could Become the Nation’s First Transgender Governor

HRC Celebrates Victories of Pro-Equality Champions in Wisconsin Primary

HRC released the following statement celebrating the victories of pro-equality candidates including Senator Tammy Baldwin; Reps. Mark Pocan, Ron Kind, and Gwen Moore; and Josh Kaul for Attorney General.

“HRC is proud to work on behalf of pro-equality candidates in these crucial races up and down the ballot, and will continue to mobilize our hundreds of thousands of members and supporters in Wisconsin to turn out for equality in the general election,” said HRC Wisconsin State Director Wendy Strout. “The choice for fair-minded Wisconsinites couldn’t be clearer this November. We can either support pro-equality champions like Senator Tammy Baldwin, who have spent their careers fighting to ensure that every Wisconsinite can live a life free from discrimination and harassment, or side with anti-equality candidates like Leah Vukmir who, time and time again, has worked to undermine equality for the LGBTQ community.”

HRC is proud to support Senator Baldwin for re-election. She is the first openly LGBTQ U.S. Senator and the first woman elected to the Senate from Wisconsin. Throughout her public service, she has been a pioneer for equality as a leader in the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a champion for federal hate crimes protections, and a primary sponsor of the Equality Act. In addition to Baldwin’s strong civil rights record, she has been a voice for Wisconsin’s working people, leading the fight for quality, affordable health care access and an economy that works for everyone.

Baldwin will be facing State Senator Leah Vukmir in the general election. Throughout her almost two decades in public office, Vukmir has repeatedly taken extreme positions far outside the mainstream.  She derailed efforts to pass commonsense protections for Wisconsin’s LGBTQ community, including protections for LGBTQ youth facing discrimination and bullying at school. She is a long time opponent of marriage equality and has close ties to some of the nation’s most virulently anti-LGBTQ organizations, such as the Family Research Council. Vukmir has consistently voted against pro-equality legislation and has pushed for a license to discriminate in the healthcare system that would prioritize physicians’ beliefs over life-saving patient care. In addition to her attacks on the LGBTQ community, Vukmir’s extremist agenda also includes attacks on voting rights; health care, including ending protections for people with pre-existing conditions and stripping women of their reproductive rights; education; and the environment.

HRC-endorsed Josh Kaul will face incumbent Brad Schimel in the race for Attorney General. Schimel, joined the suit against the Obama administration’s life-saving guidance protecting LGBTQ students and recently urged the Supreme Court of the United States to grant a potentially sweeping license to discriminate against LGBTQ people. Schimel also accepted thousands of dollars from the notoriously anti-LGBTQ Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) to speak at the group’s recent conference in California.

HRC is on the ground working to defeat incumbent Governor Scott Walker, who is seeking a third term in office, and has made anti-LGBTQ activism a cornerstone of his political career. Walker supported Wisconsin’s constitutional amendment banning marriage equality, vetoed a bill to provide domestic partner benefits to workers and tried to kill a domestic partner registry. He also supports banning qualified transgender people from serving in the military, saying he “wouldn’t change” the Trump-Pence administration’s unconstitutional policy.

Following tonight’s primary, HRC will continue to examine races up and down the ballot to determine additional endorsements for the 2018 general election. In Wisconsin, HRC has identified more than 560,000 “Equality Voters” — voters who support  LGBTQ-inclusive policies. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Wisconsin in the 2018 cycle, and has already put staff and resources on the ground in the state as part of the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-celebrates-victories-of-pro-equality-champions-in-wi-primary?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed