Queer women candidates ready to fight for the community
With election season coming soon, members of the LGBTQ community are taking the fight to the polls– including a few queer women candidates.
Most of them are registered Democrats, with a number of them having experience serving in government in one position or another, while others are reelectionists.
All of them are set on taking back the government from the current Trump administration and its anti-LGBTQ slant.
Three queer women candidates at the fore
One of those who will be running is Kristin Seale, who recently defeated Philip Block in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 168 Democratic primary election.
Seale, who is endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund, is set to face incumbent Republican Christopher Quinn in the November general election. Seale identifies as queer.
Annise Parker, LGBTQ Victory Fund president and CEO. “With [Tuesday night’s] victories, we are poised to triple the number of openly LGBTQ state legislators in Pennsylvania– an important step in moving equality forward in the state.”
“While these out leaders will be champions for our community, their campaign platforms are about improving the lives of all Pennsylvanians. That is why they won tonight, and why they will win in November,” Parker said.
Meanwhile, Oregon Democratic Governor Kate Brown– who identifies as bisexual– won her primary with more than 80 percent of the vote. She’s set to face Republican Knute Buehler, a state representative
Another incumbent who won the primary in Oregon is State Rep. Karin Power. Both Brown and Power are also endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund.
Other queer women candidates in the running
From being the first LGBTQ candidate elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, State Rep. Nickie Antonio is moving up.
After winning the Democratic primary Tuesday against fellow State Rep. Martin Sweeney, Antonio is now gunning for a seat in the Ohio Senate.
“Our campaign was actually a campaign of people. That’s what made a difference,” said Antonio, who got endorsements from the LGBTQ Victory Fund and Human Rights Campaign while being snubbed by the local Democratic Party.
Two other Democrat candidates ran unopposed. Rebecca Howard garnered the party’s nomination in Ohio House District 53 and is set to face incumbent Republican Candice Keller.
Ditto Melinda Miller, who identifies as bisexual and is running for the Ohio Senate District 31.
Shawn Copeland, who serves as the Ohio state manager for HRC Rising, said: “A lot of voters are beginning to recognize that what matters isn’t your sexual orientation or gender identity. It’s where you stand on the issues.”