LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ+ leaders to public office, endorsed Lori Lightfoot for Chicago mayor.
Since her historic victory in 2019, Lightfoot has remained the nation's highest-ranking out LGBTQ+ mayor and only out Black lesbian mayor, the organization stated.
Other LGBTQ+ candidates in the 2023 mayoral race include Ald. Raymond Lopez, media figure DJ Doran and activist J Saxon.
According to LGBTQ Victory Institute's Out for America Map, the only national database of out LGBTQ+ elected officials, there are just 13 out LGBTQ+ women mayors in the country and just five out Black LGBTQ+ mayors.
In a statement, Lightfoot said, "Victory Fund has always been a tremendous partner of mine. In 2019, their early endorsement put my campaign on the map. They believed in me before a lot of other people even considered it. Representation matters, particularly when you are part of a community that has been historically discriminated against. LGBTQ+ representation and visibility is essential, and an important part of Chicago's history and culture.
"I will always fight for the rights and needs of our community. We've accomplished so muchincluding expanding resources for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth and reforming policies and training for police interacting with transgender, intersex and gender-nonconforming people. With Victory Fund's support, there is so much more we can accomplish and I am proud to have their support for my re-election."
More information about all of Victory Fund's endorsed candidates is available at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates.