Historic Numbers of LGBTQ People are Running for Office

The LGBTQ Victory Fund, an organization dedicated to electing queer people to public office around the country, has recently released a collection of demographic data about the out-LGBTQ people who are running for office this election season. The data shows a historic 1,008 queer people running in this election, and they tend to be significantly more diverse in terms of race and ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

The LGBTQ Victory Fund pointed out several key trends in their collected data. Such trends include over 100 more LGBTQ people of color running in 2022 than in 2020, a 58% increase to 2020 and a 225% increase to 2018; 55 trans people running in 2022, a 62% increase to 2020 and a 15% increase to 2018; and a 73% increase in LGBTQ people running for federal office, a 12% increase in LGBTQ people running for state legislatures and a whopping 543% increase in LGBTQ people running for statewide office since 2020.

The influx of queer candidates comes alongside the record-high number of anti-LGBTQ bills that were introduced and passed across the country this year. As of July 1, 2022, at least 162 anti-queer bills have been introduced. Most of the LGBTQ people running in this election, more than 400, are seeking seats in the state legislature. While there are no assurances for the outcome of the election, it is promising to see more queer people getting involved in politics and taking a stand against harmful laws.

Annise Parker, president and CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released a statement about the historic data.

“The writing is on the wall for the LGBTQ community and our allies: our rights are on the ballot this year,” Parker says. “The people we elect this cycle will make decisions about what our kids are allowed to learn and say in the classroom, what healthcare choices people will be allowed to make about their own bodies and possibly, whether we will continue to be allowed to marry those we love.”

She continues, “With more LGBTQ people running than ever before, this election also brings incredible opportunity to elect fiercely pro-choice, pro-equality leaders up and down the ballot. The LGBTQ leaders we elect will not only be critical voices in halls of power across the country, their success will be a deafening rebuke to the wave of hate impacting our community.”