About 450 people attended the Victory Fund's second annual Chicago Champagne Brunch at the Raddison Blu Aqua Hotel Sept. 8. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz) was the afternoon's keynote speaker.
Debra Shore, commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and chair of the Victory Institute board of directors, invited members of the host committee to the stage and recognized elected and appointed political office holders, the table captains and sponsors for the event. Shore also spoke about the training and leadership development that the Victory Institute offers for LGBT candidates as well as LGBT individuals interested in working in the political sphere.
Shore invited Illinois State Rep. Greg Harris to the stage to receive an award from the Victory Fund, given in honor of Harris' work he's done for the LGBT community.
Harris said the work to ensure that the marriage equality bill becomes law "is not done in the state of Illinois."
Illinois Rep. Kelly Cassidy spoke about how far LGBT elected officials have come in the last 20 years. In talking about her family, Cassidy shared that her conservative colleagues congratulated her on her engagement to Kelley Quinn and have also identified with her due to their shared experiences as moms. "Our presence and our numbers make a difference [in all levels of government]," said Cassidy.
Cassidy introduced North Dakota State Rep. Joshua Boschee, the first openly gay candidate to get elected to the N.D. state legislature. Boschee shared his story and the help that the Victory Fund and Institute gave him as a candidate and as an elected official.
Victory Fund & Institute President and CEO Chuck Wolfe spoke about the progress that was made in 2012, including doubling the number of out LGBT members of Congress and the election of the first out LGBT U.S. senator, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.
Wolfe said 2013 is the "year of the mayor," with a number of cities holding elections with LGBT candidates, including Seattle, Houston and New York City. In Seattle openly gay candidate Ed Murray won the primary and is facing a run-off in November; in Houston openly gay Mayor Annise Parker is running for re-election; and in New York City openly gay candidate Christine Quinn (speaker of the city council) is running in the primary against a number of other candidates, noted Wolfe. (Quinn's race is this week.)
Then Wolfe brought Kyrsten Simena, the first openly bisexual member of the House of Representatives, to the stage. Sinema, who received a standing ovation, thanked Shore for her friendship and guidance, the Victory Fund for their assistance and her colleagues from the Illinois delegation Mike Quigley, Bill Foster and Brad Schneider for attending the brunch.
"Little could I have imagined when I was a young girl that I would be standing here today in this fabulous dress as a member of Congress," said Sinema. "Only in America can a kid who grew up homeless, living in an abandoned gas station with no running water and no electricity … one day make it to the United States Congress."
The Victory Fund was there from the beginning, Sinema explained, and stayed with her throughout her campaign and election victory. Sinema also talked about the history of the LGBT movement over the past 13 years including marriage equality victories in numerous states, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the recent Prop 8 and DOMA Supreme Court victories.
"I believe there is no greater dream in America than opportunity," said Sinema. "Our job is to ensure that the great American value of opportunity exists for all Americans. While opportunities for LGBT Americans have grown exponentially over the last decade we face a challenge to finish the job that generations before us started."
Sponsors included BMO Harris Bank, Northern Trust, Dover Strategy Group, Debra Shore, Sen. Heather Steans and Leo Smith, as well as many other individuals.
See www.victoryfund.org/home for more information.
Videos by Tracy Baim/Windy City Times
Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and North Dakota Rep. Joshua Boschee at Victory Fund
Illinois Rep. Greg Harris at Victory Fund 9-8-2013
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona at Victory Fund Chicago event
Victory Fund President and CEO Chuck Wolfe in Chicago 9-8-2013
