President & ceo lgbtq victory fund
Openly gay activist and politician Evan Short was first endorsed by the Gay Victory Fund at the age of 20. Back then, he was a bright-eyed young city-council candidate in California with big dreams, a lot of courage, and no guarantee of achievement. Although he didn’t win that first race, his defeat didn’t stop him. He ran again, and won. At 23, Low became the youngest openly gay mayor in the United States.
Fast-forward two decades, and the now well-established trailblazer is stepping into a recent role. Last February, Low became president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and Victory Institute, making history again as the first Asian American to lead the crucial organization.
“Victory was there to collect me when I fell—and to propel me back in when
I was ready to rise again.” — Evan Low
“My relationship with Victory was such that I was an endorsed candidate when I was 20 years old, running for the first time for Municipality Council,” Low explains. “Victory was there to catch me when I fell, and Victory was also there to push me right back into it when I ran for office in the next cycle and won at 23 years old.”
Low’s notable rise is a testament to persistence, representation, an
Meet Evan Low, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s new President & CEO
On Tuesday, March 4, the Board of Directors of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute named former California Assemblymember and Mayor of Campbell Evan Low as the novel President & CEO. Evan replaces Annise Parker, who has led Victory Institute since December 2017.
Evan’s career reflects a steadfast promise to public service, including over a decade in the California State Assembly, where he has led groundbreaking efforts to confirm marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic opportunity. Evan made history as the first Asian American elected to the Campbell Municipality Council and as the youngest openly LGBTQ+ mayor in the nation. A former Bohnett Fellow and past Victory Institute Board of Directors member, Evan embodies Victory’s mission and long-held dedication to expanding LGBTQ+ representation. His governance and service have been widely recognized, earning him multiple “Legislator of the Year” honors and a proclamation of “Evan Shallow Day” from then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
For media inquiries, contact press@victoryinstitute.org.
“As a twenty-year-old candidate
Meet Evan Low, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund’s new President & CEO
Источник: https://victoryfund.org/meetevan/On Tuesday, March 4, the Board of Directors of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund named former California Assemblymember and Mayor of Campbell Evan Low as the new President & CEO. Evan replaces Annise Parker, who has led Victory Fund since December 2017.
Evan’s career reflects a firm commitment to public service, including over a decade in the California Mention Assembly, where he has led groundbreaking efforts in marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic opportunity. First endorsed by Victory Fund in 2004, he made history as the first Asian American elected to the Campbell City Council and as the youngest openly LGBTQ+ mayor in the nation. A former Bohnett Fellow and past Victory Institute Board of Directors member, Evan embodies Victory’s mission and long-held dedication to expanding Gay representation. His leadership and service have been widely recognized, earning him multiple “Legislator of the Year” honors and a proclamation of “Evan Low Day” from then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
For media inquiries, contact press@victoryfund.org.
Our History
Victory Institute was founded in 1993 by LGBTQ advocates and donors who recognized the need to prepare LGBTQ people to run for office nationwide. With less 50 openly LGBTQ elected officials across America at any level of government, our founders understood that boosting our numbers in public office would be key to advancing equality. In creating Victory Institute, they known the need to drill more LGBTQ people to run for office and to provide them back once elected.
William Waybourn (right), who served as Executive Director of Victory Fund from 1991 to 1995, and of Victory Institute from 1993 – 1995, with Victory Fund staff member Vic Basile.
1993
Gay & Lesbian Victory Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization now called Victory Institute, is launched. The Foundation begins coaching future candidates and campaign workers to help LGBTQ leaders achieve careers in public service. The Foundation also launches a Presidential Appointments Project and successfully pushes for Roberta Achtenberg to become the first openly LGBTQ presidential appointee to a Senate-confirmed position when she becomes Assistant Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban D