Resources unveiled at opening of International LGBTQ Leaders Conference in Washington, DC reveal severe underrepresentation of LGBTQ people
Washington, DC – Today Victory Institute released its Out for America report and interactive Out for America map to provide the most comprehensive look ever at LGBTQ elected officials in the United States. The report provides demographic information for the nearly 450 known LGBTQ elected officials in the U.S. and documents the severe underrepresentation of LGBTQ people in key positions of power.
Among the report’s key findings:
- 448 known LGBTQ elected officials are currently serving in the U.S., just 0.1 percent of all elected officials nationwide;
- 21,307 more LGBTQ elected officials must be elected to achieve equitable representation;
- Just 20.5 percent of LGBTQ elected officials are people of color; and
- Only 1.8 percent of LGBTQ elected officials are transgender.
“The severe underrepresentation of LGBTQ people in elected positions – especially LGBTQ people of color and transgender people – is an urgent call to arms for LGBTQ leaders to run for office and be our voice in the halls of power,” said Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, President & CEO of Victory Institute. “When LGBTQ elected officials are in the room, it humanizes our lives, changes the debate and leads to more inclusive legislation. The Out for America report documents the enormous work that needs to be done to ensure our people are in those rooms – and the long road ahead before equitable representation is achieved.”
This underrepresentation is also demonstrated on the Out for America interactive map, which allows users to search for elected officials by sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, office level and geography. It is the first publicly available online resource to provide such information. Both the report and map were released at the opening of the International LGBTQ Leaders Conference in Washington, DC, where more than 500 LGBTQ elected officials and leaders are gathering to strategize how to increase LGBTQ representation in government and move forward equality.