RESEARCH
2023
Our Mission
LPAC is the only organization whose mission is to elect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer women and nonbinary people.
LPAC was founded in 2012 by a group of LGBTQ women seeking to create a place, and voice, at the power table for our community. We do this by endorsing and investing in candidates directly and supporting them through independent expenditure campaigns. We’ve raised more than $7.1 million and endorsed more than 255 candidates. And we’re just getting started.
LPAC’s focus is on electing LGBTQ women and nonbinary candidates who share our values: LGBTQ and women’s equality, women’s health, and social justice, while helping coalesce LGBTQ women as a concrete and powerful political demographic.
Our Team
LISA TURNER
Executive Director
Lisa Turner is the Executive Director of LPAC, the premier national committee supporting LGBTQ+ women candidates running for political office. Prior to becoming the Executive Director, she was the National Political Director. In this role, she created LPAC’s awardwinning IE operation which helped elect U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Kyrsten Sinema, as well as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Turner worked on the launch of the committee’s non-profit arm Project LPAC, which has produced groundbreaking data on LGBTQ+ women’s civic engagement and electoral participation, as well as research on how supporters of equality can best communicate their support for transgender rights and individuals.
Turner served in the Obama Administration as a political appointee at USDA and HHS. She has worked on the national political scene for many years as a campaign consultant to numerous federal, state, and local candidates, campaign committees, and progressive donors. Her work as a national strategist and media advisor has led to long-term social justice change. Among the many accomplishments from her 30-year political career include serving as the DLCC’s first political director; serving as a strategic adviser to billionaire philanthropist Jon Stryker; and working as a campaign consultant to the LGBTQ Victory Fund, Gill Action, and HRC. She also served on the Governor of Virginia’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board from 2021-22.
Turner is a graduate of Old Dominion University and the UVA Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership.
Our Values
LGBTQ RIGHTS
There are no federal protections for LGBTQ people in the workplace or in housing, and state-level protections are erratic. Same-sex marriage is legal federally, but 13 states still prohibit it at the state level, making us one conservative Supreme Court decision away from disaster. LGBTQ Americans must be fully equal under our laws.
WOMEN’S EQUALITY
With the ongoing assault on women’s rights at the federal and state levels, it’s more important than ever to elect politicians who will put women’s protections front and center of their platforms. Reproductive choice and maternal support are non-negotiable values – full stop.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
All people in America — regardless of race, sexual orientation or gender identity, class, geography, or immigration status — deserve a fair shake. We deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. LPAC endorses candidates who put this intersectional perspective into practice in their campaign platforms and political actions.
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MATT FOURACRE
Administrative Director
Matt Fouracre joined LPAC in 2018. In his role as Administrative Director he oversees LPAC’s operations. Matt previously was LPAC’s Political Director, where he oversaw LPAC’s work endorsing LGBTQ women running up-and-down the ballot. He previously worked at Out Leadership in New York, where he was Manager, Client Relations & Public Policy. His portfolio included overseeing client relationships globally with the firm’s cohort of almost 70 member companies. Matt also led the firm’s public policy work, including developing guidelines for corporate engagement around external LGBTQ issues. Prior to joining Out Leadership, Matt worked as a Staff Assistant in former U.S. Senator Mark Udall’s Denver office and taught 6th grade writing. He holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a BA in International Studies from the University of Denver. He is based in New York, NY.
MICHELLE
ATWOOD
Political Director
Michelle Atwood is the Political Director at LPAC, where she oversees LPAC’s endorsement process and campaign support for LGBTQ women and nonbinary candidates running for office at every level of the ballot. She was previously the Political Manager at LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, where she oversaw all aspects of the endorsement process and helped candidates succeed across the country. Prior to joining LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Michelle worked at BallotReady, an elections data startup, conducting research on voting accessibility and elections across the U.S. to make information about elections more accessible to voters across the country. Michelle is based in Los Angeles, CA.
ANTHONY WILSON Director of Development
Anthony Wilson serves as LPAC’s Director of Development. Anthony has a wide range of experience within the political space and got his start working with the office of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01). Having served as senior staff on multiple federal, state and local campaigns, he has managed budgets, large teams and built fundraising operations from the ground up. Additionally, Anthony has considerable experience working one-on-one with members of Congress to aid in PAC fundraising efforts. Most recently, he managed a highly competitive open-seat Congressional race in New York. He and his partner reside in Washington, D.C. and have two lovely rescue cats, Ivan and Axl.
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MEMEBERSHIP TEIRS PER YEAR
(All memberships are donations (cost) for one calandar year except the liftetime membership)
Memberships
Basic Membership Silver Membership Gold Membership Platinum Membership
Lifetime Membership
Includes Cost
Includes access to all research documents.
Includes Basic membership, early access to all research documents, and early invites.
Includes Silver membership, 10% off all events, and 10% discount on all merchandise.
Includes Gold membership, 25% off all events, and 25% discount on all merchandise.
Includes Platinum membership, 50% off all events and merchandise, and access to live research.
$250.00
$500.00
$1,000.00 $5,000.00 $10,000.00
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LPAC builds political strength and increases representation for and with LGBTQ women 2023 Membership and Mission Catalog 2 LGBTQ Equality. Women’s Equality. Social Justice. LPAC Values 3 LPAC Mission 4 LPAC Our Team 5 LPAC September Endorsements 7 LPAC Memberships & Donations 11 LPAC Research 12 F E A T U R E S 4 LGBTQ Equality. Women’s Equality. Social Justice.
LPAC is excited to endorse 17 Trailblazing LGBTQ women and nonbinary candidates -- the most candidates we have ever endorsed at one time! These leaders have stepped up to run for office to make lasting change in their communities. You can find out more about each candidate below.
Marcia Price, Virginia House of Delegates, District 85
Delegate Marcia Price is running for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates. Price serves as Vice-Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and is currently the only Black LGBTQ person serving in the state legislature.
Sylvia Swayne, Alabama House of Representatives, District 55
Sylvia Swayne is a Democrat running in a special election for a Birmingham-area seat in the Alabama House of Representatives. If elected, she will be the first trans person elected in the state of Alabama!
Chauntyll Allen, St. Paul Public School Board (MN)
In 2019, Allen became the first out LGBTQ person elected to the St. Paul Public School Board. LPAC is thrilled to support her in her re-election campaign.
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Maren Costa, Seattle City Council (WA)
When the pandemic hit, Maren Costa joined together with Amazon warehouse workers to protest unsafe working conditions and was fired as a result. Her illegal firing was nationally publicized, with nine U.S. Senators signing on to a letter demanding that Jeff Bezos re-hire her. Costa is putting her community organizing experience to good use on the campaign trail.
Elizabeth Greninger, SeaTac City Council (WA)
A community advocate with over 15 years of experience in domestic and sexual violence prevention and response, Elizabeth Greninger is challenging an incumbent for a seat on the SeaTac City Council in Washington.
Dia Hildenbrand, Circleville Board of Education (OH)
Dia Hildenbrand is running for the Circleville Board of Education in Ohio to protect LGBTQ students and to ensure that Circleville schools are safe for all students.
Joy Hollingsworth, Seattle City Council (WA)
Joy Hollingsworth, a small business owner and nonprofit leader, is running for an open seat on the Seattle City Council in Washington. She placed first in the August primary by 90 votes and LPAC is thrilled to support her in the competitive general election.
Lyndsie Leech, Eugene City Council (OR)
Lyndsie Leech is running to retain her seat on the Eugene City Council in Oregon, after being appointed to the seat in December 2022. Leech is the Executive Director of a nonprofit providing mental health support for new parents.
Amelia McMillan, Central York School Board (PA)
Amelia McMillan is running for a seat on the Central York School Board in Pennsylvania. The board serves a population of 40,000 and in 2021 passed a far-reaching book ban. LPAC is proud to support McMillan’s campaign to make the Central York school district safe for all students.
Maydee Morales, Worcester City Council (MA)
Maydee Morales is running for the Worcester City Council in Massachusetts. During the pandemic, Morales was a frontline worker and ran a vaccine clinic that vaccinated over 800 people on a daily basis. Over the course of her career, she has worked in philanthropy, city management, and social services.
ChrisTiana ObeySumner, Seattle City Council (WA)
ChrisTiana ObeySumner is running for an open seat on the Seattle City Council in Washington. If elected, ObeySumner would be the first nonbinary person and the first ace person elected to the Seattle City Council!
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LPAC Board
LAURA RICKETTS Board Chair JANELLE PEREZ Vice Chair of the Board
CHARLOTTE CLYMER LIZ CULLEY
Elizabeth Parent, Fuquay-Varina Town Board of Commissioners (NC)
Elizabeth Parent is running for an unexpired term on the Fuquay-Varina Town Board of Commissioners in North Carolina. She is the mother of three boys, a honey beekeeper, a childhood sexual abuse survivor, and a community advocate.
Holly Ryan, Newton City Council (MA)
When she was first elected in 2019, Ryan became the first out trans woman to serve on a City Council in the state of Massachusetts and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve on the Newton City Council. LPAC is happy to support her re-election campaign.
Damon Sherry, Bowling Green City Council (OH)
Damon Sherry is running for an open seat on the Bowling Green City Council in Ohio. If elected, Sherry would be the first nonbinary person elected to the Bowling Green City Council!
Caroline Smith, New Haven Board of Alders (CT)
Caroline Smith is running unopposed for an open seat on the New Haven Board of Alders in Connecticut. Smith is the co-founder of Collab, a recognized nonprofit that reduces barriers for New Haven residents to start businesses with a specific focus on supporting women, people with lowerincomes, people of color, and immigrants.
Cindy Strebig, Lakewood City Council (OH)
Cindy Strebig is running for an open seat on the Lakewood City Council in Ohio. Strebig has lived in Lakewood for 25 years and has been a small business owner and landlady in the community for 23 years.
Aime Wichtendahl, Hiawatha City Council (IA)
Aime Wichtendahl is running for her third term on the Hiawatha City Council in Iowa. When she was first elected in 2015, Wichtendahl made history as the first trans elected official in Iowa. On the state level, Wichtendahl has organized protests and testified against multiple anti-LGBTQ bills, including a gender-affirming care ban. LPAC is thrilled to support her in her re-election campaign.
Scan QR code to donate to LPAC or any of September endorsed candidates
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SHARI WEINER Secretary NIKKI BARUA
ALIX RITCHIE RENNAE STUBBS
HILARY ROSEN Treasurer REBECCA BUCKWALTER-POZA
MARY L. TRUMP URVASHI VAID
Founder & Board Member Emeritus
LGBTQ Equality. Women’s Equality. Social Justice. RESEARCH 2023 LGBTQ Equality. Women’s Equality. Social Justice.
ASHLEIGH
