Victory Will Be Ours

LGBTQ+ Victory Institute 2023 LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in our nation’s capital.

BY SARAH POPE PHOTOS JAMES WONG

Over 600 LGBTQ+ elected officials, leaders, and advocates from across the world came together for the 39th Annual International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington, DC. The conference included three days of networking and skills building as LGBTQ+ candidates and campaign managers strategize the year ahead in our movement for equality.

LGBTQ+ Victory Institute hosted the 2023 Conference at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC, November 30 to December 2, 2023. Activities included: Elected Officials Summit, One-Day Candidate & Campaign Training, Political Appointments Training, Victory Congressional Intern Orientation, and Convention Delegate Training. Plenaries included: Back in the Political Playbook: LGBTQ+ Issues and Candidates in the 2024 Elections; Emulating Our Opponents: Countering the Global Anti-LGBTQ Movement;

and “We’re Still Here”: LGBTQ+ Indigenous Leaders and the Continued Fight for Equality. Evening receptions included the Opening Global Reception; Leading in Color Party; David Bohnet Leaders Fellow Reception; Victory Congressional Intern Dinner; NextGen Reception; and Women Out to Win Reception.

Conference History

In 1984, two dozen elected officials came together for the first time and estimated there were 50 out LGBTQ+ officials in the whole world. Today hundreds of leaders attend the conference annually, and there are more than 1,000 out officials around the globe.