Victory Fund Head Chuck Wolfe: We Need Gay Republicans In Congress

"This year at least three gay Republicans are seeking seats in Congress, and the Victory Fund has endorsed two of them along with seven Democratic congressional candidates and hundreds more from both parties at the state and local level. As a nonpartisan organization with a clear mission to increase the number of LGBT voices in government, we strongly believe out lawmakers are vital on both sides of the aisle. The need is especially great now for at least one openly gay Republican inside the GOP caucus in Congress — someone who can speak authentically on behalf of all of us, including the 25 to 30 percent of LGBT Americans who consistently vote Republican in presidential elections.

"Richard Tisei, a married, openly gay Republican running for Congress in Massachusetts, is exactly the type of leader whose voice is desperately needed in the House. Richard is a respected, experienced champion for equality who garnered high praise from LGBT activists when he served in the state senate. In his last race for Congress in 2012, Richard earned the endorsement of every single major newspaper in his district, and he came extremely close to beating a Democratic incumbent who was battling an ethics scandal. He easily qualified for Victory’s endorsement then, and we are proud to stand with him again this year." - Victory Fund president Chuck Wolfe, writing for the Advocate.

NYC Woman Tells Anthony Weiner That She Won't Be Voting For "The Dyke"

The Washington Post reports on an exchange between Anthony Weiner and a woman voter at a shopping center:

“You a registered Democrat?” he asked an elderly woman wheeling a shopping cart by him. “I am,” she said. “And I’m not voting for uh, what’s her name? The dyke.” “Okay. I just need you to sign the petition to get me on the ballot,” said Weiner, who then noticed the incredulous reaction of a reporter and added, “and you really shouldn’t talk that way about people.” “Oh, I’m sorry,” the woman said. “It’s okay,” Weiner responded. “It’s not your fault.”

Victory Fund head Chuck Wolfe is quite unhappy with Weiner's response.

"No, Anthony, it’s not okay. If he can’t stand up to these repugnant views as a candidate, he certainly won’t do it as mayor. LGBT New Yorkers should demand that Weiner categorically reject these views no matter what audience he’s in front of, especially when people use slurs to refer to the only openly gay candidate in the race.”

RELATED: The Victory Fund notes that both Weiner and former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson failed to call out NOM endorsee Erick Salgado for anti-gay comments he made in their presence at a June 4th forum.

NOTE: The Victory Fund has endorsed Christine Quinn.

MSNBC On Prepping LGBT Candidates

SLIDESHOW: Victory Fund Brunch NYC

Today I attended the first annual Victory Fund brunch in NYC, where headliner Rep. Barney Frank talked at length about the difficulties we face in the repeal of DADT and even getting ENDA to a vote. Comedian Alec Mapa hosted, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn spoke, anti-Quinn activists protested outside, and a literal who's who of political homorati mingled over mimosas.

In the house: all the gay NYC council members, activist and event co-chair David Mixner, activist Corey Johnson, early DADT activist Joe Steffan, comedian Kate Clinton and her partner Urvashi Vaid, Reichen Lehmkuhl, actor Jack Noseworthy, former GLAAD head Neil Giuliano, and a boatload of probably similarly famous people that I don't know. I'll let you name them in the slideshow below, since I can't. Lots of ridiculously handsome men within. Full-screen versions of the below photos are here.

Openly Gay Justice For SCOTUS?

The Victory Fund's Chuck Wolfe talks to MSNBC's David Shuster about the possibility of President Obama appointing a gay or lesbian person to replace SCOTUS Judge David Souter.