Annise Parker, President and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund and LGBTQ Victory Institute talks with  Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about the importance of endorsing openly LGBTQ political candidates for local, state and federal elective offices. Currently there are 1200 openly LGBTQ people serving in offices across America but we need at least 30,000 to come close to leveling the political scope in this country. The LGBTQ Victory Fund works to achieve this goal and sustain equality by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve. We all know how successful the religious right has been in stacking the political field against our community. Now is the time to support LGBTQ candidates in their quest to advance our progressive values. To be considered for endorsement by the Victory Fund and Victory Institute candidates must be openly LGBTQ, pro-choice and support an individual’s right to privacy. It’s also crucial that they support the rights of transgender individuals, demonstrate community support and have a realistic plan to win. Candidates must additionally demonstrate support of federal, state or local efforts to advance LGBTQ civil rights through the legislative or regulatory process and demonstrate support of federal, state or local efforts to safeguard privacy and reproductive freedom. Victory Fund was founded in 1991 by LGBTQ activists and donors who recognized the success of EMILY’s List at attracting attention and support for women candidates for public office and applied the success of this model to advance equality for our LGBTQ community. We talked to Annise about what she hopes to accomplish at the Victory Fund and her spin on our LGBTQ issues.  Annise Parker is the first former elected official to lead the Victory Fund and Victory Institute after serving six years as a Houston City Council member, six years as City Controller and six years as Mayor of Houston becoming the first openly LGBTQ mayor of a major American city. In the private sector Annise spent 20 years working in the oil and gas industry including 18 years with Mosbacher Energy Company. She also co-owned “Inklings” a lesbian/feminist bookstore for 10 years. Mayor Parker and her wife Kathy Hubbard have been together since 1991 and are advocates for adoption with three daughters, a son and three grandchildren.  For More Info… LISTEN: 600+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES