LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Hosts Empowering National Champagne Brunch Amid Rising Hostility
Washington, D.C. – The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund’s National Champagne Brunch held on April 27 at the Ritz-Carlton in Maryland served as both a celebration and a rallying cry against increasing hostility towards LGBTQ+ individuals. Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the event’s 2025 Equality Champion Award recipient, emphasized the need for solidarity, stating, “We leave no one behind.”
Moore, recalling his Army training, denounced any societal norms that demand justification of one’s humanity. He highlighted the importance of Maryland’s Trans Health Equity Act, which guarantees Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care and extends protections to providers and patients alike. “In Maryland, hate will find no oxygen,” Moore asserted, reaffirming his commitment that any rollback of LGBTQ+ rights would not be tolerated during his administration.
Speakers included Democratic Congresswoman Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of the U.S. House. McBride condemned the hostile political landscape, sharing instances of discrimination directed not just at transgender individuals but also at women misidentified as trans. “But we know we belong. We belong in our workplaces, in the military, and in Congress,” she maintained.
Panelist Senator Tammy Baldwin echoed McBride’s sentiments, reflecting on the vicious anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric during the 2024 campaign cycle, fearing its implications for youth. Tim Gunn, fashion icon and reality television personality, put it succinctly: “This isn’t about fashion — it’s about decency.”
Evan Low, the recently appointed President of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, emphasized the need for greater political representation, declaring, “We cannot be what we cannot see.” Despite facing scrutiny over a campaign finance violation, he remains dedicated to building a pipeline of LGBTQ+ elected officials across the nation. The brunch marked a significant step forward in the ongoing fight for equality amidst a challenging political climate.
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