Hey, I Joined the Board of LPAC!
Because queer women are the future.
[For those who want to listen to this on-the-go, the audio version should be up on Apple’s podcast website soon. You can also listen here.]
A personal update: as reported by Orion Pummler for The 19th News, I’ve been elected to the Board of Directors at LPAC.
Earlier this year, I had been considering the launch of a political action committee specifically dedicated to supporting trans and non-binary candidates for office, and I may still do that!
But not long ago, LPAC—an organization launched in 2012 to support queer women running for office—reached out to gauge my interest in joining their Board.
LPAC has been quite successful in their mission. Last month, 15 of the 20 candidates endorsed by the organization won their races, and next year is poised to be its most successful year ever.
More than that, the organization’s intentional focus on supporting trans women running for office has stood out. Four of the candidates who won last month are trans women, including Virginia Delegate Danica Roem and Minneapolis Councilwoman + Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins.
When Lisa Turner, LPAC’s executive director, met with me to discuss her vision for the organization, I came away deeply impressed and motivated by her desire to realize a future in which all progressive queer women have the resources they need to run for office.
Okay, Charlotte, this is all very interesting and congrats, but why specifically queer women?
I’m glad you asked!
It should come as no surprise that American elected officials, in the aggregate, don’t really share similar backgrounds with the constituents they represent. For example, although white men in the United States make up about a third of the population, they make up two-thirds of Congress. For real.
There are so many wonderful progressive white men fighting the good fight in elected office, but the lack of space for marginalized communities in positions of power continues to be an enormous problem.
Although queer women make up about 3 percent of the U.S. population, there are only two queer women in the Senate (Tammy Baldwin and Kyrsten Sinema) and two queer women in the House (Angie Craig and Sharice Davids). So, out of 535 seats in both chambers, queer women hold less than a percent.
That’s far less, of course, for queer women of color. Were it not for Rep. Davids, there would be no BIPOC queer women in Congress. Think about that.
I don’t know about you, but I think that sucks. I think it’s the opposite of our vision for a government that ensures adequate representation for all people.
So, that’s why I’ve joined LPAC, and it’s why I’m going to make three requests here:
1. Please follow LPAC on Twitter and Facebook. This is very easy. Takes you only a few seconds. Follow the org.
2. Please donate to LPAC. Even if you have only $5 you can spare, that helps! Seriously, just donate a cup of coffee. It matters. Every dollar helps elect queer women.
Here’s an extra incentive: if you donate $100, email me your donation receipt (cmclymer@gmail.com), and we’ll set up a time for a friendly chat over the phone or Zoom.
3. If you’re a queer woman, run for office! If you know a queer woman who should be in elected office, ask her to run! Get involved with our organization. We want to support you.
This has been a tough week—particularly with the relentless attacks on Roe—but I take comfort and inspiration in the phenomenal advocacy and labor of queer women in our country. Queer women fight for everyone, and we’re gonna make damn sure that no one gets left behind.
Hi, I’m Charlotte Clymer, and this is Charlotte’s Web Thoughts, my Substack. It’s completely free to access and read, but if you feel so moved to support my writing, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription: just $7/month or save money with the $70/annual sub. You can also go way above and beyond by becoming a Founding Member at $210.
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