Victory Fund, Bond Charting New Futures; Executive Director Brian K. Bond to Depart in Early 2003

10/4/2002

From: Jason Young of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, 202-842-7308 or 202-270-6948 (cell)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 -- The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which works to elect openly gay candidates to political office, announced today that its executive director, Brian K. Bond, will leave his post in the early part of 2003. After six years at the helm of the organization, Bond will relocate to New York City to build a family and to continue his work in politics.

"The 2002 elections will conclude in a few weeks, and gay and lesbian candidates are set for some historic wins," said Bond. "Leaving after some amazing victories and well before the next presidential election will give the organization time to develop a winning strategy for the cycle. The future promises big things for openly gay candidates, and I plan to continue making contributions to this great cause and great organization."

"Under Brian Bond's leadership, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has become a major force in American politics," said U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin who was elected to Congress during Bond's tenure. "Brian's leadership will be missed."

The Victory Fund has begun a national search for Bond's replacement. He serves not only as its executive director, but also as executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Foundation, which provides training on the political process, conducts polling and research, and sponsors a fellowship to the Executive Management Program of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

The Victory Fund has grown enormously under Bond's leadership. In the 2002 election cycle alone, the Victory Fund has raised over $300,000 for the more than 60 candidates it has endorsed, and it will have at least 43 candidates on the Nov. 5 ballot, mostly running for state legislative seats.

Open representation has also scored many advances during Bond's tenure: in 1998, Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay non-incumbent to win a seat in Congress; in 2000, Georgia state Rep. Karla Drenner became the first openly gay state legislator in the Deep South; and from February 1997 to today, Bond presided over a substantial increase in the number of openly gay officeholders in the country, growing from 127 to 228.

"I am excited about how far we've come in the last six years, but it's time to turn over the reigns of this vital organization to new, energized hands," said Bond. "There's still much work to be done."

Indeed, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported that there are 511,039 elective offices in the United States -- from president to town council -- and with openly gay Americans holding just 228 of those offices, that equates to about one in every 2300, or well under one-half of a percent.

"Though the Victory Fund's candidates have grown in number, I feel like I know all of them and they are my heroes," said Bond. "I cannot thank them enough for their courage, and also our generous donors, our visionary board and our hardworking staff for the support they provide. Everyone who is part of the Victory Fund believes that LGBT people deserve a voice in their government, and it's that conviction that will drive the organization to future success." Bond is a Missouri native and a skilled political veteran who has worked on numerous campaigns at the state and national level. He worked for more than six years at the Democratic National Committee, serving as the DNC gay and lesbian outreach director and as director for the DNC Office of the Secretary. He also served as the Missouri state field director for the Clinton/Gore `92 Coordinated Campaign.

In its 11-year history, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has raised more than $3 million for candidates and has helped to more than quadruple the number of gay officeholders in the country. Victory Fund endorsements cross party lines. For more information, visit http://www.victoryfund.org/.