Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund 1012 14th Street NW, Suite 707 Washington DC 20005 vox: 202-842-8679 fax: 202-289-3863 email: victoryf@aol.com William Waybourn, Executive Directory A Brief History of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund The election of Texas Governor Ann Richards provided the unlikely catalyst for the beginnings of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. Clearly outspent by her multi-millionaire opponent, Richards raised $10.5 million to become the Lone Star State's chief executive officer. Clayton Williams, her oilman foe, raised $20 million, with at least $10 million in the form of a personal loan to his own campaign. When you strip away the advantage provided Williams by his own checkbook, Richards not only beat Williams at the ballot box, but she actually raised $500,000 more than he did. These contributions were directly related to EMILY's List, a donor network of dedicated contributors who had agreed in advance to support at least two national races with contributions of $100 or more. The acronym EMILY is for "Early Money Is Like Yeast" -- it makes the "dough" rise. Contributions to viable candidates, given early and in sufficient quantities, transformed qualified candidates from "fringe" status to "frontrunners." Within days of Richards' election, Dallas gay activist William Waybourn placed a call to former Human Rights Campaign Fund executive director Vic Basile. Waybourn wondered why the lesbian and gay community and its candidates had missed the opportunity afforded women candidates by the strategy developed by EMILY's List. Basile and Waybourn then agreed to meet in Washington, D.C. during December, 1990, to formulate a strategy for developing a similar organization. The initial reaction of gay and lesbian activists to the Victory Fund idea was tremendous. Waybourn and Basile met again in New York in January, 1991. Again, activists reacted positively and encouraged them to found the Victory Fund. During the next several months, Waybourn and Basile sought financial commitments from major funders, and asked activists selected for their fundraising and political prowess to serve on the founding board of directors. Longtime Portland activist and fundraiser Terry Bean, longtime political guru David Mixner of Los Angeles, former Columbus, Ohio professional athlete Lynn Greer, Los Angeles AIDS researcher and physician Dr. Scott Hitt, West Coast attorney and activist Roberta Bennett, Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance executive director John Thomas, San Francisco businessman David Detrick, recording industry executive Hillary Rosen, and Human Rights Campaign Fund Executive Director Tim McFeeley were among those who committed to raising $10,000 each to serve on the board. These funds would be used to sustain the operation of the Victory Fund until a sufficient level of memberships could be attained. On May 1, 1991, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund was formally created as multi-candidate Federal political action committee, i.e., as a donor network, vis a vis EMILY's List, but responsive to a different community. Waybourn was hired as Executive Director and Basile signed on as a consultant. Individuals joined the organization with a contribution of $100 or more, and agreed to give $100 or more to at least two recommended candidates within a 12-month period. As candidates meet the criteria of the Victory Fund and are recommended to the network, checks are made payable directly to the candidates' campaigns and sent to the Victory Fund, where the checks are combined and sent to the candidates as a massive show of community support. In the fall of 1991, Seattle City Council candidate Sherry Harris became the first candidate recommended to the Victory Fund donor network, then consisting of 181 members. The overriding question at that time was whether or not lesbian and gays living in other regions of the country would contribute money to the campaign of a woman running for office in the Northwest. The answer was an overwhelming "yes." A total of 41 members responded with just over $4,000. The money was used to help pay for a brochure by Harris entitled "With All Due Respect," which was sent directly to Seattle's voters. Additional contributions kept rolling in from the network, eventually totaling over $14,000 (including City of Seattle matching funds for each check up to $50). With Victory Fund help, Harris became the nation's first openly lesbian African-American city council member when she beat a 24-year incumbent. The Victory Fund is growing at a rapid rate. Its goal was to raise a total of $80,000 for six candidates during its first election cycle. Instead, it raised more than $263,000 for 12 candidates, six of whom won their races. The 1993 membership goal called for an increase to 1,800 members. Due to successful direct mail and special events, the Victory Fund surpassed this goal just 21 days into the new year. Today, the Victory Fund has more than 3,000 members in 45 states who have given over $500,000 directly to qualified openly gay and lesbian candidates.