Danica Roem’s history-making journey began as an unknown candidate joined a four-way Democratic primary for a state legislative seat in Virginia. The incumbent, Republican Bob Marshall – the self-described “chief homophobe” of the House of Delegates – had held the seat for more than 25 years. Roem’s candidacy seemed the definition of a long-shot. 

Yet she put in the hard work of campaigning, knocking on thousands of doors and famously showing voters the bottom of her worn out shoes. She kept on message, being open about her gender identity but focusing her pitch on everyday issues including fixing “Fix Route 28 Now!” – a commuter road in her district notorious for bad traffic. On primary day, June 13, she defeated her closest competitor by 15 points.

Once in the general election, Marshall continued his homophobic and transphobic rhetoric and consistently misgendered her. Victory Fund branded him “Bigot Bob,” a nickname that stuck and was often referenced in media reports. She was relentless in continuing to focus on the needs of constituents, outraising Marshall five-to-one with contributions from Virginians and LGBTQ+ donors across the country. On November 7, she defeated Marshall, winning nearly 57 percent of the vote. She became the first out trans person to win and serve in a state legislative seat.

“For trans youth across the country, Danica Roem’s election isn’t just a headline or even history,” said Sarah McBride at the time. “It’s hope. Hope for a better tomorrow.” McBride would become the nation’s first out trans state senator in America in 2020. She was one of many trans candidates for state legislative seats and other positions who cited Roem’s win as inspiration for their runs. In 2018, just one year after Roem’s victory, four out trans people won state legislative seats.

Victory Fund realized the potential of Roem’s race early and invested heavily in her campaign – raising 41 percent of her primary budget and featuring her at its 2017 National Champagne Brunch. “Here’s the bottom line: I don’t know how I would have won without Victory Fund,” said Roem several months after her victory. “They had my back when I needed them the most, during the Democratic primary and in the general election. Victory Fund helped me raise thousands of dollars and recruit the volunteers who knocked on doors, made phone calls and put me over the top.”

Danica Roem made the biggest headlines in November 2017, yet other history-making trans candidates won their elections, leading LGBTQ+ Victory Fund to call it the “Year of the Trans Candidate.” Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham won seats on the Minneapolis City Council, both becoming the first out trans people to serve on a city council in a major U.S. city. Lisa Middleton won election to the Palm Springs City Council, becoming the first out trans person elected to a non-judicial office in California, and Tyler Titus became the first out trans person elected in Pennsylvania when they won a seat on the Erie School Board. In just one election cycle, the number of out trans elected officials doubled nationwide.

Jenny Durkan announced her candidacy for mayor on May 11, 2017, just days after incumbent gay Mayor Ed Murray announced he would resign. Despite a crowded primary, Durkan received 28 percent of the vote, and in the general election won more than 60 percent. Durkan became the first out lesbian mayor of Seattle and just the second out lesbian to be elected mayor of a major American city. Durkan also became the first woman to serve as Seattle mayor since the 1920s. 

Palm Springs made LGBTQ+ history again, when voters elected Lisa Middleton and Christy Holstege to its city council, making it the first all-LGBTQ+ city council in U.S. history. Palm Springs voters had previously elected the nation’s first Black out LGBTQ+ mayor, Ron Oden, in 2003, and the council had an LGBTQ+-majority for more than a decade prior to 2017. But the all-LGBTQ+ council generated national headlines and demonstrated the power of the LGBTQ+ voting bloc. 

LGBTQ+ trailblazer Annise Parker was chosen by the board of directors in 2017 to succeed Aisha Mills as President & CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, becoming the first former elected official to lead the organizations. Parker – the first out LGBTQ+ person elected mayor of a major American city – had completed her third term as mayor of Houston in 2016 and could not seek reelection because of term limits. 

“Victory played such an important role in my political career, beginning with my run for Houston City Council through my campaign for mayor, and I am thrilled about the opportunity to lead the organizations and help other LGBTQ+ elected officials win and make change,” said Parker at the time. 

Parker first began advocating for LGBTQ+ equality in the 1970s and has served as a board member or officer for dozens of organizations since then. Throughout her tenure so far, Parker has dramatically increased the capacity of the organizations as well as the number of LGBTQ+ people endorsed and trained.