LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

New Speakers, Major Honors, and One More Surprise Ahead…

The 2025 International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference is right around the corner — taking place December 4–6 — and we’re excited to share some of our biggest updates yet.

We’re thrilled to welcome Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel as a featured speaker, joining a powerhouse lineup of pro-equality leaders shaping the future of politics. New additions include Florida State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, Arizona State Representative Lorena Austin, Massachusetts State Representative Jack Patrick Lewis, Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr, Lexington City Councilwoman Emma Curtis, and PFLAG National Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs Diego Sanchez.

They join previously announced leaders such as Spanish Senator Carla Antonelli, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, Congressman Mark Takano, Massachusetts State Senator Julian Cyr, Minnesota State Representative Leigh Finke, Texas State Representative Venton Jones, Mississippi State Representative Fabian Nelson, Florida State Representative Michele Rayner, Missouri State Representative Wick Thomas, Metropolitan Water Reclamation Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, and DC Councilmember Zachary Parker — making this one of our most dynamic speaker rosters ever!

We’re also proud to announce the recipients of two of our most distinguished honors. Member of the European Parliament Robert Biedroń will receive the 2025 Global Trailblazer Award, recognizing his groundbreaking leadership and advocacy for LGBTQ+ equality across Europe. And Denver City Councilwoman Shontel M. Lewis has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Tammy Baldwin Breakthrough Award for her bold, barrier-breaking leadership! Both will be honored onstage in December — another reason you won’t want to miss this year’s gathering. Register today!

With tickets running low and the conference just weeks away, now is the moment to secure your spot. And while this may be one of our final speaker drops… we might have one more exciting announcement coming next week. Stay tuned!

Not Coming to Conference? Join Us at an Upcoming Training!

Can’t make it to the International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference this year? We’ve got you covered. LGBTQ+ Victory Institute has several opportunities coming up for emerging leaders who want to take the next step in public service.

Join us in Washington, D.C. on December 4, 2025 for a FREE Candidate & Campaign 101 Training — a full-day, in-person crash course on what it really takes to run for office.

And early next year, our LGBTQ+ Public Leadership Summits head to Minneapolis on February 21, 2026 and Seattle on February 28, 2026, offering powerful one-day programs designed to inspire, equip, and connect future LGBTQ+ public leaders.

Looking to go even deeper? Applications are now open for our 2026 Candidate & Campaign Trainings (CCTs) — intensive, multi-day programs that prepare LGBTQ+ leaders to launch winning campaigns. We’ll be in Philadelphia, PA from April 23–26, 2026, including a Trans Training Extension for trans and gender-expansive participants on April 26–27, and in Denver, CO from July 9–12, 2026. All applications are due by Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 11:59pm PT, so don’t wait. If you’re ready to run — or ready to explore what’s possible — we’re ready to train you!

Calling Future LGBTQ+ Leaders: Applications Now Open

Want to see what the fellowship can lead to? Meet our current 2025–2026 Victory Congressional Fellow, Asia Corwin, whose journey is already shaping LGBTQ+ public leadership.

These programs are life-changing gateways into government service—encourage rising LGBTQ+ leaders to apply today. Are you — or is someone you know — a young LGBTQ+ leader ready to launch a career in public service? Applications are now open for two of Victory Institute’s premier youth programs. The Victory Congressional Internship (VCI) places LGBTQ+ undergraduates in congressional offices for a transformative summer experience on Capitol Hill, and applications for Summer 2026 are due January 5, 2026!

For recent graduates, the Victory Congressional Fellowship (VCF) offers a full year of policy, leadership, and hands-on legislative experience in Washington, D.C.; applications for the 2026–2027 cohort are now live and due April 12, 2026!