Retired Surgeon, Parent and Activist will Bring Health Care Experience to Policymaking

Washington DC — June 26, 2006 — The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the nation's largest LGBT political action committee, announced today its endorsement of Dr. Dana Beyer in the race to fill the District 18 seat in the Maryland House of Delegates. Beyer is Victory's first transgender endorsee in the 2006 election cycle.

"Dr. Beyer earned the support of the Victory Fund because her life experience makes her the most qualified candidate to represent the people of her district," said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. "Dana's story is one not only of personal courage, but of a deep commitment to serving others. She'll be an outstanding voice for the people of her community."

Dr. Beyer is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine. She has worked in Kenya and Nepal to bring health care to underserved populations there, and settled for a while in Hattiesburg, Miss., serving low-income patients from as far away as El Salvador. Beyer completed her gender transition in 2003. She has two sons from a previous marriage.

Mara Keisling, a nationally known transgender activist, applauded Victory's endorsement. "Dana will be a powerful voice for all Marylanders, but her campaign also has the potential to make history for the transgender community. I'm thrilled she'll have the support of the Victory Fund and its donor network, which has proven decisive in the campaigns of LGBT candidates," Keisling said.

So far this year, the Victory Fund has endorsed 59 openly lesbian and gay candidates for elected office around the country. Candidates are endorsed by the organization following a thorough review that includes the candidate's professional background, an assessment of the campaign staff's strength and the level of financial and other support from the community. Endorsed candidates perform very well in their races — 36 Victory Fund candidates were elected during the 2004 election cycle.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly LGBT candidates and officials. It's the only national organization solely committed to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials at federal, state and local levels of government. Victory is the nation's largest LGBT political action committee and one of the nation's largest non-connected PACs. In 14 years, Victory has helped the number of openly LGBT officials grow from 49 to over 350.

For more information, visit www.victoryfund.org.