More LGBTQ candidates win office than ever before in midterm elections

Judy Woodruff:

As results of the 2022 midterm elections continue to come in, one trend is clear. It was an historic year for LGBTQ candidates vying for state and federal office.

Laura Barrón-López has our report.

Laura Barrón-López:

It's been dubbed the rainbow wave.

Tina Kotek (D), Oregon Gubernatorial Candidate: I want to thank my family, especially my wife, Aimee.

Laura Barrón-López:

Oregon governor elect Tina Kotek one of a record number of LGBTQ candidates winning up and down the ballot this year, more than 430, according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund, an organization working to elect these candidates.

Kotek and Maura Healey in Massachusetts will be the first two lesbian governors in history, shattering the so-called lavender ceiling.

Maura Healey (D), Massachusetts Governor-Elect: Tonight, I want to say something to every little girl and every young LGBTQ person out there.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Maura Healey:

I hope, I hope tonight shows you that you can be whatever, whoever you want to be.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Gov. Jared Polis (D-CO):

When we fight for our freedoms…

Laura Barrón-López:

With the reelection of Jared Polis in Colorado, three states will be led by LGBTQ chief executives, the highest number ever.

Gov. Jared Polis:

A Colorado for all, where there is room and a place for everybody to be themselves.

Laura Barrón-López:

And another milestone, 2022 marked the first time there were queer candidates on the ballot in all 50 states, including in New York's Third District, which featured two gay candidates in a head-to-head race. Republican George Santos defeated Robert Zimmerman and will be the first openly gay Republican elected to a first term in Congress.

Becca Balint (D), Vermont Congresswoman-Elect: I will not back down from hard fights.

Laura Barrón-López:

There are at least four new LGBTQ representatives heading to Washington, including Vermont's Becca Balint, a Democrat, who is the first woman elected to represent the state.

Becca Balint:

And I will work for our most vulnerable neighbors every single day.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Laura Barrón-López:

Plus, Democrat Robert Garcia of California, who will be the first gay immigrant in Congress, and Eric Sorensen, the first openly gay person to represent Illinois.

Zooey Zephyr (D), Montana State Representative-Elect: My name is Zooey Zephyr.

Laura Barrón-López:

It was also a history-making election for transgender candidates running for state legislatures.

Zooey Zephyr:

The first thing that came to mind when I saw this legislation was the direct impact it would have on me.

Laura Barrón-López:

Including Zooey Zephyr in Montana, who once testified against anti-trans legislation, and will now be able to vote against it.

In Minnesota, Leigh Finke will be the first trans person in the state legislature. And, in New Hampshire, James Roesener became the first trans man elected to a us statehouse.

It all comes is anti-LGBTQ legislation remains on the rise in states, with more than 150 anti-trans bills introduced this year alone, according to the ACLU. And there's no sign of it slowing down. Celebrating his own reelection Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was cheered as he defended his record in office, including signing the so-called don't say gay bill earlier this year.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL):

We will never, ever surrender to the woke mob. Florida is where woke goes to die!

Laura Barrón-López:

But, for now, LGBTQ candidates are celebrating their wins and preparing to get to work when new legislative sessions begin early next year.

And one of those newly elected state lawmakers, Zooey Zephyr of Montana, joins me now.

Representative-elect Zephyr, congratulations on your win.

You testified in 2021 before the Montana Senate Judiciary Committee against a bill that blocked trans girls and women from playing in sports. That bill was passed and signed into law, but was ultimately blocked in the court's this fall. Did that push you to run for office?

Zooey Zephyr:

Absolutely.

Watching and testifying so emotionally about an issue dear to me, meeting with the governor's office, with trans teenagers who just wanted to play sports,and then watching several of the anti-LGBTQ bills pass by one vote in the legislature was the impetus for me.

I said, we have to have trans voices in these rooms if we're going to change what kind of bills Montana's passing.

Laura Barrón-López:

Speaking of anti-trans legislation, you have been elected for the new legislative session that starts in January.

And there are already some pre-filed anti-trans bills, one in particular that would restrict transgender surgery on minors. What's your message to your new colleagues about legislation like that?

Zooey Zephyr:

My message is simple.

We see all of the elections across the country where LGBTQ people have been elected, a wave of trans people being elected. When you take away the larger media narrative that the right is pushing and you get down to my, like, local communities like mine here in Missoula, trans people are accepted, we are loved and we are cared about.

And you're never far away from someone who cares deeply about us. And pushing anti-trans issues isn't what my community wants, isn't what Montana wants.

Laura Barrón-López:

We have seen a number of those anti-trans messages on the campaign trail this cycle, in particular, a number of Republican candidates that have falsely accused LGBTQ teachers of — quote — "trying to groom students," as well as there was a New Hampshire Republican candidate that lost, but said falsely that teachers were trying to put litter boxes in classes, so students could identify as cats, and also accusing Democrats of trying to put drag queens in every classroom.

What's your response to this growing anti-LGBTQ sentiment on the right?

Zooey Zephyr:

My response would be that hate can only stoke fear for so long.

And the people who know trans people in their lives know that we are just like anyone else, worthy of love, and we bring a ton of joy into the world. And if the right continues to push these kinds of anti-LGBTQ attacks that we're seeing, as you say, pre-filed already here in '22, looking forward, what's going to happen is, ultimately, they're going to continue to lose, because our community has the backing of the people, of our neighbors, our friends.

And when we get to the legislature, we will fight like hell to make sure that they know that.

Laura Barrón-López:

Are there any protections for LGBTQ or for transgender people that you're hoping to propose in your new position?

Zooey Zephyr:

I would like to see a ban on conversion therapy. I would like to see an end to the gay trans panic laws that there — since there has not yet been a federal ban for that.

And, obviously, I am looking towards the court's in Montana to strike down the anti-LGBTQ laws that went through in the 2021 session. And if those are not struck down, ultimately, repealing those would be on the docket as well.

Laura Barrón-López:

And, as we mentioned, this has been a historic year for LGBTQ candidates, the most ever elected, with 436 who have won so far.

They're at all levels, from neighborhood advisory council all the way up to governors. And what does that representation mean to you?

Zooey Zephyr:

You know, it's less about what it means for me.

And it more so means that, when these attacks are being made in the legislature, they will have to be made next to LGBTQ people. When the states that have LGBTQ governors are facing attacks, there will be someone in the community to stop it.

There — representation matters, not theoretically, but it is the best defense we have against hate.

Laura Barrón-López:

You made history in your election in Montana, but to reach parity, the LGBTQ Victory Institute says that some 35,000 more LGBTQ people would have to be elected.

What do you say to others who might be thinking about running? And what are your future ambitions?

Zooey Zephyr:

To others who are interested in running, I would say the first step is to ground yourself in your community. Do work in your community, and you will find that they love you and support you.

And if you do that work, then look forward and try to get into the rooms where you think you can make a difference. It is all about finding the spaces where your voice can have impact.

As for my future ambitions, all I want is to be in the rooms where I can do the most good. And, right now, the fights are at state level. And that's where I want to be. It's why I moved from working on drafting legislation behind the scenes at the city level to stepping forward to the state level, because this is the room where the laws — where the biggest attacks are happening and where we need representation the most.

Laura Barrón-López:

Representative-elect Zooey Zephyr of Montana, thank you for joining the "NewsHour."

Zooey Zephyr:

Thank you so much for having me.