Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund Endorses Mike Bonin

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which works to change the face of politics and achieve equality for LGBT Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBT officials at all levels of government, has endorsed Mike Bonin for the 11th District seat on the Los Angeles City Council in the March 2013 elections.

“With Councilman Bill Rosendahl retiring, it is critical that the faces and voices of Los Angeles city government remain representative of all Angelenos,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund in an official statement. “Mike Bonin has been in the trenches in the fight for equality and he knows this district better than anyone. Mike isn’t just openly LGBT, he is out to win, and he will be a strong and capable champion on the L.A. City Council.”

 Bonin is co-founder and program director for Camp Courage, a grassroots-organizing program that trained 1600 people from 2009-2011 to be community organizers in the battle for the freedom to marry for the LGBT community.  As Chief Deputy for Rosendahl, he has also worked at City Hall to position the City of Los Angeles in support of the freedom to marry, civil rights, and social justice. Rosendahl has endorsed Bonin for City Council.

Following the endorsement, Bonin said in an official statement, “It means so much to me to earn the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. I’ve seen first hand the difference it can make to have a committed voice for equality at every level of government, and I deeply believe in the remarkable work that Victory Fund is doing to elect LGBT candidates all around the country. I’m proud to have this endorsement, and look forward to working with Victory Fund well after this campaign.”

On Fri. Nov. 30, Long Beach Vice-Mayor Robert Garcia will host a fundraiser for Bonin at the 28th Annual Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference in Long Beach. The event will take place at the Renaissance Hotel in Long Beach from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Co-hosts include former State Senator Sheila Kuehl, West Hollywood Mayor Jeff Prang, L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl, L.A. City Deputy Mayor Torie Osborn, Hacienda La Puente School Board Member Anthony Duarte, and CDP Regional Director Sergio Carrillo. For further information on the event call 213-631-0561. To RSVP for the event, click here.