Putting Lesbian Politics Front and Center with LPAC

Almost exactly one year ago, consultant Sarah Schmidt came together with a group of like-minded women to form LPAC, the first-ever lesbian Super PAC. In the last year alone, the group has grown in leaps and bounds, raising about $800,000, the majority of which went to support lesbian candidates and those who share their goals of lesbian visibility, income equality, access to health care and reproductive freedom and LGBT issues. They hope to continue growing a politically strategic and powerful group.

"This isn't a coffee klatch. LPAC is serious, and we raised serious money in 2012," said Schmidt in a recent EDGE interview. "What we did with candidates was meaningful, and our endorsements were well received and powerful. We want our voices heard. We live in a world where politics is a big-money game. If you want to be a part of that, this is a way to do it."

Before she helped form LPAC, Schmidt was politically involved as a donor and as "somebody who cared deeply about women's issues and equality of all lesbians." She was invited to join a small group of women who were chatting about how to get women more involved in politics.

"I always felt that there were not a lot of women at the table," said Schmidt. "When I'd go to political fundraisers, I would see a lot of gay men, but I would wonder, 'Where are all the lesbians?' It wasn't a great vehicle for us to get engaged and feel empowered. We wanted an organization that was really strategic, and that tackled not just LGBT and women's issues, but the intersection of both, because I think they are beautifully interwoven."

Their goal was not originally the creation of a Super PAC, but that's the model that ended up serving the purpose. After a year of planning, LPAC launched last July, with an advisory committee of six women including Urvashi Vaid, Margaret Traub, Donna Victoria, Alix Ritchie, Laura Ricketts and Emily Giske. Schmidt said one of their goals for next year was to add diversity in terms of age, region, culture and ethnicity.

"The publicity last year was very positive and supportive. People were intrigued, and the results speak for themselves: all but two of our candidates won in the last cycle," said Schmidt. "We really engage stakeholders in meaningful work, and are investing their dollars in ways that have a huge impact."

In the past year, they have donated to the campaign to re-elect Houston lesbian mayor Annise Parker, and Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey. They helped raise awareness about the importance of the Edie Windsor DOMA challenge. And they have also put their considerable heft behind the New York City mayoral run of Christine Quinn, an openly lesbian candidate whose pro-business leanings have rankled some liberal Dems.

On July 10, they shared a press release indicating their support for Quinn, calling her a supporter of the LGBT community, a defender of women's rights and an ally for social and economic justice. They lent their fundraising prowess to her campaign, and praised her for holding "values that matter to lesbians: fairness and opportunity for everyone, commitment to equal rights and social justice."

"Christine Quinn shares LPAC's values," Schmidt told EDGE. "She has a powerful track record of fighting for true equality -- protecting the rights of all New Yorkers, including working families and the LGBT community."

Quinn's work in support of the LGBT community includes helping secure marriage equality in New York, advocating against hate crimes, supporting LGBT families, youth, seniors and transgender folks, leading for respect and safety in schools and helping lead the fight against HIV/AIDS. A fierce advocate for the middle class and women's rights, her record on women's health issues is unmatched.

"As a New Yorker, I'm excited to support Chris because I believe she has the strength, the experience and the courage to lead on behalf of all parts of this city," said LPAC Board Member Urvashi Vaid. "Quinn is a political leader who has stood up for women, LGBT people, and social and economic justice for all New Yorkers."

LPAC Funds A Lot More Than Just Lesbians

The whole point of LPAC's work is value based. They will support campaigns or candidates that support their values, be they gay, straight, male, female or even Republican.

"As long as they are consistent on our values, we are going to make contributions to get them elected," said Schmidt. "And once they are elected, we are going to engage with them to work on our issues, to make them part of their legislative agenda."

The other part of the puzzle, she said, is to create a network of engaged women who continually turn to LPAC as a vehicle for change. Schmidt said she wanted to polarize women around issues of income equality and access to reproductive health care via a network that was politically strategic and powerful, but also had a place for informed, activist lesbians around the country.

"Lesbian, bi, trans women (and the people who love us) need to get much more politically active because our lives require not just LGBT rights, but meaningful progressive change, like economic equity, reproductive freedom, racial justice and real support for our families," Vaid told EDGE. "We are not yet a political (as in electoral) force to be reckoned with and we need to change that through greater participation. LPAC is a strategy to increase the political voice of lesbians! Everyone can participate -- there is no minimum to contribute. And we hope we can build more relationships and activism across the country in the months and years ahead."

As always, money makes the mare go, and LPAC has not seemed to have many problems raising funds to support their candidates. Last year, they raised a little less than $800,000, the majority of it from small donations of less than $100 rather than from individual donors with deep pockets.

"The political world can be overwhelming for people, and we need to continue to find ways for people from all abilities to stay involved, whether they can donate $5 or $50,000," said Schmidt.

A small portion went toward operating costs, and the rest went right to candidates. The largest portion went to Tammy Baldwin's run for Wisconsin Senate. LPAC partnered with the Victory Fund and HRC, and donated $215,000 to her re-election. They also gave smaller $25,000 donations to three progressive candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court.

"We try to be strategic about how much we give," said Schmidt. "In some parts of the country, you don't need a lot; a smaller amount can have much more power."

Schmidt said that they keep operating costs lean by acting as a non-profit startup, rather than a typical Super PAC. They are also working to bring together politically minded lesbians in Washington, D.C., this September for a two-day summit to engage stakeholders. Schmidt invites all to attend, emphasizing that LPAC is an organization where every lesbian who seeks forward-thinking candidates can make a difference.

"I think the voices of lesbians have often been overshadowed. I don't know that there has been such a strategic way for lesbians to engage in political world in this way," said Schmidt. "Our voices need to be heard, not just during the campaign cycle, when everybody wants their money to get elected, but when the legislation is being created that can impact our life. If LPAC can stay on the screen, then I feel we will be successful."