Gay Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank opposes the election of gay Republican congressional candidate Richard Tisei from his state, but the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which has endorsed Tisei, is speaking out on the importance of having out LGBT officials from both major parties.

Frank, a Democrat who is retiring this year after decades in the House of Representatives, said Thursday that a Tisei victory would actually be a setback to LGBT rights, as it would help Republicans keep their House majority.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — David Richardson has become the first openly LGBT candidate elected to the Florida state legislature.

He won a Democratic primary Tuesday night to represent the Miami-area District 113 in the Florida House of Representatives, and faces no GOP opponent this fall.

Florida had been the largest U.S. state never to have elected an out state lawmaker. It is also among the largest states without significant statewide LGBT non-discrimination laws.

SAN DIEGO -- Kick off San Diego Pride next weekend in style at Victory Fund's San Diego Women's Pride Brunch on July 21 at The Range Kitchen & Cocktails in Hillcrest.

Reserve your tickets now before the brunch is sold out.

Before heading to the parade or checking out the festival, sip some bubbly and join the Victory Fund team as it honors state Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) for her years of service and tireless efforts to advance LGBT equality.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Tammy Baldwin, an out Democrat from Wisconsin, announced today that she would indeed run for the U.S. Senate and make a bid to become the first openly gay senator in American history.

Gay rights supporters immediately endorsed Baldwin, including the Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign, because of her long-standing support of equality issues.