A Note from the Chair, LPAC Political Strategy Committee

Dear Friends,

I hope all is well. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Shari Weiner and I have been on the Board of LPAC since 2018.

Throughout the year, you will hear from LPAC Board Members directly as we reflect on LPAC’s 10th Anniversary and our vision for LPAC’s future.

I spent some moments reflecting on my own journey in political activism. I hope you will take some time to read about my experience and why I believe it is crucial to elect and support LGBTQ+ women at all levels of government.

Electing more women to political office is something that I have been passionate about for many years. As we kick off LPAC’s 10th anniversary year, I wanted to share some of the history of how I became the Chair of the Political Strategy Committee on LPAC’s Executive Board.

I live in New York City – I have called it home for 7 years. In 2018, I was appointed by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer to represent the Upper East Side neighborhood on its Community Board. I love the Upper East Side with its beautiful pre-war buildings and townhouses, changing landscape, and cosmopolitan air, and representing my friends and neighbors is an honor that highlights the role we can all play in public service.

People often ask how I got involved in politics and the truth is something simple, a call from the Parent Teachers Association! Yes, you read that correctly, my journey to becoming a political activist and elected official started back when I was living in New Jersey and I joined my children's school PTA and shortly after, the League of Women Voters. It’s no surprise to my friends that I was elected to President of both organizations!

While serving as a Director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, a vacancy opened up on my local municipal city council. I jumped at the opportunity and was elected and served as a Council member, the Deputy Mayor and eventually the Mayor of Livingston, New Jersey.

Serving as an elected official only reinforced my belief that women must have a "seat at the table" due to women's different life experiences, priorities and objectives. That continues to be my  advice to young women -- get involved -- start wherever you are, be it fighting climate change or helping a local candidate.

My own interest in promoting women candidates resulted in my joining the Board of LPAC. Being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I understood just how important it was to support LGBTQ+ women running for office. Having an elected official who shares your life experiences is the best way to ensure that your issues are well represented - be it discrimination in education, housing, employment or adoption of a child.

LPAC is the only national organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ women candidates at all levels of elected office. When LPAC started 10 years ago, it focused its support on pro-equality candidates whether they were a member of the LGBTQ community or not. Since then, we have realized we need to narrow our focus and elect LGBTQ+ women at all levels of political office to help further build the bench. In just the last four years it has been incredibly satisfying to see the explosion of LGBTQ+ women running for elected office – a trend LPAC has been instrumental in fostering.

Over the last decade, we have made a lot of progress but to be honest with you, I’m worried. The upcoming midterm elections promise to be challenging, there is a real possibility of Democrats losing control of Congress. I’m concerned that gerrymandering by Republican State Legislators will put incumbent women members of Congress at risk, and make it harder to flip districts from red to blue.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I am no stranger to an uphill battle and I will continue my efforts at LPAC to keep LGBTQ+ women in office and to elect more Democratic pro-choice women across the board!

I hope you will consider joining me in supporting LPAC during our 10th Anniversary year. Contributions can be made online here.

Onward!

Shari Weiner
LPAC Board Member
Chair, LPAC Political Strategy Committee