>> The 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.
Our correspondent has a report.
>> It has been dubbed the
rainbow wave.
>> I want to thank my family,
especially my wife, Amy.
>> Tina Kotek, one of a record
number of lgbtq candidates
winning up and down the ballot.
More than 400 30, according to
the lgbtq victory fund, an
organization working to elect
these candidates.
They will be the first two
lesbian governors in history.
Shattering the so-called
lavender ceiling.
>> Tonight, I want to say
something.
To every little girl and every
young lgbtq person out there --
[applause]
I hope tonight shows you that
you can be whatever, whoever you
want to be.
>> We fight for our freedoms.
>> With their reelection of
Jerry polis in Colorado,
restates will be led by lgbtq
chief executives.
The highest number ever.
>> A Colorado for all where
there is room and a place for
everybody to be themselves.
>> And another milestone, 2022
marked the first time their work
on the ballot in all 50 states.
It features two gay candidates
in a head-to-head race.
Republican George Santos
to fetid Robert Zimmerman.
The first openly gay Republican
elected to a first term in
congress.
There are at least four new
lgbtq representatives heading to
Washington.
Including backup balance, a
Democrat.
The first woman to represent the
state.
>> I will work for our most
vulnerable neighbors everything
will day.
-- Every single day.
>> Robert Garcia of California
will be the first gay immigrant
in congress.
Erik Sorenson, the first openly
gay person to represent
Illinois.
It was also a history making
election for transgender
candidates running for state
legislatures.
>> The first thing that came to
mind when I saw this legislation
was the direct impact it would
have on me.
>> Including Zoe's effort in
Montana, who testified
anti-trans legislation and will
be able to vote against it.
In Minnesota, leaf inky will be
the first trans person in the
state.
James Rosener became the first
trans man elected to U.S.
Statehouse.
It all comes as anti-lgbt
legislation remains on the rise
in states.
With more than 100 50 anti-trans
bills introduced this year
alone.
And there is no sign of it
slowing down.
Celebrating his own reelection
on 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.
>> We will never surrender to
the woke mob.
Florida is where woke goes to
die.
>> But for now, lgbtq candidates
are celebrating their wins and
preparing to get to work when
new legislative sessions begin
early next year.
One of those newly elected state
lawmakers joins me now,
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.
The bill was passed and signed
into law, but was ultimately
blocked in the courts this fall.
Did it push you to run for
office?
>> Absolutely.
Watching and testifying about an
issue dear to become a meeting
with the governor's office for
trans teenagers who wanted to
play sports, and watching
several anti-lgbtq bills pass by
one vote in the legislature was
the impetus for me.
We had to have trans voices in
the room to change what kind of
bills Montana was passing.
>> Speaking of anti-trans
legislation, you have been
elected for the new legislative
session that starts in January.
There are already some prefiled
anti-trans bills, one in
particular that would restrict
transgender surgery on minors.
What is your message to your new
colleagues about legislation
like that?
>> My message is simple.
We see all of the elections
across the country where lgbtq
people have been elected, with
trans people being elected.
When you take away the larger
media narrative, and get down to
my local communities, trans
people are accepted, we are
loved, and cared about.
You are never far away from
someone who cares deeply about
us and pushing anti-trans issues
is not what my community wants,
is not what Montana wants.
>> We have seen a number of
those anti-trans messages on the
campaign trail this cycle.
In particular, a number of
Republican candidates who have
falsely accused lgbtq teachers
of "Trying to groom students,"
as well as the New Hampshire
Republican candidate who lost
but said falsely that teachers
were trying to put litter boxes
in classes so students can
identify as cats, and also
accusing Democrats of trying to
put drag queens in every
classroom.
What is your response to this
growing lgbtq sentiment on the
right?
>> My response would be that
hate can only stoke fear for so
long.
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 we are seeing prefiled
or ready in 2022 looking
forward, what's going to happen
is ultimately they are going to
continue to lose.
Because our community has the
backing of our neighbors,
friends, and when we get to the
legislature, we will fight like
hell to make sure they know
that.
>> Are there any protections for
lgbtq or for transgender people
you are hoping to proposing your
new position?
>> I would like to see a ban on
conversion therapy, an end to
the gay trans panic laws, since
there has not been a federal ban
for that.
Obviously, I'm looking towards
the courts in Montana to strike
it down the anti-lgbtq laws that
went through in the 2021
session.
If they are not struck down,
ultimately repealing those on
the docket.
>> As we mentioned, it has been
an historic year for lgbtq
candidates.
The most every elected with 436
who have won so far.
All levels from neighborhood
advisory council all the way to
governors.
What does that representation
mean to you?
>> It is less about what it
means for me, and more so means
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.
Representation matters not
theoretically, but it is the
best defense we have against
hate.
>> You made history in your
election in Montana.
But to reach parity, the lgbtq
victory institutes has 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?
>> 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, look
for it and try to get into the
rooms 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
the state level, that is where I
want to be.
It is why I moved from working
on drafting legislation behind
the scenes at the city level to
stepping forward to the state
level.
This is the room where the laws,
the biggest attacks are
happening, and where we need
representation.
>> Representative elect Zoe's
effort, thank you for joining