Weather strategist Eric Sorensen runs for Congress, endorsed by LGBTQ Victory Fund
If elected, Sorensen would be the first out LGBTQ person ever elected to Congress from Illinois.
LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, has endorsed Eric Sorensen for U.S. House of Representatives (IL-17). Sorensen would be the first out LGBTQ person ever elected to Congress from Illinois. There are currently just 11 out LGBTQ Members of Congress, only 9 of whom serve in the U.S. House. 42 states currently have no LGBTQ representation in Congress.
As a well-known meteorologist, strategist, storyteller, and creator in the Northern Illinois/Quad Cities area, Sorensen is best known for working as a meteorologist for the local WQAD news station for seven years. There, he worked as a senior meteorologist, environmental and climate change specialist, as well as a communications specialist. He joined WQAD as a senior meteorologist in 2014 and worked there until his exit from the network in July of 2021.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about the endorsement:
“Eric is a trusted community leader who has spent the last two decades keeping the people of Northern Illinois safe by telling the truth, reinforcing the importance of science and data, and showing up as his authentic self. LGBTQ elected officials are transformative – especially when at the highest levels of government – and we are proud to support his historic campaign. Eric will no doubt be a fierce advocate in Congress for LGBTQ people across the country.”
Sorensen released the following statement about the endorsement:
“My goal has always been to protect our communities and keep people safe. I am grateful that through my tenure working in Illinois as a local meteorologist, my neighbors and community members accepted both my work and me as my true, authentic self. As a member of Congress, I look forward to passing legislation to keep our communities safe, especially LGBTQ youth. I’m honored to be endorsed by LGBTQ Victory Fund and will be proud to be Illinois’ first out LGBTQ member of Congress.”
In addition to being endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund, Sorensen celebrated his birthday on March 18th by asking his Twitter followers to share their best memories of meeting or becoming familiar with him. “With new endeavors this year and you and I not sharing our TV weather time, I was wondering if I could ask you for a gift,” he says on Twitter. “In the comments, would you be so kind as to share your best memory of us. Whether it’s meeting, sharing a story, or a photo of us. I would really love to go down memory lane today.”
https://mobile.twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1504824268265242634
Sorensen’s post is a wonderful example of his humility and connection to his community, and it is no wonder why the LGBTQ Victory Fund has made the decision to endorse him. Victory Fund named Sorensen a Game Changer candidate, a designation given to congressional and statewide candidates in history-making races, that comes with additional support and services from LGBTQ Victory Fund to ensure they win on Election Day.
More information about all of Victory Fund’s endorsed candidates is available at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates.
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LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to achieve and sustain equality by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.
This story originally appeared on our sister site, Queer Forty.
