LGBTQ+ people who are current or future political candidates along with their staff are learning how to run a winning campaign in Orlando this weekend. The four-day training will be put on by three LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, the LGBTQ + Victory Institute, Equality Florida, and SAVE. It will focus on giving LGBTQ+ political candidates, campaign staff, and community leaders the skills they need to run for office in Florida and win. Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan is the first openly gay elected official in Central Florida. She’ll be at the training this weekend as a mentor and coach. Sheehan said recent laws are contributing to a wave of homophobia and transphobia. She believes it is important for LGBTQ+ people more than ever to have a seat at the table as many anti-gay regulations are being passed at the state level. And there's so much national rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community. This training is held in rotating cities throughout the country. Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Virginia State Delegate Danica Roem are just a handful of program alumni. LGBTQ+ Victory Institute works to achieve and sustain equality through leadership development, training, research, and convenings. #Queer Up Politics