By Lou Chibbaro Jr.<\/p>\n
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The Democratic Party\u2019s support for LGBT rights and the election of a record number of LGBT people \u2014 nearly all Democrats \u2014 to public office in the 2018 midterm elections were widely discussed at the Democratic National Committee\u2019s 2019 Annual Winter Meeting held Feb. 14-16 in D.C.<\/p>\n
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Among those hailing the election of LGBT Democrats to local, state and congressional offices in what is being called the 2018 \u201crainbow wave\u201d was DNC Chair Tom Perez.<\/p>\n
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Perez mentioned what he called the importance of LGBT Democratic candidates in a rousing keynote speech at the closing session of the annual DNC Winter Meeting on Feb. 16. The meeting was held at D.C.\u2019s Marriott Marquis Hotel.<\/p>\n
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Perez also elaborated on what he said was the importance of LGBT Democrats running for public office at a meeting of the DNC\u2019s LGBT Caucus held on the opening day of the DNC winter gathering on Feb. 14. Among other things, Perez praised the LGBT community and LGBT Democrats for emerging as a strong force in opposition to the Trump administration\u2019s rollback of LGBT rights policies as well as other issues.<\/p>\n
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\u201cOur democracy was on fire. You stepped up. You were the first responders,\u201d he told about 85 people attending the LGBT Caucus meeting, including many of the 42 LGBT DNC members who make up the caucus.<\/p>\n
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