Victory Fund backs gay man for school board

Jack Jacobson (Courtesy Jack Jacobson for DC)

Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Jack Jacobson, who’s gay, is running for a seat on the D.C. State Board of Education representing Ward 2 in the November election.

“I am honored to serve our community as a Neighborhood Commissioner, and am eager to take this next step in public service to represent all of Ward 2 on the State Board of Education,” Jacobson said in a statement.

“Having been the son of a public school teacher and two school board members, I’ve been involved in education my entire life,” he said. “Recent tours of a number of Ward 2 schools and conversations with parents, teachers, and community members have persuaded me that we need new leadership on the Board of Education.”

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund this week endorsed Jacobson in the race.

“Jack Jacobson has proven his dedication to serving the District and Ward 2 as an elected member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission,” said Victory Fund vice president Denis Dison. “We are eager to support openly LGBT leaders like Jack who want to work to make their communities better.”

Jacobson is challenging incumbent Ward 2 Board of Education member Mary Lord, who suggested in an interview with the Dupont Circle area community affairs blog Borderstan that she will compete with Jacobson for Ward 2’s large number of gay voters.

“I have led numerous efforts to promote excellence and achievement,” Lord told Borderstan. “That includes being an unwavering partner and advocate for the LGBT community, working to ensure that education policies reflected our shared commitment to social justice, dignity and respect.”