Carlos Marquez

Carlos Marquez is the Western Deputy Political Director for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the nation’s largest LGBT Political Action Committee where he oversees the organization’s western political operation and manages candidate and incumbent relations in 13 states.

Prior to joining the Victory Fund, Mr. Marquez forged a cutting-edge partnership with Planned Parenthood as the Interim Executive Director of HONOR Fund to improve health and academic outcomes among queer Latino youth in Southeast Los Angeles through the implementation of a community-based family acceptance program. He also helped develop the first anti-bullying policy of the San Diego region as the Director of Programs & Public Affairs for the San Diego LGBT Community Center where he managed the agency’s civic engagement and public policy initiatives and supervised The Center’s signature community programs. In 2010, Mr. Marquez helped shepherd San Diego’s citizen-led redistricting effort as Vice-Chair of the City’s Redistricting Commission, involving a robust and inclusive public participation process and resulting in the adoption of a map that was lauded on-time, under-budget and legally defensible.

Mr. Marquez has devoted his career to public service, advocating on behalf of working families, in support of universal early education funding and civil liberties while at SEIU Local 221, the United Way of America and the ACLU’s National Legislative Office respectively. He’s also worked to empower and prepare emerging leaders to pursue careers in public service as a former Co-Chair of the San Diego New Leaders Council and convener of The Center’s Young Professionals Council.