Standing Beside.
Vince has been endorsed by the Transformation Project Advocacy Network (TPAN).
The Transformation Project Advocacy Network advocates for the dignity, safety, and equity of transgender and LGBTQIA2S+ South Dakotans. They sent every candidate a questionnaire. They read every answer. Here's what I said, and why it matters.
Here is the statement from TPAN:
"Rarely in South Dakota do we see a race where candidates are so aligned with our mission. We look forward to working alongside our elected officials to make these much needed changes to positively impact the LGBTQ+ community of Sioux Falls." — Transformation Project Advocacy Network
Who they are.
The Transformation Project Advocacy Network is one of South Dakota's leading voices for LGBTQIA2S+ dignity and equity. They do not just rally. They organize. They advocate. They hold elected officials accountable.
What I told them.
They asked me why it matters to me personally to address the gaps facing LGBTQ+ community members in Sioux Falls. Here is what I wrote:
"I have never been an insider. Every table I've sat at, I earned my way to. My parents came to Sioux Falls as Vietnamese refugees, and they raised me to value people for their heart, their grit, and their unique gifts. That lens shaped who I've always stood beside, including our LGBTQ+ neighbors. The people who had to earn their seat are always the first to pull out a chair for someone else. That is my leadership ethos, and it's why I'm running. Sioux Falls gave my family the foundation to succeed. I want to make sure that same promise is real for everyone. No matter where you come from. No matter who you love. This is our city."
That is not a political position. That is who I am.
On our family television growing up, we celebrated trailblazing Vietnamese trans musicians like Cát Tuyền and the gender-fluid diaspora icon Tuấn Anh. My parents never had to explain why. They just showed us.
In college in Chicago, I stood with my gay fraternity brothers at Pride. As a student working in Ho Chi Minh City, I worked alongside the local queer community to advocate for their rights.
My life is richer because of these people and these experiences. And I have never forgotten it.
How we got here.
This is not a new relationship.
I have crossed paths with Susan Williams and the TPAN community for years, not just on paper. At McGovern Day and at the Pride celebration this summer, we were in the same rooms, having the same conversations about what Sioux Falls owes its people.
This work did not start with a campaign. It is just how I was raised.
Why this matters.
TPAN asked every candidate whether they would support adding sexual orientation and gender identity to civil rights protections in Chapter 98 of Sioux Falls' city code. Whether they would strengthen internal city employee protections. Whether they would publicly oppose state-level legislation that threatens LGBTQ+ workers and families.
I said yes. To all of it.
For those who have rarely seen leaders stand up for them, that matters.
This is what Equal Opportunity looks like at the local level. It is not a framework. It is people, in the room, at the table, before the decisions are made. LGBTQ+ artists, entrepreneurs, workers, and families are not a special interest. They are essential to who Sioux Falls is.
A city that celebrates its growth but leaves these neighbors behind is not growing responsibly. And a City Hall that does not reflect the full breadth of this community will never earn the full trust of it.
I am running to close that gap.
Help us finish strong by walking with us, share this post, or give what you can.
It's always been our city, and now is our moment. Let's rise together. ☀️
— Vince Danh
Candidate, Sioux Falls City Council At-Large | Runoff June 23, 2026