Although anti-gay Republicans took back the U.S. House of Representatives, it turned out to be a banner year for LGBT candidates throughout cities, towns and municipalities in the country, according to The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

Of the Victory Fund’s 164 endorsements, 106 candidates claimed new political offices, including Providence, R.I., Mayor David Cicilline (pictured), who will become the fourth openly gay Member of Congress when the House convenes in January. Victory Fund President and CEO Chuck Wolfe touted the group’s success: “There is no sugarcoating the loss of so many of our straight allies in Congress, but we can be proud that our community continues to expand its voice at all levels of government in America,” Wolfe said. “Out public officials are having a sizable impact on the local, state and national debates about LGBT equality. Increasing their numbers is a vital part of a long-term strategy to change America’s politics and make our country freer and fairer for everyone. We will continue to focus on training committed, qualified candidates, and we will work hard to get them elected to public office.”

Some of the milestone LGBT victories included: Nickie Antonio’s election to the Ohio House. Antonio will be the first openly LGBT person to serve in the state legislature; Marcus Brandon’s election to the North Carolina House. Brandon will be the state’s only openly gay state legislator and one of just five out African Americans to serve as state lawmakers; Victoria Kolakowski’s election as a Superior Court judge in Alameda County. Kolakowski becomes the first openly transgender judge in America; and Laurie Jinkins’ election to the Washington State House. Jinkins is Washington’s first openly lesbian state legislator, and could help her gay colleagues pass a marriage equality bill in the next legislative session.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is the only national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT elected officials at all levels of government in the U.S. It has grown that number from 49 to more than 500 since its founding in 1991. A full 2010 Election Scorecard will be available soon at www.victoryfund.org