Laura Dunn is Running for Congress Because People Deserve Better
- Kirstie Nicole
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Editor's Note: She Comes With Baggage Media was founded on the belief that stories matter. We spend our days highlighting the people, communities, and conversations that make our world more connected, more compassionate, and more human.
As we learned more about Laura Dunn, we were struck not only by her advocacy, but by her understanding of what representation truly means. As a queer woman, civil rights attorney, and community advocate, Laura brings lived experience to the issues she hopes to address in Congress. Her commitment to protecting civil rights, supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and ensuring that every person feels seen, heard, and valued reflects many of the same principles that have guided our work from the very beginning.
For those reasons and more, She Comes With Baggage Media is proud to endorse Laura Dunn for Congress in New York's 12th District and share why we believe her mission is one worth amplifying.
Before she was a congressional candidate, Laura Dunn was an advocate. Before she was an advocate, she was a survivor.
Laura Dunn, grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, learning how to navigate two very different worlds. Raised by an Evangelical pastor in a deeply conservative Christian family while growing up in one of the country's most progressive cities, Laura learned early that disagreement didn't have to mean division. The experience taught her how to listen to people with different perspectives while staying firmly connected to her own values, a lesson that continues to shape the way she approaches leadership today.
As a queer woman now running for Congress in New York's 12th District, Laura often reflects on those early experiences when talking about the future she hopes to help create.
"Listening to people who see things differently is key," she says. "Standing firmly in my convictions is essential, and the best way to build common ground is around shared values."
That belief in shared humanity has followed Laura through every chapter of her life, including some of the most difficult.
One of the defining moments of her journey came after surviving campus sexual violence and spending years navigating systems that often felt more focused on protecting institutions than protecting survivors. Instead of allowing that experience to silence her, Laura became determined to create change for others facing similar circumstances.
On April 4, 2011, exactly seven years after her assault, she sat as a VIP guest of then-Vice President Joe Biden during the release of the Dear Colleague Letter, which strengthened Title IX protections for survivors of campus sexual violence. "That moment changed the course of my life," she says. "Good public policy has the power to ensure accountability, provide justice, and protect the vulnerable."
The experience reinforced something Laura had already begun to understand: systems can change when people are willing to fight for them to change. That realization would guide much of her career to follow.
After dedicating years to survivors' advocacy and civil rights work, Laura spent time teaching in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. There, she witnessed firsthand how decisions made by people far removed from local communities fail, directly impacting the lives of vulnerable students and families.
"Real change is possible when people use their power to change systems of oppression into systems of justice." - Laura Dunn
Today, Laura works as a civil and victims' rights attorney, but what stands out most about her story isn't just the work itself. It's the consistent thread running through all of it: a belief that people deserve to be seen, heard, protected, and empowered. That philosophy is part of what ultimately led her to run for Congress.
As she watched hard-fought protections for survivors, women, and LGBTQ+ communities come under increasing attack, Laura realized advocacy alone was no longer enough for her. She needed to be in the rooms where decisions were being made. Running for office became the next chapter of that commitment. It's also why her campaign looks different from many others running in NY-12 (Manhattan).
Laura's campaign is entirely community funded. No corporate PAC money. No corporate donors. Just individuals who believe in her vision and want to see a different kind of leadership represented in Washington. Her campaign slogan, "unbought, unbossed, and unafraid," reflects both her platform and her personal approach to public service.
"People are hungry for authenticity, humanity, and hope," she says. "They want leadership that actually listens."
Away from work and campaigning, Laura finds balance through movement, nature, and community. She competes in triathlons, cross-trains with boxing, and spends time walking through Central Park with her rescue dog, Ruthie. Those moments help her recharge and reconnect with the reasons she began this work in the first place.
"My long walks with Ruthie give me a chance to slow down, recharge, and appreciate the community and energy of New York City," she says.
For someone who spends much of her time fighting for others, those moments of joy matter. They serve as a reminder that creating a better world isn't only about confronting what's broken. It's also about protecting what makes life meaningful.
At its core, Laura Dunn's story is one of resilience, purpose, and refusing to give up on people. Through advocacy, law, education, and now politics, she has spent years working toward a future where more people feel protected, supported, and seen. And if there's one thing that becomes clear while learning about her journey, it's that her belief in humanity remains stronger than ever.
Follow Laura on Instagram @lauradunn4congress