Texas Gubernatorial Candidate Lupe Valdez on Becoming a ‘Woman With Balls’ (Video)
BE Conference 2018: The former Dallas County sheriff spoke about overcoming challenges as both a woman and out lesbian seeking office
Thom Geier | March 14, 2018 @ 1:30 PM
Last Updated: March 14, 2018 @ 5:52 PM
Lupe Valdez, the former sheriff of Dallas County and now a gubernatorial candidate in Texas, spoke about how she gained a reputation as a “woman with balls” — and overcame political opponents who targeted her for her gender or sexual orientation.
The out gay Democrat spoke in a panel about the new wave of women’s activism at TheWrap’s BE Conference in Austin, Texas on Monday, joined by Pussyhat Project founder Jayna Zweima, United State of Women director Taylor Barnes, Women’s March LA Foundation founder Emiliana Guereca
The BE Conference is a premier conference that connects change makers seeking to make an impact with game changers at the top of their fields who want to inspire and mentor the next generation of leaders. The audience consists of 350 millennials, including entrepreneurs, influencers and rising stars in their respective worlds, along with 50 mentors who are eager to teach and learn from each other.
Launched in 2017 by TheWrap founder and CEO Sharon Waxman, BE Conference offers keynote interviews, panel discussions, workshops, networking and mentoring sessions that build meaningful connections, encourage constructive change, and empower the next generation to BE the best possible version of themselves.
Watch the video above.
The Scene at BE Conference 2018: Rachel Bloom, Letitia James, Mentors and More (Photos)
Sharon Waxman and "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" creator and star Rachel Bloom at the BE Conference 2018 in Austin, Texas.
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
United State of Women director Taylor Barnes, Texas gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez, Women's March LA co-founder Emiliana Guereca, Pussyhat Project founder Jayna Zweiman and TheWrap CEO Sharon Waxman at the BE Conference.
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Texas gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez and NYC Public Advocate Letitia James powwow at the BE Conference.
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Attendee poses for a shot after checking into the BE Conference 2018.
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Sharon Waxman introduces the BE Conference.
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Sharon Waxman with "Fast Color" director Julia Hart and producer Jordan Horowitz at the kickoff event for the BE Conference.
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Sharon Waxman with Julia Hart and Jordan Horowitz.
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Attendees at the "Fast Color session."
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Attendees enjoy refreshments and cocktails while networking Sunday.
Photographed by Nathan Rocky for TheWrap
Attendees enjoy refreshments and cocktails while networking Sunday.
Photographed by Nathan Rocky for TheWrap
Alice Founder Walk Monday morning.
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
BE Conference attendees participate in the Alice Founder Walk on Monday morning
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Attendee enjoy refreshments and cocktails while networking Sunday.
Photographed by Nathan Rocky for TheWrap
Women's March LA Foundation founder Emiliana Guereca speaks on the "Join the New Activism" panel.
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
Attendee enjoys refreshments and cocktails while networking on Sunday.
Photographed by Nathan Rocky for TheWrap
Attendees enjoying refreshments and cocktails during the BE Conference.
Photographed by Nathan Rocky for TheWrap
Attendees enjoy refreshments and cocktails while networking Sunday
Photographed by Nathan Rocky for TheWrap
The Knitting Circle Monday morning
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Jayna Zweiman leading the Knitting circle
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Attendees checking into the BE Conference 2018.
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Sharon Waxman and Letitia James during the "Women In The Arena: The New Politics"
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NYC Public Advocate Letitia James speaks to Sharon Waxman during the panel "Women in the Arena: The New Politics"
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
Letitia James speaks to Sharon Waxman during a panel on "Women in the Arena: The New Politics"
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Sharon Waxman and Texas gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez at the BE Conference.
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Attendees at the BE Conference.
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
Attendees at the BE Conference.
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
"Join the New Activism" panel at the BE Conference.
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Texas gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez speaks on the "Join the New Activism" panel.
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
Pussyhat Project founder Jayna Zweiman on the "Join the New Activism" panel.
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United State of Women director Taylor Barnes on "Join the New Activism" panel.
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The "Join the New Activism" panel.
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"Join the New Activism" panel pose for a selfie
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Lisen Stromberg, "Fact-Check: The Truth About Women's Careers
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Lisen Stromberg speaks about "Fact-Check: The Truth About Women's Careers."
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Attendees at the BE Conference
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"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" star Rachel Bloom speaks with Sharon Waxman during the BE Conference's spotlight interview.
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Rachel Bloom speaks with Sharon Waxman during the Spotlight Interview.
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Rachel Bloom speaks with Sharon Waxman during the BE Conference's spotlight interview.
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
Attendees participate with Rachel Bloom
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Sharon Waxman at the BE Conference.
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Attendees at the BE Conference.
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Attendees at the BE Conference.
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"Entrepreneurship: Meet the Founders" networking nook with Hutch CEO Beatrice Fischel-Bock, beGlammed founder Maile Pacheco and The Pink Ceiling CEO Cindy Whitehead.
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
Hutch CEO and co-founder Beatrice Fischel-Bock at the "Entrepreneurship: Meet the Founders" networking nook
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The Pink Ceiling CEO Cindy Whiteheaed at the "Entrepreneurship: Meet the Founders" networking nook.
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
Attendee at the "Entrepreneurship: Meet the Founders" networking nook
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
Attendees at the "Entrepreneurship: Meet the Founders" networking nook.
Photographed by Lu Chau for TheWrap
Sharon Waxman and attendees
Photographed by Nathan Rocky for TheWrap
Attendees at the Networking Lunch
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Attendees pose for a shot
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Lupe Valdez and an attendee pose for a shot.
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Attendees
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Attendees at the BE Conference.
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Attendees
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Inside the networking lunch at the Be Conference
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Networking Lunch
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Inside the beGlammed studio
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Afternoon sessions at the BE Conference.
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Meredith MacNeill of Baroness Von Sketch speaks on the "Breaking into the (Comedy) Boy's Club" panel
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Aurora Browne of Baroness Von Sketch speaks on the "Breaking into the (Comedy) Boy's Club" panel
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Sharon Waxman and Sarah Ann Masse discuss "When Harvey Weinstein Happened - How Hollywood is Changing" at the BE Conference.
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Sarah Ann Masse speaks on the "When Harvey Weinstein Happened - How Hollywood is Changing" panel.
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Actress Jessica Barth speaking on the "When Harvey Weinstein Happened - How Hollywood is Changing" panel.
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"The Beauty of Different" author Karen Walrond speaks on the "Marketing Gurus" panel
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CAA-GBG chief digital officer Kendra Bracken-Ferguson on the "Marketing Gurus" panel.
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Desk Yoga CEO Jacqui Burge delivers a "Grounding Meditation" at the BE Conference.
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Attendees participate in Jacqui Burge's "Grounding Meditation"
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Attendees participate in Jacqui Burge's "Grounding Meditation"
Photographed by Nathan Rocky for TheWrap
Hutch CEO Beatrice Fischel-Bock on the "Empire Building - Thinking Big From Day One" panel.
Photographed by Nathan Rocky for TheWrap
Alice founder Carolyn Rodz on the "Empire Building - Thinking Big From Day One" panel
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Sheena Singh teaches women how to rock their LinkedIn profile at the BE Conference.
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Michele Beno (Vice Media & Viceland) speaks to Karen Walrond on the "Marketing Gurus" panel
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Coffee Meets Bagel co-founder Dawoon Kang on the "Marketing Gurus" panel
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Karen Walrond, Michele Beno, Dawoon Kang and Kendra Bracken-Ferguson on the "Marketing Gurus" panel
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Gabriella Schwartz (Managing Editor & Head of News at Flipboard) moderating the panel "Achieving the Impossible -Career Stories You're Not Going to Believe" with Andrea Razzaghi at the BE Conference.
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Inside the breakout sessions at the BE Conference.
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Kelley Walton, Under Armour, Head of Global Events, and Kendra Bracken-Ferguson during the breakout sessions at the BE Conference
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Participants at the BE Conference.
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beGlammed founder Maile Pacheco, LinkedIn senior director Jennifer Shappley and life coach Stacy Nadeau speak on "Who do you want to BE: The Confidence Gap"
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Dorothy delivers the closing performance at the BE Conference.
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Dorothy sings.
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Dorothy sings
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Dorothy and Sharon Waxman close down the BE Conference.
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The Scene at the BE Conference.
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Stickie on the BE WrapWomen wall
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BenRiach bar at the BE Conference.
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BenRiach Cocktail Party
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BenRiach Cocktail Party
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Ellen Gilbert (Paradigm, Talen Agent) on the panel "When Harvey Weinstein Happened - How Hollywood is Changing" at the BE Conference.
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Thank you to our sponsors!
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Second annual event from TheWrap sees power women mix in Austin
