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Valdez chosen as LGBTQ caucus chair

By Colorado Politics 11/21/2019 | updated 6 years ago

First-term state Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, will be the new chair of the General Assembly’s LGBTQ caucus after an election earlier this week.

“We made tremendous progress in the last year,” Valdez said in a statement. “We protected our LGBTQ youth by banning the dangerous practice of conversion therapy. We ensured that government identification reflects Coloradans’ true selves. We passed legislation to bring our students a history curriculum that shares the incredible contributions of LGBTQ Americans. We will continue to work hard to make progress on LGBTQ rights and ensure an inclusive Colorado.”

There are a total of seven members of the caucus, all of whom are Democrats: Sens. Dominick Moreno of Commerce City, and Joann Ginal of Fort Collins; and Reps. Daneya Esgar of Pueblo, Leslie Herod of Denver, Sonya Jaquez Lewis of Longmont, and Brianna Titone of Arvada.

“It’s important to see yourself represented, celebrated, and respected in all aspects of life,” said Daniel Ramos, One Colorado’s executive director. “In politics, where decisions impact thousands of lives, this is especially true.”

Nationally, 4.5% of Americans identify as LGBTQ, but only 0.1% of all elected officials fall into that category, according to a report this year from the Victory Institute.

Colorado has a relatively high number of openly LGBTQ legislators compared to other states. Washington has the most, at 10, with Vermont in second place at nine. Maine and California also have seven.

Nine states have no openly LGBTQ legislators at all, which includes the Deep South states of Louisiana and Mississippi, but also the relatively liberal state of Hawaii.

Colorado also elected Jared Polis, the nation’s first openly gay man to be governor, in 2018.

Alex Valdez
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