Today marks my third anniversary as Deputy Director of Rocky Mountain Equality. When I joined this organization in 2021, it was still Out Boulder County. Since then, we’ve rebranded to Rocky Mountain Equality (RMEQ), a name that captures the breadth and depth of our work to support, celebrate, and advocate for LGBTQ+ Coloradans.
Coming to Boulder without having ever visited the city was the right decision because working as a partner to our Executive Director Mardi Moore (she) and learning daily from her leadership has been the honor of a lifetime. She is a relentless fighter for equality and drives our work forward every day with her commitment to show up for the community.
Growing up in the mountains of Pike County, Kentucky, my single mother taught me not to let anyone make me feel ashamed of who I am. In so many ways my mother and that lesson have been my unshakeable foundation as I have navigated a world not meant for queer and trans people. That refusal to feel shame and my commitment to help create a world where other LGBTQ+ people aren’t made to feel ashamed of who they are or who they love has led me to my dream job.
I love going to work everyday, even on days like the immediate aftermath of the Club Q Shooting and the day Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court. I love that I work for an organization and with a team that knows that some days our fight gets easier and some days it gets harder, but we have to show up to fight for each other and our community, NO MATTER WHAT. When I was a kid I wanted to help people like me, but knew then what I know now: racism, sexism, classism, ableism, and all the other forms that systemic and individual bias and hate takes in our lives are related. Homophobia and Transphobia are inextricably linked. I am not interested in any movement for equality that leaves people behind. As Audre Lorde reminded us, “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” That’s why Rocky Mountain Equality fights for the entire LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing those who are most underserved and under-resourced.
Anytime you make a list of people you will inevitably leave someone out, but I would not feel right to now acknowledge a handful of people who have been pivotal to my work here in addition to Mardi Moore (she). Anyone not included is an oversight on my part or a reflection of the length limits of a post like this, not on the value of their contributions. Tamora Tanniehill (she), Michal Duffy (they), and Juan Moreno (he) have been my partners in this work and continue to teach me new ways to lead. Micah Caswell (they) has been a thought partner to me the entire time I have worked at the organization and now is paid for it. Jennifer Caracciolo (she) helps us take care of the staff and each other so we can keep doing the hard work of changing the world and helps me remember the type of leader I want to be. Chris Castañeda (they/elle) just keeps helping more LGBTQ+ youth and makes all of us laugh while doing it. Aimee Herman (they) came into my work life very early as a volunteer and through their leadership the art-base based and creative programming we offer has continued to expand. Neil Fishman (he) for reminding us that the people we elect and the laws they pass really matter. Finally, Ren Dawe (he/they) reminds me routinely that laughter saves lives, particularly when so many of our social structures and systems exist to erase or limit LGBTQ+ people. Working in the nonprofit sector for more than 20 years has taught me that no matter how great your staff is, real progress isn't possible without the right Board of Directors. The board of RMEQ continues to astound me with their dedication and thoughtful engagement. In my time here, many of the board members have had an incredible impact on the organization and me personally. It would be impossible to overstate the positive effects that Lori Dumler, Kaylin Gray, Bryn Long, Nicole Garcia, Carey Mason, Drew Jemillo, and Emily Stout have had on me and my time in Colorado.
One of the things I love about my job is that it provides me with an amazing vantage point to see the entire staff and board of Rocky Mountain Equality do the amazing work they do for the community every single day. I get to meet so many dedicated volunteers who always show up for the community. Together we have made a big difference for LGBTQ+ people in Colorado and I mean this with all of my heart: We are just getting started.
Reflecting on the past three years, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. Among our accomplishments, a few stand out to me personally:
Legislative Wins: Collaborating with Mardi and the team, we passed three crucial laws ensuring LGBTQ+ inclusion in public health data, non-gendered restrooms in municipal buildings, and funding for smaller LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and rural nonprofits.
Accurate and Inclusive Education: Every Colorado student deserves to see themselves in their curriculum. That’s why I’m thrilled to have helped revise the state’s social studies standards to include LGBTQ+ and BIPOC history.
Expanding Services: We’ve expanded our reach by offering more virtual programming and bringing in-person services to Larimer county, ensuring more people have access to our support.
Colorado Queer Comedy Festival: Partnering with my partner and the brilliant community organizer and comic Ren Dawe, we led RMEQ in foundeding this festival, proving that laughter really does save lives. Over two festivals, we’ve made more than 600 LGBTQ+ people laugh and celebrate together.
Mental Health Services Expansion: By collaborating with Tamora Tanniehill, the RMEQ staff, and our generous founders, we’ve expanded the reach and broadened our mental health offerings, including robust pro-social activities and direct financial assistance, including basic needs and documentation support.
I am ready to keep fighting for our community, and I am ready to win. No matter what happens next, Rocky Mountain Equality is going to keep showing up for the community. This organization will keep leading in the struggle for equality, no matter what. Once we win that fight—and we will—then we will fight to protect that equality. Anything else is unthinkable and unacceptable.