2026 General Election Candidate Endorsements

CD-8 includes many LGBTQ+ people raising families in suburban and working-class communities. How would you ensure federal policy improves the lives of all your constituents, and not just partisan or polarizing talking points?

CD-8's diversity is our strength. Growing up with my immigrant mother, I learned that families—in all their forms—deserve dignity and opportunity. I'll focus on kitchen-table issues: affordable healthcare, good jobs, and quality education. LGBTQ+ families face the same challenges. I'll fight for policies grounded in evidence, not right-wing distractions, ensuring federal programs serve everyone equitably, and I’ll draw on my experience passing dozens of Colorado laws, many with bipartisan support, to get it done.

CD-8 includes rapidly growing school systems, community colleges, and workforce training pipelines. What role should the federal government play in protecting LGBTQ+ students, families, and educators from discrimination, censorship, forced outing, and politically motivated targeting, especially in federally funded settings?

Our schools should be safe spaces for learning, not battlegrounds. I support enforcing Title IX protections, opposing policies that endanger students and their privacy, and ensuring federally funded institutions cannot discriminate. Book bans and censorship harm all students. As someone who worked multiple jobs to put myself through high school and college, I know how critical supportive environments are. I'll push for stronger federal guidance protecting LGBTQ+ students, families, and educators from harassment and politically motivated attacks.

The federal administration has used executive orders and actions to threaten federal funding and insurance coverage. The aim is to restrict access to evidence-based gender-affirming care, including for minors. How would you ensure access to care and support protections for providers and families in a way that has a meaningful impact?

Healthcare decisions belong to families, patients, and doctors—not politicians. I’m the only candidate in this race who voted for HB 1309 to protect gender-affirming care in Colorado. I'll continue to oppose efforts to restrict care and fight to protect insurance coverage. This means defending Medicaid funding, challenging discriminatory executive orders in court, and supporting federal non-discrimination protections for healthcare providers. Families in CD-8 deserve access to the care their doctors recommend, period.

Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors is currently under question by the U.S. Supreme Court. Federal law does not ban this practice. Would you support a national ban, and how would you defend it against legal and political attacks, or attempts to slow down the implementation? How would you address religious exemptions within the state ban to best protect LGBTQ+ youth within constitutional boundaries?

I'd absolutely support a federal ban on conversion therapy for minors. This harmful practice has been condemned by every major medical association. The science is clear: conversion therapy causes harm. I'd work with medical and legal experts to craft constitutionally sound federal legislation that protects youth while respecting First Amendment principles for religious counseling that doesn't involve coercive practices.

Federal agencies, courts, and Congress shape the lives of all Americans through rules, guidance, enforcement, and grants. How would you ensure federal policy affecting LGBTQ+ people is grounded in evidence-based medical and social sciences?

Federal policy must follow peer-reviewed, evidence-based science, not ideology. I'd advocate for robust consultation with medical associations, social science researchers, and LGBTQ+ healthcare organizations when crafting rules and guidance. My background in microbiology and economics taught me the importance of evidence-based policymaking, and I believe Congress needs more members with that experience. I'll demand the same rigor for policies affecting LGBTQ+ Americans.

How would you respond to religious exemption claims that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to federally funded services or public programs?

Religious freedom is fundamental, but it cannot justify discrimination in publicly funded programs. I'd oppose overly broad religious exemptions that deny LGBTQ+ people access to essential services like foster care, adoption, healthcare, or housing. We can respect religious beliefs while ensuring taxpayer-funded programs serve everyone. I'll scrutinize exemption proposals to prevent them from becoming licenses to discriminate.

If you are elected to represent CD-8, how would you meaningfully engage with LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations across the district to shape your priorities and votes in Congress?

Representation means listening. I'd establish regular roundtables with organizations like Rocky Mountain Equality, meet with families facing discrimination, and maintain open communication channels. My office would actively seek input on legislation affecting the community before votes, just as we do in the State House. Having worked with diverse communities in Adams County, I understand that good policy requires hearing directly from those most impacted. Your voices will shape my priorities.

If elected Colorado’s Governor, how would you use the powers of your office, including your budget authority, appointments, executive orders, legislative agenda, and public leadership, to protect and expand nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender Coloradans? Please identify at least two specific tools and explain how you would use each.

As Governor, I will expect and demand that all government agencies and state employees treat members of the public with the respect, sensitivity, and inclusivity that everyone deserves. To do that, I will ensure that all state agencies and services have proper procedures and training in place to ensure that every Coloradan is treated with dignity and respect, and has proper training on how to do so. This includes ensuring that state employees receive training focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, which I have long advocated is essential in high-functioning organizations.

I will also ensure that the Colorado Civil Rights Division has appropriate resources and systems to effectively enforce the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, so that any Coloradan who experiences discrimination when seeking covered services can report such instances for investigation and remediation.

Additionally, I will continue to support the passage and enforcement of state laws and policies that help LGBTQ+ individuals live as their true authentic selves, such as Colorado’s simplified processes for legal name changes and gender marker corrections on identity documents and birth certificates.

Finally, I will support employee affinity groups, in state agencies and across state government, which can promote a greater sense of belonging within institutions and can make the overall environment more inclusive, which we have embraced at the Attorney General’s Office. And I will appoint state agency leaders with a diverse array of life experiences and backgrounds, who honor and respect the principle that all people be allowed to live as their best authentic selves.

Colorado is considered a safe state, by many across the country, for gender affirming and reproductive healthcare. As Governor, how would you use your authority over state agencies, your budget and appointments, and your legislative and executive powers to protect patients, families, and providers in Colorado from hostile laws, investigations, or subpoenas from local municipalities, other states, and the federal government?

I am proud of Colorado’s protections for gender-affirming and reproductive healthcare and, as Governor, I will continue to protect patients, families, and providers, as I have done as AG.

As AG, I:

- Strongly supported passage of the Reproductive Health Equity Act and Amendment 79

- Defended our reproductive rights laws in court when opponents tried to overturn them time and again. Following the Dobbs decision, Colorado’s protections for reproductive care are more important than ever.

- Fought back and threatened to go to court when anti-choice, out-of-state advocates tried to get the City of Pueblo to ban abortion facilities.

- Defended access to gender-affirming care amidst federal attacks, including making Colorado one of the first states to challenge their attempts to limit this care.

- Brought a lawsuit to block an unlawful declaration by HHS that threatens providers and attempts to restrict access to gender-affirming care for young people.

- Joined a coalition of attorneys general to oppose the Trump Administration’s attempt to access confidential medical records related to gender-affirming care at Boston Children’s Hospital.

As Governor, I will always fight to protect access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare. That includes:

- fending off attacks by the Trump Administration to defund Colorado or cut off Medicaid to pressure Colorado hospitals to stop offering gender-affirming care;

- ensuring state actors comply with Colorado’s protections for this critical care;

- supporting any and all legislation brought forward to ensure continued access to reproductive care and gender-affirming care;

- protecting Medicaid reimbursability for such critical care;

appointing leaders to critical health and human services state agencies like HCPF, CDPHE, and DHS that will defend access to reproductive care and gender-affirming care; and

- standing up and loudly calling out any and all efforts to demonize this care and the patients who rely on it

LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender people and LGBTQ+ people of color, often face discrimination when interacting with government agencies and services including the DMV, social services, medical systems, and the criminal justice system. As Governor, what actions would you take to ensure that public services and institutions in Colorado are safe, affirming, and accessible for LGBTQ+ people? Please be specific about policies, appointments, oversight structures, and accountability measures you would prioritize.

As Governor, I will expect and demand that all government agencies and state employees treat members of the public with the respect, sensitivity, and inclusivity that everyone deserves. To do that, I will ensure that all state agencies and services have proper procedures and training in place to ensure that every Coloradan is treated with dignity and respect, and has proper training on how to do so. This includes ensuring that state employees receive training focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, which I have long advocated is essential in high-functioning organizations.

I will also ensure that the Colorado Civil Rights Division has appropriate resources and systems to effectively enforce the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, so that any Coloradan who experiences discrimination when seeking covered services can report such instances for investigation and remediation.

Additionally, I will continue to support the passage and enforcement of state laws and policies that help LGBTQ+ individuals live as their true authentic selves, such as Colorado’s simplified processes for legal name changes and gender marker corrections on identity documents and birth certificates.

Finally, I will support employee affinity groups, in state agencies and across state government, which can promote a greater sense of belonging within institutions and can make the overall environment more inclusive, which we have embraced at the Attorney General’s Office. And I will appoint state agency leaders with a diverse array of life experiences and backgrounds, who honor and respect the principle that all people be allowed to live as their best authentic selves.

LGBTQ+ communities are deeply impacted by immigration enforcement, housing instability, income disparities, and reproductive injustice, especially LGBTQ+ people of color, immigrants, and youth. As Governor, how would you integrate an intersectional approach into your administration so that your policy agenda, budget, and appointment decisions reflect the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people at these intersections?

As AG, I have developed a deep understanding of how certain communities are disproportionately impacted by challenges facing the state, including housing instability and income disparity, and how these challenges and identities are interrelated. A chief way I did this was by listening to LGBTQ+ leaders, partners, and stakeholder organizations for their guidance on their community’s needs and how best to support them.

At our office’s Teaming Up for Youth Conference earlier this year, I emphasized how we are seeing deep inequities in the youth mental health crisis and who has access to care. I discussed how LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to experience mental health challenges and less likely to receive the support they need, and how these disparities are even greater for groups such as Black and African American LGBTQ+ youth. We’ve also awarded millions in grants to nonprofits that provide youth mental health services, including The Center on Colfax and The PLACE in Colorado Springs to support LGBTQ+ youth.

Understanding how issues overlap with different identities and communities is essential. This mindset will be core to my approach as Governor as I develop policies. To ensure this approach is integrated into my administration, we will reference and rely on high-quality data that captures these nuances, and we will also engage in dialogue with impacted communities and stakeholders before implementing policies. Community engagement and a regular dialogue with LGBTQ+ organizations has been essential to my approach as AG, and I will continue to do that as Governor. I will ensure that our state agencies and administration leaders have a diverse array of experiences and backgrounds to ensure that the state can benefit from their unique perspectives as we develop policy solutions, and that LGBTQ+ leaders always have a seat at the table.

Government collection and sharing of data can put LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and people seeking abortions and gender affirming care, especially when states or the federal government use that data for surveillance, criminalization, or targeting. As Governor, how would you work with local municipalities and state agencies to prevent the sharing of private data with other states and the federal government unless legally required to do so? If the legality of the data request is in question or violates Colorado state law or values, how will you handle those requests?

As Attorney General, I strongly support state laws that protect the personal information of Coloradans held by the government and prohibit its use for immigration enforcement and similar purposes.

As Governor, I will demand and expect that state agencies and local governments comply with these laws, including by remaining in regular communication with state and local leaders and ensuring that proper accountability and compliance systems are in place for the stewardship of Coloradans’ data.

I will not comply with and will always resist data requests by the federal government or other parties that violate Colorado law, and I will challenge any such unlawful requests in court as I have done as Attorney General. For example, I joined a coalition of states in a lawsuit to block mass transfer of Medicaid enrollee data to ICE, emphasizing that this data should be shared only in narrow circumstances that benefit public health and the integrity of the Medicaid program, and that there is no reason to share this sensitive data with immigration or law enforcement agencies.

These protections are critical to protect Coloradans’ sensitive personal information, build public trust, and ensure that no one is deterred from or fears seeking important resources and services from state and local governments. They also ensure that Colorado’s resources are dedicated to state and local matters, and that they may not be commandeered by the federal government for purposes like immigration enforcement and targeting those who seek reproductive healthcare.

If you are elected Governor, how will you engage with LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations across Colorado to shape your priorities, appointments, budget, and policy agenda? Please be specific about how you will ensure this engagement is ongoing, accessible across regions, and meaningfully influences your administration’s decisions.

As AG, I have developed close relationships with LGBTQ+ communities and organizations across the state, and I will continue to prioritize and foster those relationships as Governor.

Community engagement has always been essential to my approach as AG, and I regularly travel across all 64 counties in the state to ensure that I am working for and hearing from all Coloradans—­­­­­­­not just those on the front range.­­ As I have done as AG, I will always consult with and hear from impacted communities and stakeholders as part of developing policies for the state. I will also ensure that state boards and commissions hold meetings and hear public input beyond the Denver metro area, in regions throughout the state so that they are accessible to all communities and not just those who live within a short drive of the State Capitol.

As Governor, I will regularly interact with, consult with, and actively seek policy guidance from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and leaders. This includes regularly scheduled check-ins, ongoing dialogues, and always being responsive when LGBTQ+ organizations like RMEQ contact me, my staff, and my Administration. I will be as personally available and ready to dialogue as I have been as AG. I will seek guidance from and regularly consult with groups like RMEQ and other LGBTQ+ advocates on board and commission appointments and identify other ways that LGBTQ+ Coloradans can always have representation and a voice in state government decisions.

Finally, I will collaborate directly with community partners, just as I have as AG. In 2019, after seeing an increase in hate crimes, I joined with community partners and law enforcement organizations to form a public/private partnership to train law enforcement, improve reporting, and provide resources to frequently targeted groups.

Colorado’s budget is constrained by TABOR’s revenue limits and recurring projected General Fund shortfalls. As Governor, how will you use your budget authority, appointments, legislative agenda, and public leadership to balance the budget and reduce the structural deficit over time while still protecting and advancing the core governments and critical public services? Please identify at least two specific budget tools you would use (for example: a voter referral related to TABOR limits/refunds; reforming or sunset-reviewing tax expenditures; restructuring fees/enterprises; targeted cost containment in Medicaid/education; improving forecasting and reserve policy).

I believe many provisions of TABOR have knotted our state budget, and prevented investments during good fiscal years while forcing devastating cuts in leaner years. That’s unacceptable and not how state government should work to support people.

To address our budget challenges, I will:

- Reform TABOR. I will lead and convene a bottom-up dialogue on the most consequential and harmful parts of TABOR with the intent on bringing forth a reform measure, including the spending cap that prevents investments in good years and forces cuts in bad years. By engaging voters, we can identify the best possible changes for our future and build support for what the voters are most likely to accept. Unlike top-down approaches, this strategy will better position us for success at the ballot box.

- Identify and Remove Tax Expenditures That Strangle Our Ability to Support Health and Education. The more our budget goes to benefit special interests through tax credits and deductions—often put in place not for sound budgetary policy, but based on lobbying at the Capitol—the more it removes critical dollars for core functions like supporting schools and healthcare. I’ll go line-by-line through our budget to find what expenditures aren’t filling critical priorities, so we can get more dollars to our most pressing needs.

- Ensuring Government Operates Efficiently. I will ensure fiscal responsibility to get the best value for every taxpayer dollar, including by updating and streamlining procurement processes that leverage competitive bidding. I will direct state agencies to identify under-utilized programs and services and programs that are not delivering results. With the charge to repurpose existing resources, a Program Evaluation and Responsiveness Team in the Governor’s Office will review state programs, offices, and services for effectiveness. We will drive for smarter investments of taxpayer dollars by repurposing funds to Coloradans’ most pressing needs.

If elected Colorado’s Secretary of State, how would you use the powers of your office,  including rulemaking, oversight of county clerks, guidance to election officials, and your public leadership, to continue to ensure that voters, including LGBTQ+ people,  can safely and easily register, vote, and have their ballots counted? 

As Colorado’s Secretary of State, I would use every tool of the office—rulemaking, oversight, guidance, and public leadership—to ensure that all eligible voters, including LGBTQ+ people, can safely register, vote, and have their ballots counted. As Colorado’s first out Secretary of State, I would bring both professional expertise and lived experience to this work. I identify as queer and bi, and I understand firsthand how government systems can either affirm people’s dignity or create fear and exclusion.

Through rulemaking and guidance, I would continue to remove unnecessary barriers to participation while protecting voter privacy. LGBTQ+ people should never be afraid to register to vote out of concern that their personal information, name history, or identity could be misused or made public. I would prioritize strong privacy protections, clear limits on data disclosure, and voter-centered policies that ensure election systems respect voters’ names, identities, and lived experiences. I have already worked on administrative changes that allow trans voters to update records without being subjected to invasive or demeaning processes, and I would expand and standardize that work statewide.

Oversight of county clerks must be rooted in partnership and accountability. As someone who has run elections in one of the largest counties in Colorado, I know that consistent guidance, training, and expectations are critical. I would support clerks while holding firm against discrimination, voter intimidation, and targeted misinformation—particularly when LGBTQ+ communities are being singled out.

Finally, public leadership matters. The Secretary of State must be a visible defender of democracy. I would use the platform of the office to protect election workers, counter lies, and affirm clearly: LGBTQ+ people belong in our democracy, and their voices will be protected.

The Secretary of State plays a central role in supporting and overseeing county clerks and election officials across Colorado. How would you ensure that election policies, procedures, training, and polling place practices are welcoming of LGBTQ+ voters, including transgender people whose names, pronouns, or gender markers may not match older records or IDs? Please be specific about how you would work with county clerks and local officials to address these issues.

Ensuring that election policies and practices are welcoming to LGBTQ+ voters—especially transgender and nonbinary voters—requires clear standards, consistent training, and strong leadership from the Secretary of State.

As Secretary of State, I would begin by setting clear, statewide guidance for county clerks and election officials that affirms voters are never required to disclose their gender identity, explain name changes, or present documentation beyond what the law requires in order to register or vote. I would use rulemaking and formal guidance to reinforce that name changes or outdated records are not grounds to question a voter’s eligibility or dignity.

Training is critical. I would work directly with county clerks to ensure that election judge and staff members have access to training that includes LGBTQ+ competency, including respectful use of names and pronouns, privacy protections, and de-escalation when voters experience confusion or harassment. This training must be practical, scenario-based, and updated regularly.

I would also strengthen polling place and ballot-issue resolution practices to protect privacy. That includes guidance on how conversations about identity or documentation are handled discreetly, ensuring voters are not “outed” in public spaces, and reinforcing that any eligibility questions are resolved without stigma or unnecessary scrutiny. I would convene clerks, advocacy organizations, and community members—including LGBTQ+ groups—to regularly review policies, flag emerging issues, and share best practices.

As the only candidate who has administered elections and partnered with clerks across Colorado, I know collaboration works best when expectations are clear and support is real. I also know that the majority of Clerks come from a conservative background and that this work won’t be easy.

Finally, accountability matters. When policies are ignored or voters are mistreated, the Secretary of State must act swiftly to protect voters’ rights. Inclusive elections are not a courtesy, they are a legal and moral obligation.

The Secretary of State oversees management and security of sensitive voter registration data, campaign finance disclosures, and other public records. Government collection, publication, and sharing of data can put LGBTQ+ people, survivors of violence, immigrants, and other marginalized communities at risk. As Secretary of State, how would you balance transparency with safety and privacy, including for people who may be outed, targeted, or harmed if certain information is easily accessible? Please describe any changes you would pursue related to voter file access, address confidentiality, or other data policies.

As Secretary of State, I would treat privacy and safety as core components of election and records integrity—because transparency should never come at the cost of putting people in danger. The goal is a system where the public can hold government accountable without making it easy to target LGBTQ+ people, survivors of violence, immigrants, or other marginalized communities.

First, I would expand and modernize address confidentiality protections. Survivors and others at risk should not have to navigate a maze to keep their information safe. I would work to simplify enrollment in confidentiality programs, improve coordination across state systems, and ensure county clerks have clear, consistent guidance and training to process protected records accurately and quickly.

Second, I would apply a safety-first lens to public records and campaign finance systems. Where the law allows, I would pursue rules and system design choices that reduce the risk of outing, doxxing, or harassment—such as limiting unnecessary exposure of home addresses or other identifying information in high-risk situations, improving takedown and dispute processes, and building privacy-by-design features into online portals.

I would also prioritize clear public guidance so people understand what information is public, what protections exist, and how to access them without fear or confusion. Too often, lack of clarity itself becomes a barrier to participation.

Finally, transparency must be paired with leadership. As Colorado’s first out Secretary of State, I would bring lived experience to decisions about data, safety, and disclosure, and I would be clear that accountability does not require exposure. We can protect public trust while protecting people—and the Secretary of State has both the authority and responsibility to do exactly that.

The Secretary of State enforces campaign finance and disclosure laws. Anti-LGBTQ+ groups and candidates often benefit from opaque funding streams and dark money efforts. As Secretary of State, how will you use your authority, within the limits of the law, over campaign finance, disclosures, and enforcement to increase transparency and help voters understand who is funding campaigns and ballot measures?

As Secretary of State, I would use the authority of the office to ensure that campaign finance laws are enforced consistently, transparently, and without fear or favor—because voters deserve to know who is trying to influence their votes, especially when LGBTQ+ rights are on the line.

First, I would prioritize strong enforcement. The Secretary of State has the responsibility to investigate violations, impose penalties, and ensure compliance with disclosure requirements. I would direct enforcement resources toward patterns of abuse that undermine transparency, including coordination between candidates and outside groups, misuse of issue committees, and efforts to conceal the true source of funds. Enforcement must be timely and credible to deter misconduct, not years after an election has passed.

Second, I would improve how information is presented to the public. Transparency is only meaningful if people can actually understand it. I would work to modernize campaign finance systems so disclosures are searchable, user-friendly, and accessible to everyday voters—not just lawyers or insiders. Clear summaries, standardized reporting, and better public-facing tools help expose dark money tactics and make funding relationships easier to spot.

Third, within the rulemaking authority of the office, I would pursue clear guidance that closes loopholes and reduces ambiguity. When rules are vague, they are exploited. Clear expectations protect compliant campaigns and make it harder for bad actors to hide behind technicalities.

Finally, public leadership matters. The Secretary of State should be willing to name the problem of dark money and explain how it harms democracy and vulnerable communities, including LGBTQ+ people. I would use the platform of the office to educate voters, support accountability, and reinforce that transparency is not partisan—it is fundamental to fair elections and informed consent of the governed.

The Secretary of State oversees business and nonprofit filings that affect small businesses, community organizations, and nonprofits across Colorado. LGBTQ+ and other under-represented populations and their organizations often face barriers to starting and sustaining businesses and nonprofits. As Secretary of State, how will you ensure that your office’s systems, forms, customer service, and outreach are accessible, inclusive, and affirming for LGBTQ+  and other under-represented people, their businesses and organizations they lead? 

As Secretary of State, I would approach business and nonprofit services with the same equity lens I bring to elections: government systems should be easy to navigate, respectful, and designed for the people who actually use them. For LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and community organizations, accessibility and affirmation is essential.

First, I would ensure that systems and forms are inclusive by design. That means reviewing business and nonprofit filings to eliminate unnecessary gendered language, ensure name fields work for people whose legal names may differ from older records, and make sure online systems do not force users into inaccurate or exclusionary categories. Technology should reduce barriers, not create them.

Second, customer service matters. I would prioritize training for Secretary of State staff focused on cultural competency, inclusive communication, and trauma-informed service—so that LGBTQ+ people and others from under-represented communities can interact with the office without fear of being misgendered, dismissed, or treated with suspicion. Clear escalation paths and accountability are essential when issues arise.

Third, I would invest in outreach and education. Many barriers stem from lack of information, not lack of capacity. I would partner with LGBTQ+ chambers of commerce, community nonprofits, rural organizations, and immigrant-led groups to provide clear guidance, workshops, and multilingual resources on starting and maintaining businesses and nonprofits in Colorado.

Finally, leadership sets the tone. As Colorado’s first out Secretary of State, I would use the visibility of the office to affirm that LGBTQ+ people belong in Colorado’s economy and civic life. When government shows up as competent, welcoming, and fair, it helps organizations not just start—but thrive.

If you are elected Secretary of State, how would you engage with LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations across Colorado to shape your priorities, rulemaking, guidance to counties, and public education efforts about voting, civic participation, and business or nonprofit filings? Please be specific about how you would ensure this engagement is ongoing and meaningfully informs your decisions.

Meaningful engagement with LGBTQ+ communities must be ongoing, resourced, and designed to shape real decisions—not just check a box. That is how I already lead, and how I would govern as Secretary of State.

In my current role, I created a first-of-its-kind advisory group focused on equity, transparency, and modernization to inform policy, operations, and public-facing services. That model works, and I would encourage other counties to adopt it. As Secretary of State, I would establish standing advisory councils that include LGBTQ+ advocates, community-based organizations, rural leaders, and people with lived experience navigating election, business, and nonprofit systems. These groups would be consulted early—before rulemaking and guidance are finalized—and revisited regularly to assess what is working and what needs to change.

My engagement with LGBTQ+ communities is not new or transactional. One of my first internships in law school was with The Center, and I have spent years working alongside LGBTQ+ organizations on voting access, civic participation, and inclusive government services. Last year, I was honored as a Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40, reflecting my commitment to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. In my current office, I have also publicly stood with the LGBTQ+ community—especially when visibility and leadership mattered most (https://www.coloradocommunitymedia.com/archives/jeffco/news/local-government/article_638251a4-4b24-52b6-9a7a-4759a4f5910f.html)

Beyond formal advisory structures, I would prioritize regular listening sessions across the state, partnerships with trusted community organizations for voter and business education, and clear feedback loops so communities can see how their input shaped outcomes.

As Colorado’s first out Secretary of State, I would lead with both lived experience and accountability—ensuring LGBTQ+ voices are not only heard, but reflected in policy, practice, and public trust.

The Colorado Title Board (the Secretary of State’s designee, the Attorney General’s designee, and Office of Legislative Legal Services) reviews and approves each proposed statewide citizen ballot initiative to ensure it contains a single subject and that the title and submission clause are clear, fair, and accurately describe the impacts of the proposed initiative on Coloradans so voters can understand what the measure does and the impacts it will have on people and communities. If elected, what specific standards and practices would you implement to ensure the Title Board operates fairly, transparently, and consistently?

As Secretary of State, I would approach the Title Board’s work with the understanding that clarity, fairness, and consistency are not technical details—they are foundational to voter trust and democratic legitimacy. Voters cannot make informed choices if ballot titles are confusing, misleading, or inconsistently applied.

First, I would insist on rigorous, even-handed application of the single-subject requirement and title clarity standards, regardless of the political popularity of a measure. The rules must be applied consistently across all initiatives, with a clear focus on whether a reasonable voter can understand what the measure does and who it affects. That consistency protects voters and protects the integrity of the process.

Second, transparency matters. I would support practices that make Title Board reasoning easier for the public to understand, including clearer explanations on the record for why titles are approved or rejected and why certain language is chosen. When voters and proponents can see how decisions are made, trust in the process increases—even when people disagree with the outcome.

Finally, I would prioritize voter-centered clarity. Titles should accurately describe material impacts, including fiscal effects and impacts on rights or communities, without advocacy or minimization. I would work with my designee to ensure titles avoid euphemisms, jargon, or framing that obscures real-world consequences, particularly for historically marginalized communities.

Do you believe that charter schools and religious schools that receive Colorado state funds should be subject to the rules and requirements for public schools in the state?

Yes. Any school that takes public money should be accountable to all applicable discrimination laws, finance laws, and education state statues.

What guidance would you provide to Colorado school districts to maintain students’ equal access to sports and extracurricular activities? How would you guide them to avoid some of the invasive practices to determine eligibility that have been proposed?

The state board does not have authority in this area. I have subscribed to speaking with individual school board members. My advice to them at this time is to recognize that there are experts in athletics and law that can provide the guidance they need so that all students maintain access.John Hickenlooper's Response

As you know, educational institutions collect sensitive personal data about health care, education, identity documents, and social services. How can the State Board of Education ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal government or any other entity and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ students or other at-risk communities?

There are many layers to this question. To start, the state itself does not collect much information from schools on individual students health care (unless they have a health plan) - nothing on immigration status, no social security numbers, etc. School districts have a wide variety of information on students depending on the individual student. Our best defense has been and will continue to be the AG's office. If any district were to to turn over information that is protected under FERPA and HIPPA to anyone it should not, we (state board) would approach the AG and ask them to find any and all legal remedy.

How would you work to ensure the safety and well-being of all students in Colorado schools, including those who are most often the target of bullying and harassment?

In general, on any actions that state board may take, I ask how this impacts students. I go from ALL students, and then down an internalized list of student groups. I do this because I want to ensure all students have equal access to safe facilities, nutritious meals, and healthcare and mental health resources. Advocating for laws and rules that support development and access in these areas is what I do.

If federal funding for the state’s education system is threatened or removed, how would you ensure the quality of education that our public school students receive? In addition, how would you protect marginalized students and families and their access to safe and affirming schools if such budget cuts were instituted?

If federal funding is removed, the State Board and CDE will need to know and be able to provide guidance to local districts, including and especially, maintaining quality education for ALL students. Additionally, lobbying efforts with the legislature must be stepped up, relationships built, and communication with constituents across the state must inform everyone of the new budgeting circumstance. Both the Board and the legislature MUST study and analyze the way state money is used, close every loophole available to bad actors, and institute proper guardrails and rules. Things like the current exploitation of loopholes and vague rules, like ER BOCES, must be exposed and stopped.

How would you work to maintain existing inclusive standards, like the social studies standards adopted in 2022, and create new standards that continue to improve the inclusivity of classroom lessons?

The short answer here is to keep the state board a progressive democrat majority. You all are more than aware of our collective involvement and what it took to get the 2022 social studies standards passed. The approach from here can be like what we did with the health standards (also some of the most progressive in the county). With health standards, we did our stakeholder outreach and a national standards review. That information told us our standards were up to date and we did not need to change them significantly. Our social studies standards review in 2028 should be similar and we can just update them rather than significantly change them. One of the things I plan on focusing on my next term is standards ENFORCEMENT. You will hear me asking about enforcement of all policy and rules we pass. The CDE has no real enforcement mechanism around standards in current law so I'd be happy to work with you all and others on how to get some enforcement in place.

Given the state budget cuts to education, what guidance would you give to school districts to comply with the cuts while also ensuring essential services and inclusive environments are maintained?

I have gone through this personally as the Chief Accountability Officer in APS during 2008 when we had to make dramatic cuts. Based on that experience, what I tell school board members is to look hard at your superintendent and their cabinet. :) Do they share your values of high quality, safe, inclusive learning environments for all students? If they do, then they will do the work of identifying areas that are 'nice to have' that can be eliminated without students losing essential instructional access, legal protections, and inclusive environments.

Do you believe that charter schools and religious schools that receive Colorado state funds should be subject to the rules and requirements for public schools in the state?

ALL schools that receive Colorado state funds should follow the same laws, rules, and requirements. This would include, among other things, teacher licensure, student services such as 504 and IEPs, CDE approved curricula, inclusiveness and acceptance of all students.

The balance between local control and state oversight is difficult at best. That balance will be very much at play in the current educational landscape and will color each of the circumstances you ask about here. I am of the opinion that CDE has been quite lax in its enforcement and oversight of many situations, including HSE (Home School Enrichment), and I will be a proponent of urging the Board and Commissioner to close that gap and re-align those biases.

What guidance would you provide to Colorado school districts to maintain students’ equal access to sports and extracurricular activities? How would you guide them to avoid some of the invasive practices to determine eligibility that have been proposed?

All students are supported and protected under Colorado law. Policies that cover all students have been acceptable to the current Federal OCR office.

Helping district board members recognize the folly of 'gender checks' would be a great start. I think many proponents do not recognize what 'gender checks' would entail, how they would apply to ALL students, and how traumatizing it would be for most cis-gendered students

As you know, educational institutions collect sensitive personal data about health care, education, identity documents, and social services. How can the State Board of Education ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal government or any other entity and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ students or other at-risk communities?

I am not certain of current Colorado statute, but step one would be to ensure that statute absolutely protects student data from the federal government and others, using every means available. The Board should give clear direction to the Commissioner regarding this, and the Commissioner should have conversations with the Governor expressing this. CASB should be contacted to provide local districts with sample policy for the local districts to secure student data.

How would you work to ensure the safety and well-being of all students in Colorado schools, including those who are most often the target of bullying and harassment?

I would explore the possibility of these options:

~ well-formed policy guidance for local districts, including work with CASB;

~ state department rules and regulations should be on point;

~ professional development should be available and required for all educators;

~ collaborate with CEA on PD for all;

~ anti-harassment PD is required annually in higher ed; short, to-the-point training could be implemented for K12;

~ availability to districts of continuing anti-bullying programs.

If federal funding for the state’s education system is threatened or removed, how would you ensure the quality of education that our public school students receive? In addition, how would you protect marginalized students and families and their access to safe and affirming schools if such budget cuts were instituted?

If federal funding is removed, the State Board and CDE will need to know and be able to provide guidance to local districts, including and especially, maintaining quality education for ALL students. Additionally, lobbying efforts with the legislature must be stepped up, relationships built, and communication with constituents across the state must inform everyone of the new budgeting circumstance. Both the Board and the legislature MUST study and analyze the way state money is used, close every loophole available to bad actors, and institute proper guardrails and rules. Things like the current exploitation of loopholes and vague rules, like ER BOCES, must be exposed and stopped.

How would you work to maintain existing inclusive standards, like the social studies standards adopted in 2022, and create new standards that continue to improve the inclusivity of classroom lessons?

I absolutely support our inclusive standards. I would like to explore the capacity of the State Board, within the confines of local control, to publicize or call to account, those districts that implement curricula like American Birthright Standards which do not meet existing standards. CDE should at the least counsel these Boards and communities to ensure they are aware of the deficiencies students will find when they are asked to test on real information which they have not been taught or exposed to. I will vote to support and maintain new and existing inclusive standards, and to support educators who work to teach inclusivity.

Given the state budget cuts to education, what guidance would you give to school districts to comply with the cuts while also ensuring essential services and inclusive environments are maintained?

In this kind of situation, local districts and boards will have to re-evaluate their needs, their priorities, and their strategies. This could be supported by CDE workshops and facilitation, along with state board members. as mentioned earlier, rules and statute which ensure inclusive environments must be supported and enforced.

Do you believe that charter schools and religious schools that receive Colorado state funds should be subject to the rules and requirements for public schools in the state?

Absolutely. It is untenable for any education institution receiving public tax dollars to circumvent legislation and CDE rules. What we lack is an enforcement mechanism. The legislature can pass statutes, but if the mechanism to hold schools accountable is not part of the statute, some bad actors will just ignore the statute. This is happening right now.

What guidance would you provide to Colorado school districts to maintain students’ equal access to sports and extracurricular activities? How would you guide them to avoid some of the invasive practices to determine eligibility that have been proposed?

Every student wanting to participate in sports and extracurricular activities should be welcomed. In the state, we have seen little to no abuse caused by transgender students participating on the team they most identify with. Every student should be encouraged to participate in sports and activities. There should never be a proof of gender requirement.

As you know, educational institutions collect sensitive personal data about health care, education, identity documents, and social services. How can the State Board of Education ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal government or any other entity and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ students or other at-risk communities?

Our data at CDE is secure and I would be surprised if individual gender data could be accessed by the federal government. We do not report on individual student’s gender, only as a number in the school population. However, I’ve seen parents and a particular board member write to the Secretary of Education and request a transgender student be blocked from sports. The federal government cannot block a particular student, but they can threaten to pull funding from a particular institution. So far there have been threats of pulling funding, but it hasn’t happened. Title IX is the lever the feds want to use.

How would you work to ensure the safety and well-being of all students in Colorado schools, including those who are most often the target of bullying and harassment?

Bullying is and has been a huge detriment to many students with differences. Putting our other LGBTQ+ students into our academic Social Studies is a great first step to helping kids understand acceptance of all students. It was hugely difficult, but we did get it done. I believe strong teachers who know how to teach community and tolerance of all people are our best tool against bullying. Local boards also need policies clearly addressing bullying.

Kids can be very cruel and only through great education and vigilance can we hope to eradicate bullying.

If federal funding for the state’s education system is threatened or removed, how would you ensure the quality of education that our public school students receive? In addition, how would you protect marginalized students and families and their access to safe and affirming schools if such budget cuts were instituted?

We need to guarantee that we are teaching the same standards and providing the same services to all students, especially our marginalized students. In Colorado this year we will try to decouple TABOR from Education Funding. That would give us some flexibility in increasing per pupil funding. This will never be enough to replace all federal funding. We need to increase the state share and hold all institutes of public education to the same rules. Right now we are seeing bad actors take money while discriminating against certain populations. This needs to be audited and stopped, providing more funds for institutions that serve all students equally, with standards based instruction.

How would you work to maintain existing inclusive standards, like the social studies standards adopted in 2022, and create new standards that continue to improve the inclusivity of classroom lessons?

Being on the SBoE when the Social Studies Standards were written, I know just how hard that fight is. We need to assure we are doing everything we can to keep board members who support inclusivity. Social Studies Standards will be back in 2028, so this election is crucial. We also need to keep our eyes on the Sex Ed Standards to keep them unbiased and reality based. This is another area that is hard fought. Experts should be writing standards, not board members with an agenda. We should then approve these reality based, unbiased standards.

Given the state budget cuts to education, what guidance would you give to school districts to comply with the cuts while also ensuring essential services and inclusive environments are maintained?

I want to make sure we all understand that in Colorado we have per pupil funding and categoricals. If a district loses students through attrition and lower birth rates, funding declines. That is where we are now. Because we have local control, the individual budget lies with the local board. These boards need to assure that inclusive, standards-based instruction is not on the cutting block. We all need to make sure there are no cuts to instructional programming and that our voting citizens understand how important it is to increase school funding to the level of better funded systems.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

Colorado must treat sensitive personal data as a safety issue. State agencies should not be allowed to share sensitive data with the federal government or outside entities unless required by a valid court order. We should also require data minimization, purpose limitation, limited retention, audit trails, and regular legislative oversight of interagency or federal data requests.

This has already been a priority in my work. As chair of the Joint Technology Committee, I led the Office of Information Technology oversight hearings and reviewed in depth where state IT systems have failed. That work led me to author and pass SB26-185, which strengthens Colorado’s state IT security infrastructure.

I also requested a late bill to prevent Colorado’s DMV from sharing data with the federal Selective Service System for undocumented license holders and to prohibit the federal government from using Colorado’s self-attested gender identity field as a proxy for draft registration eligibility. Although that bill was denied by Senate leadership, the issue remains urgent.

In 2027, my priority bill will be a broader digital privacy framework to protect all Coloradans, especially LGBTQ+ people and other communities at risk of being targeted through data exposure.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes. No Coloradan should lose a job, be denied housing, be turned away from care, or be excluded from public life because of who they are. I am proud to have helped build on Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections, including my work to codify Title IX protections in K-12 schools during my first session and my work this year on SB26-125, Student Civil Rights, which reflects my commitment to enforceable rights in Colorado schools.

Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act is strong, but rights only matter if people can enforce them. One of the most urgent gaps is underfunded enforcement. The Colorado Civil Rights Division needs the resources to investigate complaints quickly, because months-long timelines are not workable for families facing discrimination at work, at school, in housing, or while seeking care.

We also need to write stronger health care nondiscrimination protections into state law so LGBTQ+ Coloradans are not dependent on the priorities of any federal administration. This year’s School Finance Act closed loopholes that allowed public school dollars to flow to programs that could discriminate against employees and students. We should continue that work by closing any remaining loopholes that allow landlords, employers, schools, or providers to discriminate against Coloradans.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

I would continue to defend Colorado’s protections for evidence-based gender-affirming care through our laws and our budget. A state budget is a moral document. It shows what the legislature and executive branch truly value, and we cannot allow budget decisions to become a way to restrict gender-affirming care.

This year, I worked on SB26-125 to ensure students and families with 504s in K-12 schools have an avenue to seek accommodations when those accommodations are not provided. The debate over the relatively small amount of funding needed to enforce this bill showed how easily rights can become theoretical if we are not willing to fund enforcement.

Just this month, the Colorado Supreme Court found that Children’s Hospital violated CADA when it suspended gender-affirming care for transgender youth while continuing the same treatments for cisgender youth. Federal coercion does not excuse CADA violations, and I would support codifying that into state law.

I was proud to support Colorado’s 2023 shield law and would fight any attempt to weaken it. Colorado has become a safe place for many families with transgender children, and state law must continue to protect their ability to access safe, lawful, evidence-based care.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

Every student should be able to walk into school knowing they are safe, respected, and able to learn. I would strengthen student civil rights protections, fund enforcement, and use state oversight when districts fail to protect students. A student’s safety should not depend on their zip code, local politics, or whether their district chooses to do the right thing.

State law must clearly protect students from harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and exclusion. It should require districts to have real response plans, respect students’ identities, provide disability accommodations, and ensure public dollars are not used to support programs that discriminate. Funding matters because rights are only meaningful if students and families can access remedies, which means we need to fund the Colorado Civil Rights Division.

This has been a priority throughout my time in the legislature. In my first session, I ran SB23-296, which codified Title IX protections, lowered the bar for harassment by removing the “severe or pervasive” requirement, and required every district to have a response plan. I sponsored HB24-1039 to ensure students are called by their chosen names, ran SB26-125 to strengthen protections for students with disabilities, and worked to limit book banning.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

I would anchor laws, regulations, and funding decisions in evidence, medical expertise, and the lived realities of the people affected. Science is both foundational and dynamic. As an engineer, I rely on the scientific method to problem solve: looking at cause and effect, analyzing trends, reviewing sources, and adjusting when the evidence requires it.

That is how I approach policy. I oppose efforts to override medical knowledge or social science with ideological definitions in health care, education, or social services. When decisions affect LGBTQ+ Coloradans, especially transgender people, the state should rely on credible medical standards, peer-reviewed research, data from agencies and providers, and testimony from impacted communities.

I often say “data is my love language,” and I mean it. I would rather see trends, data, and implementation plans than slogans or political talking points. Policy must be based in fact, not ideology.

When bills or amendments misrepresent scientific consensus, I call that out in committee and on the floor. I would continue using that same approach to defend evidence-based care, inclusive schools, and funding decisions that reflect what actually keeps LGBTQ+ Coloradans safe, healthy, and supported.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

Meaningful engagement starts with relationships before legislation is drafted or votes are taken. LGBTQ+ people are part of every community in my district, and they deserve to be heard directly, not treated as an abstract constituency.

I have deep relationships in Larimer County with organizations and leaders who have been working on LGBTQ+ equality, education, and community safety for a decade or longer. I rely on conversations with advocates, school district leaders, LGBTQ+-friendly businesses, and community members to understand what people are experiencing and how state policy can better respond.

I also attend Pride events in my district whenever I can. Pride is joyful, but it is also one of the places where people speak most honestly about what is working, what is not, and where they still feel unsafe or unsupported. Some of the most direct and unfiltered conversations I have had about policy have happened at community Pride celebrations.

At the Capitol, I would continue engaging LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, lobbyists, providers, educators, students, and families before making decisions that affect their lives.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

Colorado should act fiercely to protect personal data and refuse to provide this data to the federal government when it is demanded. Though this can be complex, given the amount of collaboration traditional of the federal and state agencies, we have seen through previous restrictions that it is possible. I would support legislation that prevents data transfers to the federal government from state agencies and that strengthen privacy protections around this data. As one example of how this can work, in HB1113 - this year's elections legislation I helped lead - we restricted the sharing of voters' data with the federal government who were demanding it to create federal voter rolls. Similar efforts can and should be undertaken to protect immigrant communities (as we saw in SB25-276 and SB21-131), LGBTQ people, and others vulnerable to attacks from the federal administration.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes, I strongly support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in these various areas. Every Coloradan deserves the freedom to live, work, learn, and access government services without fear of discrimination or exclusion. We know the devastating, negative impacts when that is not the case.

Colorado has made important progress to this end. Going forward, we should strengthen CADA enforcement mechanisms so that civil rights protections are meaningful not just on paper, but in practice. Too many people facing discrimination encounter lengthy complaint processes, limited access to legal support, and inconsistent outcomes. The state should prioritize in faster investigations and stronger accountability for repeat violators.

I also support reinforcing protections for transgender and nonbinary Coloradans, particularly in healthcare and schools, as we see attacks on gender affirming care and trans youth in sports. These too are critical accommodations, sometimes through public intuitions, to which we must ensure fair access.

Colorado should continue leading with the principle that equality under the law is nonnegotiable. Whether through strengthening CADA or other anti-discrimination statutes, protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination is fundamental to building safe, healthy, and thriving communities for each of us.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

I was proud to support HB25-1309, protecting access to gender affirming care during my first legislative session. Though before my time, I am also supportive of our shield laws that ensure patients and providers from out-of-state have protections to legally provide gender-affirming care.

While we know the federal courts have persistently attacked these types of protections, Colorado courts have been a glimmer of hope for ensuring continued access. I support Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming services and - as possible in the limited budget - specific set-asides for these services, further codification of the right to access them for adults and youth (if needed), and robust oversight of state agencies to ensure coverage, access, and protections for those seeking gender-affirming services.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

I agree our schools' climates are essential to ensuring students feel safe, respected, and supported, which ultimately impacts their long term success. Students deserve safety regardless of their identity, background, disability, or religion. Colorado’s schools should be places where all students can learn free from bullying, discrimination, or fear.

State law plays an essential role in establishing clear, enforceable protections for students, including protections against discrimination based on protected classes. We must ensure schools have strong anti-bullying policies, inclusive nondiscrimination standards that are enforced by administrations, and fair disciplinary practices that do not disproportionately harm marginalized students.

Funding is equally important. Schools need resources for mental health support, counselors, special education services, language access programs, and staff training on inclusion, de-escalation, and cultural competency. Safe and supportive schools require investment. Too frequently in Colorado that investment is determined by zip code, so the state legislature must ensure better access for all students.

The state should also ensure transparency, accountability, and consistent enforcement of civil rights protections while partnering with educators, families, and local communities to address concerns constructively.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

By doing so. The science on everything from the benefits of familial & social acceptance, to positive outcomes of gender-affirming care, to the negative impacts of conversion therapy, and countless other issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community could not be clearer. We must legislate from this place of science that centers the voices of those impacted, and no other.

The pressures you mentioned aren't my politics or my ideologies, nor do they reflect those of my community. I am very proud of that and will continued to lead from that place.

Religious beliefs should not be used to deny other people equal access to services, healthcare, housing, education, or legal protections, particularly those utilizing tax payer dollars.

When organizations or providers accept public funding or serve the public, they have a responsibility to follow Colorado’s nondiscrimination laws and treat all people fairly, including LGBTQ+ Coloradans. Allowing broad religious exemptions that permit discrimination undermines civil rights protections and creates real harm for people seeking essential services and care. Religious exemptions have been used to discriminatory ends in the past just as we are seeing them used now. I don't want to repeat this shameful history.

Colorado should continue protecting equal protection under the law by ensuring that personal beliefs do not become a basis for denying someone healthcare, safety, dignity, or participation in public life. We can respect religious diversity while still maintaining clear standards that prevent discrimination.

Every Coloradan deserves to know they will be treated with fairness and respect, regardless of who they are or whom they love.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I collaborated with LGTBQ+ groups to bring SB26-18 this year which protects youth name change records and - in its original form - would have ensured family courts could consider parental recognition of protected classes when making determinations. I was grateful to RME for their support of this bill, as well as - in the end - One Colorado's and Bread & Roses'. This collaboration taught me the benefits of patience and continued conversations in policy efforts, as better policy was made through the work of bringing each of us along.

I will continue to prioritize consistent, direct engagement with LGBTQ+ individuals, advocates, and community-based organizations like RME to ensure their experiences and concerns inform my legislative work. I also think it is important to show up in community, including at our local Pride fests and drag events.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

Colorado should not be sharing most data we collect with any other entity. In recent years, we’ve seen the danger and damage from sharing data related to our immigrant community. Despite the protections that already exists, the governor has shared immigration data with the federal government. I am vehemently opposed to sharing any information that could be used to target individuals or communities. I support stricter regulations on data collection, retention, and sharing to protect the healthcare decisions, privacy, and safety of all people, especially patients seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care. I will support legislation to keep Coloradans’ data in safe and private.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes. I support strict regulations on data collection, retention, and sharing to protect patients seeking abortion and gender-affirming care from digital surveillance. I support limiting the use of automated license plate readers, location tracking, and data that period tracking apps can store or share, that could be weaponized to criminalize healthcare decisions. I support clinic safety legislation to protect patients and providers from harassment, ensuring everyone can access care without intimidation.

I support ensuring equitable voting access by opposing any voter suppression efforts aimed at making our democratic processes less accessible to women and LGBTQ+ Coloradans. I support upholding the separation of church and state in our laws to protect women and LGBTQ+ individuals from religious exemptions that permit discrimination in healthcare, public services, and the workplace. I support strengthening enforcement of anti-discrimination laws to guarantee that the rights and absolute dignity of every person in Colorado are unconditionally protected. I support strengthening policies to close the gender pay gap and pay inequality.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

At the state level, I will be a fierce protector of the right to gender-affirming care. As a mom, I believe my kids should have the right, and the protections, to grow up to be whoever they are.

I support expanding protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, including proactive shield laws to protect gender-affirming care and closing any legal loopholes that allow federal prosecution or out-of-state investigations into healthcare decisions made in Colorado. I support ensuring that gender-affirming care and other self-determining medical decisions remain completely free from legislative interference. I support defending the civil rights, safety, and dignity of LGBTQ youth, including strengthening anti-harassment and anti-discrimination laws, and civil actions for conversion therapy survivors. I support strict enforcement and accountability for employers, landlords, public servants, and other actors who violate anti-discrimination laws or deny LGBTQ+ Coloradans their fundamental civil rights.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

In 2022, as the former Executive Director of the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus, I helped launch and lead the 1192 Coalition, bringing together the Latino, Black, and LGBTQ Caucuses as well as community advocates to ensure compliance with HB19-1192, fighting back against Republican attempts to disregard the commission’s recommendations and aimed to remove critical histories of marginalized communities in the state education standards in history and civil government. This coalition was successful in ensuring the SBoE moved forward with the commission’s recommendations.

Public schools must, by law, be inclusive and I'll support legislation to ensure they continue to be, just as I have fought for inclusive and representative education in the past.

I also oppose public dollars going to private or quasi-private institutions that could potentially discriminate and support a legal requirement that any school (public, charter, private, etc) that receives a single dollar of public money be inclusive and not discriminatory towards the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, students with disabilities, etc. As a parent of school-aged kids, I will fight to ensure our schools are inclusive - I want to make sure my kids are educated in a system that supports diversity and encourages students to be who they are.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

I support ensuring our Attorney General’s office has the resources they need to fight the federal government’s attacks on LGBTQ+ Coloradans, and work to ensure the legislature can create bills to blunt attempts to discriminate by ballot measure, for which there are many. I support legislation such as HB26-1322, which establishes the ability for conversion therapy survivors to bring civil actions. As with any ideological or political pressure, I align my work and will legislate in partnership with the leaders and communities directly impacted by the decisions at hand.

If an entity receives public money, they should not be able to claim exemptions from laws that allow them to discriminate. If a healthcare facility or others do not comply with anti-discrimination laws and provide gender affirming care, abortion services, etc due to their ideological views, they should not receive public funds. I support legislation and regulations that strengthen compliance mechanisms and expand access to services, not restrict or erode access.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I always operate on the basis of building relationships and trust with people and communities. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with LGBTQ+ leaders and communities both in my district and in Colorado prior to taking office and continuously throughout my tenure to ensure I understand priorities and pressing issues on an ongoing basis.

In leading up to specific legislative sessions, conversations about legislation need to begin in the summer and fall, long before session begins. While important stakeholdering does happen during the session, it’s too busy of a time to be starting conversations then. My goal is to meet with organizations and leaders before the session starts, so that when things need to move quickly during session everyone with an interest in legislation is already familiar and can engage meaningfully.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

We need to ensure firewalls between our state data and federal data, particularly to hostile agencies such as ICE or unfortunately, apparently DHS. We should work with the Attorney Generals office to ensure this separation stays intact and the Governors office to know it won't be threatened or undercut. We also need to be proactive in not passing legislation that degrades these protections, such as parental notification or consent laws, our voter/election data and how AI is being regulated. We should also be aware of how this tech is being used in schools and what data is coming from that, so that private corporations which could share this data don't have access to our kids or the clearance to share it. I would run and support bills that allow parents to opt out of their kids engaging with AI tools in schools, as we know people often share personal data with these bots and kids aren't able to consent properly. We also need to protect our data from other states like Texas, which could track women coming her for abortion care to prosecute them.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes I support this. I think the most urgent thing to do will be to defeat the two ballot measures currently being pushed forward and to then file legislation next year to establish further protections against conversion therapy and protections for trans kids in schools.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

I believe in accessible gender affirming care and acknowledge that our hospitals are under threat due to providing this care. I think as a state, we need to continue to support the providers who are standing behind their patients and ensuring that we don't rollback any state funding to their programs, and if possible to expand that funding so they are able to help the patients other facilities are not helping due to the threats.

Protect the providers still doing this, try to get those providers (like PPRM) more resources to fill the gap, do our best to support the facilities that want to provide it and impose limitations and regulations on facilities that pretend to be healthcare providers, but who are picking and choosing which people to provide services to based on political/religious ideology.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

In my previous work helping to establish clear and inclusive standards for comprehensive sex ed in Colorado, I learned a lot about how public schools operate. I hold very firmly to the idea that public schools should serve their public, meaning they should be safe and inclusive spaces for every member of a community. Schools that do not meet that requirement or could not pass an audit of their processes, should not receive state funding, period. I know this is not a particularly nuanced or possibly popular position, but the fact of the matter is that the state gets to make funding decisions. I find it abhorrent that we would continue funding entities which allow for bullying or hostility towards students.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

As an abortion rights advocate I have long since not been influenced by ideological or political forces that push anything anti-science. So I'll be honest I don't know what else we could anchor our state laws and policies in other than science and medical based evidence.

All requests for religious exemptions on anything are a non-starter for me. Religious institutions should be entirely privately funded and still subject to state regulation particularly if they are medical or service providers, period.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

As a proud queer woman I would start with engaging my friends and personal networks in conversations about their lives and needs to help generate needed ideas, and I would meet with statewide and local organizations that serve these communities as primary stakeholders in any of this work. I would hold town halls in queer friendly spaces (currently my campaign has exclusively used queer friendly spaces for our events) and to meet with queer leaders and parents of LGBTQ kids. I would also work with local education associations and school districts to figure out how to best protect our queer students and to get their take as stakeholders as well.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

I am so glad this is an issue that RMEQ is focused on. As the Chief Policy Officer for Connect for Health, a private entity that collected personal data including health and tax information, I know what goes into a robust data security infrastructure. I have completed data privacy and systems security coursework specifically because I believe legislators need to understand the technology they are regulating.

Given how data is being weaponized against marginalized groups including our LGBTQ+ community, I would support legislation limiting the types of data necessary to collect, increasing data safeguards for state agencies including data destruction and to prohibit sharing sensitive data with federal agencies without a valid court order.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes, fully. LGBTQ people deserve the same protections in every part of life, and I will fight to maintain and strengthen Colorado's nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare.

The most urgent gaps are in enforcement. Rights on paper mean nothing if people do not know how to use them or cannot afford to pursue them. I would support strengthening our Civil Rights Division and streamlining complaint processes because I have seen what happens when protections exist without enforcement. Finally, we have a gap in protections for LGBTQ+ staff and teachers in our schools, to be protected against parents. As someone who experienced discrimination from parents when I was a teacher, I know this is an area lacking regulation.

I will show up for our communities most at risk, and work with LGBTQ+ advocates who have the on-the-ground knowledge I need to get the details right.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

Gender-affirming care is healthcare. It is evidence-based, it is life-saving, and it is not a bargaining chip. I will fight for our families to have access to this care as a champion, not just a supporter.

I would oppose any attempt to restrict care through state legislation, regulatory changes, or funding decisions. I have wholeheartedly endorsed the campaign Families not Politics, to oppose ballot initiatives 109, and 110, which are direct attacks on trans youth and their families.

I also speak from community, not just policy. My partner and I have been leaders in women's rugby for years. I have organized against transphobic parents on my child's soccer team. I am a fierce trans ally because I have walked alongside trans community members in real life, and I will govern like it.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

The most urgent school safety issue right now is not infrastructure. It is fear. Immigrant families are keeping kids home. LGBTQ students are told they don’t belong. Teachers are afraid to do their jobs. I am part of a parent organizing effort that trains families to show up as allies for immigrant families and teachers at my daughter’s school. And while we are doing what he can to organize locally, as a legislator, I can bring that to the state level.

I would follow the lead of the two Latine DPS school board members who have endorsed me: DJ Torres and Xochitl Gaytan, both of whom are experts on racial inequity in education. This includes joining their work to ban ICE on school property. And to fund a curriculum that reflects the full diversity of our communities, oppose outing policies, and school-based mental health supports. Schools should be places every child feels they belong. That requires policy, funding, and leadership that says it clearly.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

I pursued an MBA in health sector management specifically to understand how healthcare systems work and how to use financial and clinical data to advocate effectively. I build my own models. I read the research. When ideological pressure conflicts with evidence, I will bring the evidence and explain why publicly.

And for what it’s worth, I would support requiring state health agencies to ground their policies in peer-reviewed medical consensus, and I would oppose any attempt to classify evidence-based gender-affirming care as experimental or elective for purposes of coverage or funding decisions. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and decades of research are not a political opinion.

Religious freedom is a real and important right. It does not include the right to use public funding to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

State-funded services, programs, and protections exist to serve all Coloradans. When an entity accepts public dollars, it accepts the obligation to serve the public without discrimination. I would oppose any religious exemption claim that seeks to use state funding as cover for denying LGBTQ people access to services they are entitled to, including access to faith-based childcare.

I grew up a Catholic missionary and as an adult, I joined Dignity, an LGBTQ-affirming Catholic community. My faith and my commitment to LGBTQ equality are not in conflict. I say this because I want to be clear that this is not an anti-religion position. It is a position about the appropriate limits of religious exemptions in publicly funded contexts. The state should not be a vehicle for one group's religious beliefs to override another community's civil rights.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I am queer, and community engagement is not something I will do from a distance. I will continue regular conversations with One Colorado, participate in the Stonewall Democrats, Victory Institute (I am a Victory Fund endorsed candidate), and community organizations with the on-the-ground expertise I need to legislate well. I have regular relationships with their leaders now and will maintain them as a legislator.

To me, that looks like calling someone before a vote, not after. Especially on tricky health care bills where anti-LGBTQ+ provisions can slide in under the radar. It means following the lead of people with lived expertise by stakeholdering during the off season, not just inviting testimony at a committee. It means showing up at community events, pride celebrations, and memorial services when there is no vote pending, because that’s how we build community. I have been active in LGBTQ+ for years (including in rugby), so I’m not starting from scratch.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

As a legislator, I strongly support LGBTQ+ equality and protecting the privacy, dignity, and civil rights of all Coloradans. Last year, I passed legislation requiring stronger protections for personal data collected through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), because people should be able to access essential services without fear their information will be misused or exposed.

Colorado should continue strengthening privacy protections by limiting unnecessary data collection, restricting data sharing absent a court order or clear legal requirement, and requiring strong cybersecurity standards for agencies handling sensitive records. I also support stronger safeguards around healthcare and identity document information, particularly for transgender individuals seeking gender marker changes or gender-affirming care.

There must be meaningful accountability when sensitive data is improperly accessed, disclosed, or weaponized against vulnerable communities. As a legislator, I will continue supporting policies that protect privacy, civil liberties, and the right of every person to live safely and authentically in Colorado.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes. I strongly support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare. Every person deserves to live safely and authentically without fear of discrimination.

While Colorado has made important progress, there are still areas that require additional legislative attention. One issue I have worked on directly is protections against discrimination based on pronoun usage and gender identity in the workplace. I previously worked on legislation that would have required employers to respect an employee’s pronouns and created a cause of action for discrimination related to repeated intentional misuse. That bill ultimately did not move forward because additional stakeholder work was needed, but I continue to believe these conversations are important and necessary.

I also believe Colorado should continue strengthening enforcement of existing civil rights laws, protecting LGBTQ+ youth in schools and foster care settings, safeguarding healthcare access, and ensuring sensitive personal data cannot be weaponized against vulnerable communities.

As a legislator, I will continue supporting policies that center dignity, safety, equal opportunity, and civil rights for all Coloradans.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

Colorado has taken important steps to protect access to evidence-based gender-affirming care, and I strongly support continuing those protections. I was proud to pass SB29, legislation protecting doctors and healthcare practitioners who provide gender-affirming care from out-of-state attempts to investigate or prosecute them for providing lawful healthcare in Colorado.

I believe healthcare decisions should remain between patients, families, and medical professionals, not politicians. As attacks on LGBTQ+ rights increase nationally, Colorado must continue standing firmly in support of bodily autonomy, privacy, and access to medically necessary care.

As a legislator, I would oppose efforts to restrict gender-affirming care through state legislation, funding decisions, or administrative barriers. I would also support strengthening legal protections for patients, providers, and families seeking care in Colorado, while ensuring strong data privacy protections so sensitive medical information cannot be misused.

I also believe Colorado should continue working closely with healthcare providers, civil rights organizations, and impacted communities to ensure our laws remain responsive to evolving legal challenges and federal pressure. Colorado should continue to be a state where LGBTQ+ individuals can live safely, access healthcare with dignity, and receive evidence-based medical care free from political interference.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

As a legislator, I believe every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported at school regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, immigration status, disability, religion, or background. Public schools should be places where students can learn without fear of bullying, discrimination, or political attacks.

State law plays an important role in setting clear protections and expectations. I support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws, ensuring schools have inclusive policies, and protecting access to mental health support, affirming environments, and culturally competent education. Schools must also have clear procedures to address harassment and bullying quickly and effectively.

Funding matters as well. We must ensure schools have adequate counselors, social workers, language access services, special education resources, and training for educators so they can support diverse student populations. I also support investments in restorative practices and trauma-informed approaches that help students feel connected and safe.

Oversight is equally important. The state should ensure that civil rights protections are being enforced consistently across districts and that families have meaningful avenues to report discrimination or exclusionary treatment.

I will continue working to ensure Colorado schools remain welcoming, inclusive, and safe for every student.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

As a legislator, I believe laws and public policy should be grounded in evidence, expertise, and the lived realities of the people affected not political rhetoric or misinformation. Decisions impacting LGBTQ+ people, particularly around healthcare, education, and civil rights, should be informed by established medical standards, peer-reviewed research, and the guidance of licensed professional organizations.

In Colorado, I have supported policies rooted in evidence-based care, including passing SB29, which protects providers who offer gender-affirming healthcare from out-of-state attempts to punish or criminalize that care. Major medical organizations recognize gender-affirming care as evidence-based and medically necessary for many patients, and policymakers should respect the expertise of healthcare professionals rather than substitute political ideology for medical judgment.

I also believe legislative processes should include meaningful engagement with doctors, mental health professionals, educators, researchers, civil rights advocates, parents, and impacted communities. Good policymaking requires listening to experts and understanding the real-world consequences laws have on people’s safety, health, and dignity.

When political pressure conflicts with established science or civil rights protections, I will continue to support policies that prioritize evidence, public health, individual freedom, and equal protection under the law.

I strongly support religious freedom, but I do not believe religion should be used as a basis to deny people equal access to public services, healthcare, housing, education, or protections under the law. When organizations or entities receive public funding or participate in state programs, they have a responsibility to serve the public fairly and without discrimination.

Colorado has worked hard to build strong civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ people, and I believe those protections must be upheld consistently. Claims for religious exemptions should not become a loophole that allows discrimination or the denial of medically necessary care, particularly for vulnerable communities who already face barriers to services and support.

As a legislator, I believe we must carefully balance constitutional protections for religious exercise with the state’s compelling interest in preventing discrimination and ensuring equal access to services. Courts have long recognized that religious freedom is a fundamental right, but it does not give individuals or institutions blanket authority to harm others or deny equal treatment in publicly funded spaces.

I would continue supporting policies that protect LGBTQ+ Coloradans from discrimination while ensuring state agencies, contractors, healthcare systems, and publicly funded programs operate in compliance with Colorado civil rights laws.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

As the incumbent, I have been proud to strongly support LGBTQ+ community members and to work alongside advocates, healthcare providers, educators, and civil rights organizations to advance equality and protect fundamental rights in Colorado.

I believe meaningful engagement starts with building authentic relationships and maintaining open communication with LGBTQ+ individuals and community-based organizations throughout the year, not only during legislative session. In my work at the legislature, I regularly meet with stakeholders, advocacy groups, and impacted communities to help inform my legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities.

I have supported and passed legislation protecting LGBTQ+ Coloradans, including SB29, which protects providers offering gender-affirming care from out-of-state attempts to criminalize or punish that care. I have also worked on broader issues involving privacy protections, healthcare access, anti-discrimination efforts, and educational opportunity.

As an elected official, I believe it is important that impacted communities have a seat at the table early in the policymaking process. I remain committed to listening, collaborating, and ensuring LGBTQ+ Coloradans are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect under Colorado law.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

We as a state, should guarantee that our data systems are secure and accessible only as metadata to help guide state policies that help Coloradans. We must prevent all sharing of information with federal entities, especially individual identifying information. We can use our authority to strengthen security, to protect data, and to have meaningful enforcement of state law.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

I one hundred percent of the time support nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in all aspects of living in Colorado. I am concerned about the ability to access gender affirming care and the pressure that the federal government is putting on our hospitals and clinics who has historically offered this care and are pulling back due to threats of losing funding. We may have to find ways to support these hospitals and clinics, even while in a dire budgetary situation, to keep access to this life saving care available to Colorado kids and adults. I am also concerned about the continual attacks on the trans community, especially kids, in sports and schools. I feel that there may be things we can do to strengthen protections for kids. We also have to make sure that AI systems are not algorithmically making decisions and discriminating against LGBTQ+ people in accessing housing, jobs, education and healthcare.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

I touched on this above though being on the Health and Human Services committee for the past 5 years, time and time again I have seen bills come forward that seek to strip basic human rights and protections from people in our state. I defend Coloradans by vehemently speaking out and voting no on these hurtful policies. Elections matter and it is critical that we maintain a majority of people who will strongly and without hesitation defend trans peoples rights to life saving health care. People need to understand that gender affirming care IS literally life saving health care.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

We must continue to speak up for the institution and importance of PUBLIC schools and how every student must be supported in a way that allows them to thrive. Fighting for school funding matters, fighting to make sure public school funding does not slip into private school funding. Keeping the DEI conversation going, because it is important. State law, funding and oversight protections should reflect our values in this area.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

"Religious exemptions" is to me a guise for being able to hide hate behind a veil. I don't buy it. They can keep testing us on this and I will keep fighting back. Again, this is why elections matter and how critically important it is to make sure that the people we elect are willing to go to bat for the LGBTQ+ community. Even Democrats who may hesitate in this area should be held accountable. The LGBTQ+ community is a small percentage of the population and to be targeted like they are is unacceptable and should be to any compassionate human.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I am in direct communication with your organization as much as possible. As well as individuals in my community and with ONE Colorado. This is a policy area near and dear to my heart and soul as I shared above about my own kid, and is one of the primary reasons I ran for office in the first place. I am here for you because you have been there for my kid and others in our state and I thank you!

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

Much like we prohibit local law enforcement from working with ICE, I support efforts to prevent state agencies from disclosing sensitive personal information to the federal administration. When they go to the doctor or seek help from a state agency folks need to know they can rely on those interactions to keep them safe. In 2025, legislation I passed eliminated the reporting of testosterone from Colorado's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, ensuring that trans and non-binary folks wont be tracked simply because they use hormone replacement therapy (n.b. estrogen was already excluded from the program).

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes. Colorado has significant and important nondiscrimination protections in law and regulation for LGBTQ people and those should be protected. However, I am certain that gaps exist and that our enforcement of these protections can be improved. In 2023, I passed legislation to make sure that hospitals had to disclose whether they performed certain Reproductive health care and gender affirming care procedure, so that folks across Colorado would know where they can receive the health care they need before they go to their local hospital and get turned away. I look forward to working with the LGBTQ+ community to identify how we can strengthen our laws and improve enforcement so that everyone can live as their true authentic selves at work and at home.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

In 2025, I passed legislation to require insurers to cover gender affirming care, codifying our agency rules to ensure that the federal government could not take this life saving health care away. Doctors, patients and families should be making health care decisions, not politicians and not insurance companies. I will continue to oppose efforts to roll protections for gender affirming care back and work to protect our state's shield laws which protect doctors and other health care providers from political attacks from other states and the federal government. I will continue to work with the Attorney General's office to support their efforts fight court challenges to these protections.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

Regardless of whether they live in Boulder or Baca County, every student has the right to be safe and supported as their true authentic self. We should not use local control as an excuse to condone discrimination and harassment of LGBTQ kids. State policy and funding should support these goals. While we have put some protections in place for kids to make sure their school districts and teachers and not engaging in harassment or discrimination, we should examine how we can tie state funding to these requirements so that school districts need to meet certain basic, nondiscrimination requirements in order to receive state funding.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

As a former scientific researcher, I believe that policy making should be grounded in evidence. As a policy maker, I believe we should use the consensus from the medical community as the basis for our decision making, whether we are discussing gender affirming care, conversion "therapy," or vaccines. As a prime sponsor of SB26-032 we specifically decoupled our states vaccine recommendations from the pseudo science that is taking over vaccine policy at the federal level and made sure Colorado could rely upon the evidence based policy recommendations of major medical associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics. I passed HB25-1309 to codify gender affirming care into Colorado Insurance law because gender affirming care is evidence based and saves lives.

While the U.S. Supreme Court may disagree, I do not believe that we should allow folks who receive state funding to provide services to Coloradans to discriminate against people based on religious or any other reasons. Supporting the free exercise of religion and the first amendment does not mean that state services need to fund organizations who would seek to exclude, discriminate against or harass LGBTQ people. State funding should be used to foster inclusion and state services should be available to everyone, regardless of who they love or what their gender is.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I sincerely value the relationships I have with community organizations like RMEQ. I have been proud to pass legislation that has been supported and spearheaded by RMEQ in the past (e.g. accurate gender markers on death certificates and gender affirming care in insurance requirements) and I will continue to listen to the LGBTQ+ community about what is needed to make sure everyone is protected and has the health care they need and deserve. I will continue to reach out to RMEQ to listen to their legislative priorities and would love to continue to partner with RMEQ to promote equity for the LGBTQ+ community.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

The right to privacy and due process is paramount to freedom in America, and LGBTQ+ Coloradans deserve to live their own lives free of oppression by the state or targeted attacks of violence or discrimination. In order to protect this freedom, we need to limit data collection to only what is truly necessary. I would support legislation that prohibits the purchase of private data by law enforcement and state agencies. I would also like to see us give individuals more control over what information is collected and shared, with the option to opt out wherever possible.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes. I’ve carried and co-sponsored bills to protect equal access to public restrooms, prevent the intentional deadnaming of transgender youth in public schools, refer marriage equality to the ballot, and protect transgender patients in Colorado from outside prosecution from oppressive states, and I plan to continue this work once I am back in office. Some of the areas that I believe need further work are expanding access to gender-affirming care, adequately staffing and funding the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and further protecting LGBTQ+ students from discrimination.

Additionally, I believe that while we have some strong anti-discrimination laws in Colorado, too often we fall short when it comes to enforcing those laws. Individuals who are discriminated against in schools, housing, or employment often don’t have the information they need about how to seek redress, may not be able to afford legal services, or they receive assistance but it’s too little and too late. We need better funding for civil rights enforcement as well as better public resources and education so Coloradans know their rights.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

Gender-affirming care is health care, full stop. And while I’m glad we have passed shield laws to protect patients and providers, as well as passed legislation to require health benefit plans to include gender-affirming care, there’s a lot more we need to do to defend these protections. We need to pass robust legislation aimed at protecting patient privacy and strengthening existing protections so that federal pressure and court challenges can’t undo the progress we’ve already made. We also need real accountability, oversight, and transparency so that insurers and providers aren’t erecting barriers that make accessing care impossible. I was glad to see the recent Colorado Supreme Court decision requiring Children’s Hospital Colorado to provide gender-affirming services – this shows the role our state can play in making sure everyone can access the care they need.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

Our schools need to be places of learning, but learning becomes all but impossible when students are facing discrimination or an unsafe environment due to their identity. I proudly prime sponsored HB24-1039 in 2024, prohibiting deliberate deadnaming of kids in Colorado public schools and requiring local districts to adopt a policy on chosen names compliance. Not every district is going about this exactly as we’d like, and we continue to need local advocacy and activism, but I’m confident in the statutory language we chose and its durability. This type of legislation means very little in practice if it is not being enforced, and we’ll need meaningful accountability when schools fail to meet their obligations.

And finally, many Colorado schools simply don’t have the resources they need to be inclusive and safe places for all students. Disability accommodation, school counselors, nondiscrimination training for educators, and multilingual classes are all critical for students’ wellbeing and inclusivity. They also routinely fall by the wayside when our schools are underfunded, as they currently are. I’ll be advocating for a yes vote on the school funding measures that will be on the ballot with me this November.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

Public policy should be rooted in evidence and built through deliberation and consensus. There is no role for religious dogma or bigotry, and separation of church and state is critical in preserving our multi-cultural, pluralist democracy. We do this by consulting with affected communities and those with the relevant scientific and legal expertise in the legislative process. Discrimination against LGBTQ+ kids leads to worse mental health outcomes and higher incidences of suicide, whereas gender-affirming care and the presence of supportive adults are protective factors. Far-right attempts to manufacture controversies about what sports kids are allowed to play only serve to distract from this reality.

People and institutions have the right to their beliefs, but their beliefs do not entitle them to discriminate against others. This is doubly true regarding institutions that are publicly funded and provide a public service.

I oppose any religious exemption claims that allow publicly funded programs to discriminate against LGTBQ+ individuals, whether that’s in health care, housing, education, or any other sector. I would also support stronger enforcement mechanisms as well as a clear, accessible complaint process so individuals know where to turn if their rights are being violated under the guise of religious liberty.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

Equity and inclusion are central to why I first ran for office. I’m a working-class LGBTQ+ person who has faced mental and physical health struggles, and I didn’t see many people with my life experiences in elected office. During my first term, I made it a priority to listen to impacted communities when crafting policy, and I plan to do the same when reelected. I already have a strong working relationship with local LGBTQ+ community-based organizations like Prism Community Collective, and I will continue to build and maintain those relationships in office.

While it can be tempting to think Colorado has turned a corner and bigotry is a thing of the past, it was within my lifetime that Colorado was known as “the hate state” because of the discriminatory nature of our constitution. The massacre at Club Q here in HD-16 strikes incredibly close to home. We will see further efforts to erode our rights on the ballot this year, including Proposed Initiatives #109 and #110. That history, and the threats we still face, are why meaningful engagement can’t be symbolic or occasional.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

Privacy is always important, and all the more so in the setting of a persecutory federal regime. I'm cautious about a universal simple approach to a highly varied set of data situations, but by and large, we should ensure that this data is only used for public good, and I would consider requiring that this information not be shared with law enforcement or any federal agency without a subpoena.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

I 100% support these nondiscrimination protections. I would welcome guidance from content experts on what gaps currently exist.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

I deeply believe that the locus of decision-making belongs with patients, families, and their medical team. And I have more than enough exposure to trans adults and youth to understand the stakes, and the risk of harm from restricting access to health care. As a physician, I am well-positioned to advocate with my legislative colleagues and other actors about the true facts around this care, and the importance of protecting the autonomy of patients.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

If a child doesn't feel safe and welcome, it becomes very difficult to learn. This means that ensuring cultural safety for all students is core to the mission of our schools, not extraneous. schools that are unable or unwilling to ensure a safe environment are derelict in their duty, and need to change.

I believe in legislation that actually works, not just sends a message, so I need to learn more about the effective levers available to ensure that schools fulfill this obligation.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

One person/entity's right to religious freedom does not supersede the civil rights of other people, full stop.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I am queer, and I live, work, and play amongst LGBTQ+ communities, so I remain deeply connected to our lived realities. I plan to work closely with our community organizations on assessing policy, and my door is always open to advocates who would like to collaborate on new legislation.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

Colorado has a responsibility to protect the personal information residents are required to share in order to access health care, education, housing, and public services. No one should fear that seeking medical care, updating an ID, enrolling in school, or applying for assistance could put them or their family at risk, especially LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and other vulnerable communities who are increasingly being targeted.

I would strengthen data minimization policies. State agencies should only collect the information that is absolutely necessary to provide a service, and they should not retain that data longer than required. The less information we collect and store, the less there is to misuse or weaponize.

We need stronger legal barriers to prevent improper data sharing.

Legislative oversight must be real and ongoing. Agencies should be accountable, and residents should have clear rights to know what information is being held about them and how it is being used.

A privacy policy should not be written in a vacuum. Stakeholders ned to be at the table.

As a legislator, I should not just to react after harm occurs, but pass legislation to prevent it. Protecting privacy is protecting freedom, dignity, and safety.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

I support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in every part of life.

We have made progress, but legal protections are only meaningful if they are enforceable and accessible. We must continue closing the gap between what is written in statute and what people experience in real life.

One urgent area is healthcare access. LGBTQ+ Coloradans, especially transgender individuals, continue to face discrimination in obtaining medically necessary care, insurance coverage, and respectful treatment. We need stronger protections to ensure that providers and insurers cannot deny care based on gender identity or sexual orientation, and we must defend access to gender-affirming care from political attacks.

We should strengthen tenant protections and ensure landlords are held accountable when discrimination occurs.

In education, students deserve safe learning environments free from bullying, harassment, and bad policies. We should support inclusive school policies, protect students’ privacy, and ensure schools have accountability when discrimination happens.

Too many people do not report discrimination. When reported we should ensure timely investigations and meaningful consequences for violations.

We must remain vigilant as national political attacks increase. State law should be strong enough that the federal government cannot undermine the dignity, safety, and rights of LGBTQ+ Coloradans.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

I support protecting access to gender-affirming care and will work to defend those protections against any attempt to undermine them.

Medical decisions belong between patients, families, and their healthcare providers, not politicians. Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, medically necessary care, and for many people it is lifesaving.

As a legislator, I will oppose any bill that seeks to restrict access to gender-affirming care, deny insurance coverage, limit provider protections, or create barriers through licensing or administrative rules.

I would also support strengthening legal protections for providers, patients, and families so they are shielded from politically motivated investigations or out-of-state attempts to interfere with lawful care provided in Colorado. We have taken steps in this direction, and we should continue.

We need to protect public funding where appropriate. We must ensure that state programs and insurance systems do not quietly create inequities by excluding medically necessary care for transgender Coloradans.

Federal actions are threatening these rights, Colorado must be prepared to use every legal tool available, including litigation when necessary, to defend our laws and our residents.

People deserve the freedom to access medically appropriate care without government interference or political attacks. I will always stand for protecting that right.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

Public schools should be safe, welcoming places where every student can learn, grow, and feel they belong. That means protecting all the groups mentioned above from discrimination, bullying, and exclusion.

State law must provide clear protections and strong accountability. I support strengthening anti-discrimination policies so every school district has consistent standards for student safety, privacy, and equal access to opportunities. Students should not lose protections based on where they live.

Funding is also essential. Schools need resources for counselors, mental health support, inclusive curriculum, staff training, and programs that address bullying and harassment before they escalate. Supporting educators with professional development helps ensure schools are places of respect and understanding.

Oversight matters because protections are only meaningful if they are enforced. The state should ensure complaints are handled fairly, families have accessible reporting options, and districts are held accountable when they fail to protect students.

Every child deserves the chance to succeed without fear. Our responsibility is to make sure schools reflect that promise with fairness, dignity, and opportunity for all.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

Laws and public policy should be grounded in facts, research, and expert guidance, not fear, politics, or ideology. When decisions affect LGBTQ+ people, especially in healthcare, education, and public safety, we have a responsibility to rely on evidence-based medical standards and established social science.

That means listening to physicians, mental health professionals, educators, and researchers who work directly with impacted communities, as well as the people whose lives are affected by these policies. Gender-affirming care, for example, is supported by major medical organizations because it improves health outcomes and saves lives. Legislators should not substitute political rhetoric for medical expertise.

I would oppose efforts to restrict care, education, or civil rights based on misinformation or moral panic. Instead, I would support legislation that requires agencies and public programs to use recognized professional standards and transparent data when shaping policy and funding decisions.

Oversight also matters. We should require regular review of state programs to ensure they are meeting outcomes and serving communities fairly, while protecting privacy and civil rights.

Religious freedom is a fundamental right, but it should never be used as a license to discriminate or deny someone equal access to public services, healthcare, housing, or education. When services are funded by taxpayers and intended to serve the public, every person deserves fair treatment and equal protection under the law.

I respect sincerely held religious beliefs, but personal beliefs cannot override another person’s civil rights or block access to essential care. LGBTQ+ Coloradans should not be turned away from healthcare providers, shelters, adoption services, or public programs because of who they are.

As a legislator, I would oppose overly broad religious exemptions that create loopholes in nondiscrimination laws or allow state-funded entities to deny services. We must ensure that public dollars are not used to support discrimination.

Colorado should continue strengthening clear legal standards so religious liberty and civil rights are balanced appropriately with the understanding that government has a duty to protect equal access for all residents.

Our laws should reflect fairness, dignity, and respect. No one should have to choose between receiving basic services and being treated with humanity.

Good policy should improve lives, not score political points. My role is to protect people, not ideology.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

If elected, meaningful engagement starts with listening, not just during campaign season, but consistently throughout my time in office. LGBTQ+ Coloradans deserve representation that is informed by their lived experiences, not assumptions.

I would maintain regular communication with LGBTQ+ community members, advocacy organizations, healthcare providers, educators, and youth leaders to understand the real impact of proposed legislation and state policies. That means attending community meetings, hosting accessible town halls, meeting with local organizations, and making sure people know my office is open and responsive.

I also believe engagement must include those whose voices are often overlooked—rural residents, transgender individuals, LGBTQ+ youth, seniors, and people navigating multiple barriers such as disability, housing insecurity, or immigration challenges.

Legislative priorities should be shaped by the people most affected. Before voting on bills involving healthcare, education, housing, or civil rights, I would seek direct input from impacted communities and policy experts to ensure decisions are informed, practical, and protective.

Representation is not just about speaking for people—it is about creating space for people to be heard and making sure that voice leads to action, accountability, and stronger policy outcomes.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

As a State Representative for House District 33, I believe that we should protect this data from any federal overreach. I would be a proponent of any legislation to restrict state level agencies and organizations with turning over any private or personal data to the federal administration or out of state entities. Vulnerable communities such as Transgender people privacy and information should be safeguarded.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

I affirm and pledge to maintain and continue to protect Colorado's LGBTQ+ community from any form of discrimination. I believe the current legislative issue would be the Protecting the Freedom to Mary Act and to continue to support people seeking gender affirming healthcare. Hospitals and clinics should continue to allow and permit transgender youth seeking healthcare.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

I would continue to support and use SB23-188 to protect providers and patients from federal overreach and seek to bring back hospitals and public health providers to come back to the table to assist and provide gender affirming healthcare.

I would proudly and openly stand up to support gender affirming care in protests, speeches, and rallies. Trans rights are human rights.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

I would continue to codify the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). We need to continue to bring state protections in the event that the federal government continues to use its Department of Education to withdraw funding and harass public schools that have shown liberal or progressive communities.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

I would continue to expand and codify the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). My efforts and hope is to work with organizations such as One Colorado and ACLU Colorado to protect any religious exemptions that would affect state services that would discriminate LGBTQ+ people.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

As a current State Representative I've made a clear policy on supporting and advocating for transgender youth in my community. I already and will continue to pledge my policy to be proactive in defending and protecting our LBGTQ+ community and making a Colorado a place for everyone regardless of your race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

I strongly believe that all personal data collected by health care providers, educational providers, social service, etc. must be strongly safeguarded and especially protected from access by the Federal government. I am not an IT expert, so I cannot answer the best way to do this. I can give some examples from when I was associated with CU. As best as the university system office and each of the campus offices can do to protect data collected, there still have been breaches. When I was an employee, we received an email alerting us that our social security numbers had been compromised. CU suggested that we open accounts with the three major credit rating bureaus freeze access to opening new credit card accounts. Recently, Canvass, a popular software used in teaching was compromised. The university quickly stopped using Canvas and alerted the CU community of what happened. This is an outside vendor, which CU has no control over. These examples illustrate that even with the strongest firewalls, data breaches happen. The state and other organizations that collect data need to update security frequently, alert people when a breach happens and provide help to ameliorate the breach.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

I’m a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and I will stand up to any discrimination against them in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and healthcare. The legislature has consistently strengthened antidiscrimination legislation for the LGBTQ+ community. I am unaware of gaps in state law or enforcement, but I would be open to learning about legislation that RMEQ would like to see introduced next session. Obviously, we are losing a strong champion of these rights with Rep Titone terming out. However, we have several strong champions that have brought forward legislation, such as Reps McCormick and Brown. I will always back any legislative efforts to strengthen nondiscrimination.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

This session we tried to push back on the Federal ban on gender affirming care by our hospitals, but this has been an uphill battle because of the threat of losing Federal funding for those hospitals that provide gender-affirming care. Fortunately, four families sued Children’s Hospital, and the Colorado Supreme Court recently ordered the trial court to issue a preliminary injunction directing Children’s Hospital Colorado to once again provide health care for transgender youth. I will be watching anxiously to learn of the lower court’s decision. With our tight budget this past session and a tight budget next session, the state’s general fund cannot backfill funding that hospitals may lose from the Federal government if they pull funding because of this treatment.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

Colorado schools must provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students in the school community. When I was on the Board of Education of BVSD, I was very proud that we included LGBTQ students in our anti-discrimination policy. When each segment of the student population is specifically included in antidiscrimination policies it shows that LGBTQ students, along with all our other students, are valued. The state of Colorado is one of eight states that have local control of its school districts, meaning policies are set by the local school boards, not by the state. The state Board of Education and the Colorado Department of Education oversee school districts. I am not certain how the state Legislature can guarantee and inclusive and safe environment for all students. That being said, if a parent or student reached out to me about feeling unsafe, I would certainly find the right avenue to help the student to feel safe.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

As an academic with a thirty-year at CU, I always try to anchor my work with data. We are fortunately that the state Legislature is firmly in Democratic hands, and we law makers nearly always anchor our legislation in evidence-based medical and social science theory (one law Democratic law maker is the exception). I will never cave to ideological or political pressure when it comes to these matters.

Colorado is always a testing ground to erode both LGBTQ+ rights and abortion rights at the ballot box. Fortunately, we have always successfully shot down these attempts, and this election will test us again. There are two initiatives aimed at the LGBTQ+ community: Initiative 109 – male and female participation in school sports, and Initiative 110 – prohibit certain surgeries on minors. Our caucus has been apprised of these initiatives through a presentation by One Colorado, who I assume is leading the charge against these. I plan to focus of my upcoming newsletters on these initiatives, as well as other initiatives that will have a negative impact on our state. I plan to title the newsletter, Decline to Sign, and explain each initiative and ask my constituents to not sign the petitions currently being circulated.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I am well-known by the leadership and lobbyists at RMEQ and One Colorado (Nadine served on the search committee I chaired for hiring the CU president), and they know that they can always reach out to me about an issue, a bill that I might be able to sponsor, etc. I attend the wonderful annual Garden Party sponsored by RMEQ and am friends with many in the LGBTQ+ community. I think everyone knows I will always have an open door and will welcome any input they want to provide for me.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

The state could work towards preventing gender affirming care information from being visible on patient portals and preventing medicare & medicaid from limiting services based on procedure code and diagnosis.

I would support any efforts to maintain privacy based on HIPPA protected information.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes, I support maintaining and strengthening protections. With the recent Supreme Court Decision regarding our conversion therapy ban, we need to re-address this. Additionally, LGBTQ+ individuals are uninsured at a higher rate and potentially have a pre-disposition for acute and chronic conditions than cisgender individuals. We need to work to address these disparities and ensure that insurance coverage doesn't exclude care for these individuals' unique needs.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

We could codify these protection into the Colorado constitution, continue to fight against sharing this information with the federal government, work to quickly make new legislation that responds to the attacks of the federal government to maintain a safe state of Colorado.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

All schools receiving school funds, must comply with state law and title 9 protections. We could work to hold school districts more accountable to ensuring schools are responding quickly to situations, offering training, etc.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

I stand firmly in the idea that health information stays between the patient and the doctor and ensuring privacy at all times.

This is why I am seeking the endorsement of organizations like this one, with the goal of utilizing your knowledge and expertise when I question the evidence presented.

I believe in the separation of church and state. I would respond by not supporting such exemptions.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I was the Mayor of Loveland for 8 years, and in that time I have a history of showing up and engaging with the LGBTQ+ communities locally, attending, volunteering and speaking at local events, also listening and responding to the community members needs, etc. I would continue this effort, but also engage further with organizations like this one to gain additional knowledge of how best I can support.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

In particular, I am concerned with the increased utilization of surveillance technology at the local and state levels. This includes the usage and data privacy concerns around Flock cameras and other cameras/technologies that capture data that could put Coloradans at risk. We simply cannot trust privately-owned companies to safeguard data that could be used to prosecute or otherwise harm LGBTQ+ Coloradans. Likewise, we cannot assume altruistic intentions for companies that answer to shareholders. The same is true for personal data held by the state. Ensuring that sensitive data remains shielded from a federal administration that seeks to harm LGBTQ+ Coloradans is a priority, and it must come with both safeguards and accountability for those who transgress state law.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes. My work in the legislature has focused on the issue of affordable housing, and I fully recognize the equity gap that exists for LGBTQ+ Coloradans in finding housing that is affordable and safe. This includes lower-than-average homeownership rates for LGBTQ+ Coloradans as compared with their peers, a lack of options for affirming and supportive retirement housing and long-term care facilities, as well as higher percentages of housing instability overall. While connected to larger issues such as employment opportunities, the ability to save, etc., the data points to the continued need to ensure housing is open and accessible to all people while focusing on closing equity gaps for LGBTQ+ Coloradans. In light of the Trump Administration's actions, this must include strengthening state-level anti-discrimination laws wherever possible.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

I have long fought to protect gender affirming care in our state, including supporting vital legislative efforts such as HB25-1309. I will also be working to beat Initiatives 109 and 110 at the ballot box as these measures are regressive, dangerous, and out of line with the values of our state. This year I was proud to support HB26-1322 which is a vital measure to protect against the dangers of conversion therapy. I believe all of these bills play together to create an environment where Coloradans have access to the services they need without fear of intimidation or threats. I will continue to ensure equity in access to healthcare that recognizes gender affirming care as the life-saving care it truly is.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

Public education must stay public. I believe that is the first step to ensuring that our education system is inclusive of all identities and beliefs. As a former public school teacher in a Title I school, I have seen firsthand how critical quality public education is and how our public schools must remain safe for all students. In addition to fully funding our public schools, we must remain united against the privatization of education in the United States and ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to the same educational opportunities. This means empowering teachers with the resources and curriculum they need to teach an honest (and sometimes uncomfortable) account of different lived experiences in our country, while supporting students in embracing all of who they are.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

First, Rocky Mountain Equality and other advocacy organizations have been, and will remain, critical to our efforts to ensure that we're making decisions as a legislature based on science, not speculation. In my community, our values are clear: Fort Collins is a place for all people to thrive, including our LGBTQ+ neighbors and friends. I have not experienced political pressure to vote otherwise; it would go against what I believe and what my community expects. That being said, the data around these issues is clear and compelling (using housing as an example, where nearly 1/3 of transgender people have reported being unhoused at some point in their life), and the action we take as a state must match the medical and social science data we have. Furthermore, we must trust the lived experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in making decisions around statute and funding of services in our state.

I'm a former clergy member in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I pastored a congregation of house churches that primarily provided outreach, affirmation, and support to LGBTQ+ individuals and families here in Northern Colorado. I'd start by saying that if your religion is defined by determining winners and losers, you're doing it wrong. I also believe that the laws of our state should apply to all organizations, and that limiting access to protections, services, or programs, using religion as an excuse, is just blatant discrimination. People deserve access to the same resources regardless of their identity or orientation. Period.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I continue to have a strong relationship with LGBTQ+ organizations and businesses here in Northern Colorado. This is, in part, due to my background as Lutheran clergy, but also as a part of our continued engagement on these issues at the state and local level. I don't know what I don't know - so engagement and advocacy from the community here in Fort Collins remains critical as we continue to fight for a state where all people are affirmed and welcomed for who they are.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

Data privacy continues to be a state wide issue, I have worked on legislation like SB25-0276, that expands data privacy not only to the state but also to municipalities and counties. I also support the proposal to make sure that Flock camera information is not accessed without a warrant. Also as we continue to work on strengthening safety nets we also must make sure our private information is not sold, shared or used to sell us good and services at a higher price.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

Yes, we must continue to update nondiscrimination protections, specially when we see the Federal government targeting our LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities. We continue fighting for gender affirming care, access to abortion and reproductive rights as well as kids being able to be called by their chosen name in school.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

We must continue to push back against federal pressure, as well as pushing our state providers to do better, as well as mandating insurance companies to cover gender affirming care. I am also working to help get the Graduated Income Tax question to the ballot, so we can fund healthcare and education.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

I passed a law that made sure that kids could wear any clothes they chose for graduation, including indigenous regalia, their heritage pride like a mexican/american stole, and are able to also wear pride flag stoles or religious attire, in other states like Florida we saw attacks on trying to mandate that kids couldn't wear clothes that were gender affirming.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

Some of the tactics we have used have been adding federal protections to our state statues in case they are repealed, we also continue to sue the trump administration and we have had wins and loses, this is the time for the state to protect our communities and it's so frustrating that we are also dealing with major budget deficits, the rich and corporations must pay their fair share so we can properly fund services and safety net programs so we don't leave anyone behind.

I wouldn't support exemptions.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I am the first queer Latina elected in the Western slope and I will continue to support and advocate for our communities as well as continue building coalitions and pushing orgs to get out of their silos.

State agencies collect sensitive personal data related to health care, education, identity documents, and social services. What steps should Colorado take to ensure this data is secure and cannot be accessed by the federal administration, or any other entity, and used to target or harm LGBTQ+ people or other at-risk communities? How would you use legislative authority to strengthen privacy protections and oversight?

In the current political climate, sensitive data isn't just administrative, it’s a target list for federal overreach. I refuse to let our state’s records be weaponized against the LGBTQ+ family and friends I’ve spent my life championing.

I will use legislative authority to build a digital firewall, legally prohibiting state agencies from sharing personal identifiers with federal entities intent on targeting our residents. I will mandate radical data minimization, ensuring the state only collects what is essential and purges records the moment they are no longer needed. I will establish an independent privacy oversight committee to conduct unannounced audits of data agreements, closing loopholes that let private contractors exploit our digital lives.

We aren't just protecting databases; we are protecting people. Colorado must be a sanctuary where you can live your truth without fear of government surveillance.

Do you support maintaining and strengthening Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and healthcare? What gaps in current state law or enforcement require urgent legislative action?

As a firefighter, I never ask someone who they love before saving them from a fire. My support for equal rights in housing, jobs, and healthcare comes from that same belief. Everyone deserves to be safe and treated with respect.

We have made strides through recent legislation, like the Kelly Loving Act. I will use my legislative authority to strengthen the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by raising non-economic damage caps, ensuring that justice for victims of discrimination is not a luxury reserved for the wealthy. Furthermore, we must address the material reality that LGBTQ+ Coloradans, particularly youth and people of color, face disproportionate housing insecurity. I will champion universal housing vouchers and dedicated funding for safe shelters.

Finally, we must stop insurance companies from using excuses to deny healthcare to trans people. A right is not real if you cannot access it. I am running to make sure that safety and dignity are a reality for every person in our community.

Colorado law currently protects access to evidence-based gender-affirming care. How would you defend these protections against federal pressure, court challenges, or attempts to restrict care through state legislation, regulation, or funding decisions?

Gender-affirming care is life-saving healthcare, and I will defend it with the same urgency I bring to an emergency call. My friends and family in the trans community deserve to live without fear that their medical needs will be used as a political weapon.

To protect these rights, I will uphold Colorado’s status as a sanctuary state. I will support legislation that blocks state agencies from cooperating with out-of-state investigations or federal pressure to restrict care. We must ensure that our state "Shield Laws" remain unbreakable and that no Colorado resources are used to harm our residents.

In the legislature, I will vote against any attempt to strip funding from clinics or change regulations to make care harder to access. Healthcare decisions belong to patients and their doctors, not politicians. I will treat any attack on this care as a direct threat to public safety.

Colorado schools play a critical role in student safety, belonging, and well-being. How would you ensure that public schools are inclusive and safe for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, immigrants, students with disabilities, and those facing religious or political hostility? What role should state law, funding, and oversight play?

As the parent of a fifteen-year-old at Denver School of the Arts, I see the joy that comes from an environment where diversity is the norm. My child’s school is welcoming and inclusive, but I know that not every student in Colorado has that same experience.

I will use state law to protect inclusive books and curriculum, so every child sees themselves in their education. Funding must be shifted away from punishment and toward mental health support and social workers.

Oversight is critical to ensuring schools comply with anti-discrimination laws, especially regarding names and pronouns, because how we choose to identify ourselves should be respected. We must hold districts accountable if they fail to prevent harassment. I am running to ensure the belonging my child feels at DSA is not an exception, but the standard for every public school. Every student deserves to feel safe as they learn and grow into their truest selves.

How would you anchor state laws, regulations, and funding decisions affecting LGBTQ+ people in evidence-based medical and social science, particularly when facing ideological or political pressure?

Colorado is often a testing ground for efforts to erode the rights of LGBTQ+ people and limit access to vital healthcare services. How would you respond to claims for religious exemptions that seek to limit LGBTQ+ people’s access to state-funded services, programs, or protections?

I believe that public service means serving the entire public. When organizations accept state funding to provide a service, they must follow our non-discrimination laws. No Coloradan should be denied access to a taxpayer-funded program because of their identity or their family.

We have seen ongoing efforts to use religious exemptions to bypass these protections. I agree with our courts that when an entity takes public money, it must play by the same rules as everyone else. This is not a matter of religious hostility. It is a matter of fairness and equal access to the services we all pay for.

While I respect religious freedom, I respect the freedom from religion even more. It cannot be used to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community in the public square. I will oppose any legislation or regulation that seeks to create special rules for those who wish to limit the rights of my friends and family within the LGBTQ+ community.

If elected, how would you meaningfully engage LGBTQ+ communities and community-based organizations in your district or elsewhere in the state to inform your legislative priorities, votes, and oversight responsibilities?

I am lucky to have many close friends and family members in the LGBTQ+ community, and their lives are part of my own.

I also know that being a true ally requires humility. I know what I don’t know. I will never pretend to have all the answers, but I will always show up to listen. I will rely on the community to continue educating me and to share their specific needs.

If elected, you will be the co-authors of my work. I will host regular meetings and stay in constant contact with community leaders and families to ensure my votes reflect your lived reality. My door will always be open. I am committed to staying close to this community and learning from you every single day. I am running to make sure the belonging my child feels at school is the standard for every person in our state.