Nonprofit Award Recipient: One Colorado

City you reside: One Colorado’s statewide staff works out of offices in Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, and Durango.

Family Life: “I’m partnered with fierce, femme queer advocate Shanna Katz (who has a regular article in Out Front. Read it!) and their adorable, spoiled fur kids: Jasper, Kali, and Kinsey.” – Leo Kattari, Health Policy Manager

Personal heroes, and why: “My grandparents, because they had a strong work ethic, inspiring values, and taught me how to overcome adversity at a young age.” – Dave Montez, Executive Director

If you had a superpower, it would be: “The power to be in two places at once. With the rapid pace of progress we’re achieving and all the outreach work we’re doing as advocates, it would definitely come in handy!”
– Laura “Pinky” Reinsch, Communications and Online Organizing Manager

Who or what is the “foe” in your comic strip, if any? “Personally, I’d have to say the gender binary — as champions for true equality and freedom of choice, we can do so much better than the rigidity and forced sense of certainty that we’ve been handed down over the years.” – Jon Monteith, Communications Director

What is your biggest motivation? “Pumpkin pie — we just have to get through the 2014 election first and then it’s waiting for us!”
– Harbandna Singh, Denver Field Organizer

Highlight of 2014: As an organization, we made the successful transition from securing civil unions last year to activating a full-scale, statewide campaign to win marriage equality in Colorado, and today LGBT Coloradans are finally on the cusp of having the freedom to marry here in the state we call home. We have worked at a rapid pace to expand and finesse our safe schools and LGBT health advocacy work, with the release of a groundbreaking report on transgender health coming in November and an exciting new focus on student leadership development all across our state. And as we head into the 2014 election, we have been working around the clock to ensure we elect pro-equality leaders this November.

If we could pass one big piece of legislation, it would be: A comprehensive transgender justice bill that would finally address the unique barriers and overwhelming disparities that transgender Coloradans face on so many levels: in the workplace, at the doctor’s office, in our classrooms, and far too many other places.

Favorite place to eat in Denver: “Park and Co.” – Lauren Cikara, Safe Schools Manager

What aspect of Colorado should never change: “The mixture of traditional lifestyles like ranching and farming, that exist alongside emerging technologies. Oh, and the sunsets!” – Leslie Channell, Administrative and Accounting Associate

What simple thing makes your day: “Crossfit.” – Daniel Ramos, Political and Organizing Director