Openly gay veteran announces bid for Colorado state House

A seventh member of the LGBT Colorado community has announced his intentions to seek a seat in the Colorado General Assembly.

Brian Carroll, a 28-year-old Lakewood man, announced his candidacy for state House District 28 this morning. The Democrat will face-off in the 2012 primary against incumbent Rep. Andy Kerr.

Carroll’s candidacy is historic not only because he joins six other openly gay or lesbian Coloradans for a seat at the legislature — the most in any election cycle — but because he very well maybe the first openly gay veteran to run for state office since the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

The veteran served two terms in Afghanistan — 2006 and 2007 — and a year later volunteered to serve in Iraq. According to his website, Carroll specialized in building infrastructure and information technology resources throughout Afghanistan and Iraq and worked with U.S Forces and local communities to build schools and medical clinics.

He wants to do the same thing in Colorado.

“We need 21st Century solutions for 21st Century problems,” Carroll told Out Front Colorado. “I’m not just committed to Lakewood and the LGBT community, but all of Colorado.”

Carroll said his top priorities are the economy, education, health care, veterans affairs and LGBT equality.

Carroll was raised in Idaho Springs. His father, uncle and two of his brothers have all served the military, he said. Carroll is currently under contract with the Colorado Army National Guard.

Kerr, Carroll’s primary opponent, was first appointed to the state House in 2006. And he said he’s been a strong supporter for the Lakewood and LGBT community ever since.

“My swearing in ceremony was actually moved up a day so I could vote to send Ref. I to the ballot,” he said.

Referendum I would have created domestic partnerships had it passed. It was on the same ballot as Amendment 43 that did pass, defining marriage between a mand and a woman.

Kerr said he hasn’t processed Carroll’s challenge.

“I met him last night, I asked him why he wanted to fire me,” Kerr said. “He wouldn’t tell me. I’ll continue to focus on important issues of my district.”

While Kerr was re-elected in 2008 and 2010, Carroll said he believes the district is up for grabs after the Colorado Supreme Court finalizes new boundaries that were drawn this year to reflect population shifts.

“With the lines being re-drawn, this is a new district,” he said.

Kerr would be term limited after a 2012 victory.

Commerce City Councilman Dominic Moreno and Denver teacher Paul Rosenthal, both gay, announced earlier this year they’d be seeking House seats as well. Four out gay and lesbian lawmakers will seek re-election in 2012: Denver Democrats Sens. Pat Steadman and Lucia Guzman and Democrats Reps. Mark Ferrandino, Denver, and Sue Schafer, Wheat Ridge.

Carroll, pointing to the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, believes he’s just the first of many openly gay men and veterans — or both — who will seek office in the coming years.

“When we look back, (the repeal) will be when it all changed,” he said.