Now Reading
Dan Baer Wants to Restore Hope in Politics

Dan Baer Wants to Restore Hope in Politics

As a young boy growing up in Littleton, Dan Baer thought the idea of a career in politics was not only far fetched, it was nearly impossible. At the age of 15, Baer saw the passage of Amendment Two and experienced the state of Colorado deemed “The Hate State.” As a gay man, politics was not a realm that seemed possible.

However, in 2019, things look very different for Baer, the state of Colorado, and the condition of the nation. The married, queer politician has served the state as executive director of the Colorado Depatment of Higher Education during Governor Hickelooper’s term and was appointed U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE under the Obama administration. Now, Baer is taking on republican Cory Gardner as he hopes to remove the “Trump lackey” from his seat as Colorado Senator.

From climate change to education, from LGBTQ issues to human rights issues, and even removing big money from politics, Baer has a plan for it all. His success at grassroots fundraising has people taking notice of this senate hopeful while his steadfast campaign and eagerness for change have granted him an LGBTQ Victory Fund endorsement.

If he wins, Baer would become the first openly gay man elected for senate and only the third LGBTQ person to serve in the chamber. In a recent conversation with OUT FRONT, he shared his vision for Colorado, why he is challenging the current sitting senator, and how much being an openly gay man plays a role in his chances at the seat.

How was leading Colorado Springs Pride as the Grand Marshal?

It was great! I would say that the part of running for office that my husband has been mostly into is marching in parades [laughs]. As you probably know, the whole vetting process includes a lot of things that are grind work behind the scenes, but getting to be out there at a festival and getting to do it with Brian is super fun. On a personal level, I grew up in Littleton in the 90s, and the idea that I was going to be comfortably out and the Grand Marshal of the Pride parade in Colorado Springs sounded like a fairy tale.

You’ve said you didn’t see your career going in the direction of politics; what made you decide to get involved in this way?

The fact that we’ve gone from Amendment Two to having an openly gay governor in less than 30 years is not an accident; it’s a testament to the efforts of many, many people who fought to make change possible. I’m very conscious of the fact that I stand on the shoulders of lots of folks who believed in the possibility of deliberate progress through politics.

What is the biggest issue you see our community right now?

When I look at the moment that we’re living through, I think the biggest risks that we face as a community is if we give up on the idea that anything good can happen in government. What inspired me in the last year is that in 2018, we had an election where tens of millions of people around the country didn’t give up, even though the president was attacking our institutions, even though Mitch McConnell’s cynicism was in full effect, they didn’t give up. We voted, and we won. We flipped the house.

How much does being an out, gay man impact your chances of being elected in 2019?

I hope not at all, and I think the evidence would point to the fact that it isn’t a meaningful hindrance. I hope that it does give me a sensibility when I’m elected, because I know what it’s like to fear exclusion. I hope that I bring a sense of empathy that would allow me to be not just the leader on policy issues but somebody who’s thoughtful about making sure that we’re building a Colorado and America that protects the rights of all.

What are the biggest barriers you see that queer folks face, and how do you plan to address those?

I think it’s really important that we recognize within the LGBT community that, while we have had some significant victories and there has been enormous progress, progress has been neither comprehensive nor irreversible. We see that President Trump has reversed the policy of the Obama administration that allowed trans Americans to serve their country in the military, and we see the Trump administration has taken steps to limit the access of LGBTQ people to healthcare services. Progress doesn’t happen because we fight for it and we win; progress happens because we remain dedicated to making sure that we lock in the gains that we’ve made.

Right now, policies are being put into place around the country in regards to women’s reproductive rights. How do you plan on protecting Coloradans?

It’s important that we eject Cory Gardner from office, because the senate is crucial for confirming federal judges and justices to the supreme court. The fact is that Cory Gardner promised Colorado that he was going to be a moderate, independent voice. He has not been that; he has been a lackey for President Trump, and the reason those laws are being passed is because of right-wing ideologies. So, it’s really important that we have a senator who’s committed to examining the records of judges who are appointed and to make sure that those judges are the kind of high-caliber, experienced people who can make judicial decisions based on the law and the right for all Americans..

What makes your vision of Colorado and national leadership different than your opponents running against Gardner?

This is a moment where we see a strong demand for people who aren’t career politicians and haven’t spent their whole life running for office. That profile is winning for democrats right now, because people want a fresh face and have a deep, intuitive sense that what’s going on in our country right now is really a crisis of values. I’m just different from the others, and I don’t think that necessarily makes me a better human being, but I think it makes me a better candidate and a more likely candidate to defeat Cory Gardner in the moment that we’re living in.

What have been some of your big takeaways from being on the campaign trail?

Human rights sounds like a big, global concept, but the way that we experience it is in our own homes, in our own communities. Politics generally starts in the small places close to home, because that’s where it really matters and where we judge whether political leaders are doing a great job of making our lives better. So, the most exciting part of this campaign so far has been the opportunity to listen to people and understand what it means to make their lives better.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

We have a primary coming up, and I think the most important thing is that we have the strongest candidate to go up against Cory Gardner. For me, as a kid who grew up here in the 90s and now I am a top candidate to take on the sitting republican senator, this is a testament to what’s possible when we join together to make progress through politics, and I’m really humbled to be in this position.

What's Your Reaction?
Excited
0
Happy
0
In Love
0
Not Sure
0
Silly
0
Scroll To Top