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LGBT advocate from Pueblo seeking state House seat

LGBT advocate from Pueblo seeking state House seat

Daneya Esgar announced last month she will run for Colorado House District seat 46. If elected, Esgar will be the first openly gay state legislator to represent the Pueblo community.

“I’m going to try my hardest to serve the people of House District 46 as best as possible,” said Esgar, whose district encompasses western Pueblo.

“I really am a big believer in the community coming together to look out for each other. I’m a Pueblo native — so growing up and being raised in a city that really feels more like a small town has been essential to building that idea within my head and my heart.”

Two years ago, Esgar was an organizer at the Colorado Progressive Coalition when she worked with the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees to establish same-sex partner benefits for Pueblo city employees.

She is currently president of the board of the Southern Colorado Equality Alliance (SCEA) and volunteers as coordinator with OutFront, a SCEA outreach program providing support for LGBT youth in Pueblo.

Esgar stated that as a lawmaker, she will work to ensure that LGBT individuals are fully aware of the protections put in place to protect the community.

“There are so many people who just aren’t educated on what their rights are,” said Esgar, adding that many hate crimes go unreported. “The more people who are afraid to report any kind of a hate crime, the less effective the actual law is.”

Pueblo’s education system is also a key issue. Esgar cited the findings of Colorado School Grades, an organization which rated several Pueblo’s public schools low in academic proficiency, growth, and college readiness.

“It’s definitely an issue here in Pueblo that is going to take the entire community coming together to figure out how to improve this system,” said Esgar, adding that immigration reform and bolstering small businesses were also essential in fostering stronger communities.

The catalyst to Esgar’s advocacy work originates in part from challenges she faced coming out in Pueblo. “I’ve struggled my whole life, and I really didn’t acknowledge that I may be a lesbian for years—especially through high school. I kind of shoved it in the back of my head.”

In 2000, Esgar began work as a news producer at a local television station. When she ran a story in 2008 covering California’s recognition of same-sex marriage, Esgar was questioned by several co-workers about her intentions. She left her job a few months later.

“They wanted to know if I was being biased,” said Esgar. “That’s when I decided I was never going to apologize for who I was again.”

Esgar encourages women and the LGBT community to become more politically active. “Nobody is going to be fighting for us as hard as we will fight for ourselves. We really need to step up to the plate and push for what we need and what we deserve.”

Esgar will run against former school board member Stephanie Garcia in the local caucus for democratic nominee. The winner will face Republican Brain Mater for House Seat 46. Colorado House Rep. Leroy Garcia is vacating the seat to challenge State Sen. George Rivera of District 3.

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