Farewell to one of the best advocates CO’s LGBTQ community has ever seen

Dave Montez Heads for DC

He steps into the coffee shop, lean, handsome, youthful. An easy smile works its way across his face when we greet and his eyes are as luminant as always — a tell of his conviviality and ability to put people at ease. It’s not my favorite kind of interview, these farewells, but it’s always nice to see Dave Montez.

In case you weren’t aware, Dave Montez is one of the go-to guys when crisis in our state’s LGBTQ community arises. Until a few weeks ago, he was the executive director for One Colorado, a political advocacy organization that specializes in raising awareness for LGBTQ issues around the state. He’s marched on the steps of the State Capitol, through her halls, and addressed our lawmakers more times than some people have even ridden past the gold-domed house of legislation. And all the while, followers he garnered as the head of the beloved non-profit walked by his side, empowered by the man of great hope and unprecedented leadership. That’s our Dave, and it’s bittersweet to see him go.

“A mentor told me a long time ago that that’s the best time to go,” he responds. “When it’s still bittersweet.” He adds that he couldn’t be more confident in the team he leaves behind.

“It was a difficult decision to leave but it was made possible by my complete and total faith in the leadership skills of the board and the staff [of One Colorado]. I wouldn’t have left if I didn’t think there was a really, really great team in place to carry on the work.”

When he announced he was leaving, the team was a mix of sadness, surprise, and understanding. “They’ve always been supportive,” he says. “They’ve been thoughtful and warm about the departure, and I’m really appreciative.” Just last week, Daniel Ramos, the former deputy director of One Colorado, was appointed the interim director. In the meantime, Dave will be saying his goodbyes to as many people and coalition partners as he can and penning his farewell memos.

“The Ally Awards is my last day,” he reveals. “I will always care about One Colorado. If ever there is a need for me to help in some capacity, I will make myself available.” Because he’s not moving to DC until late December, he’ll be based here in Colorado and, according to One Colorado’s website, will act as an advisor for the organization.

But Dave’s given so much to the LGBTQ community here that sadness is to be expected. According to Dave, though, it’s time to move on and to honor another side of what makes him who he is — his Latino roots.

Dave will be the new director of the Latino Engagement Fund at the Democracy Alliance in Washington DC, a group that makes sure progressive plans for the Latino community get resourced from national contributors in order to implement forward-thinking legislation at the state level. In particular, he’s focusing on getting Latinos — who comprise nearly 20 percent of the American population — to vote consistently and use their political power to improve their lives.

“It’s an opportunity to work with another community I deeply care about and use some of the skills I’ve developed to help advocates on the ground continue to do such incredible and often under-funded work,” he declares.

And what are the issues he plans to tackle in DC? He rattles them off with such ease that you know they’ve been on his mind for quite awhile.

“An increase in a living wage,” he says instantly.

“There’s so many Latino families that are struggling, working two or three jobs. The erosion of voting rights in many places is incredibly problematic — it is a basic, constitutionally protected right; we should be making it easier for people to vote, not more difficult. Immigration reform at the state and federal level, obviously. Education is incredibly important to the Latino community, making sure that Latinos like myself are able to go to college if they want to. I would not be sitting where I am right now had it not been for Pell grants and subsidized student loans. My family didn’t have money to send me to college. They gave me a lot of, ‘You can do anything you want, you can be anything you want to be’ [support], but there was no money there. I didn’t have a college fund.”

These are such fundamental things that it’s hard to believe we’re having to fight for them in 2016’s America. He says that during this election season, in the time of Trump, we need to stay focused and remain positive. His style is cool, diplomatic.

“The Boogeyman isn’t always going be the best motivator,” he says of the GOP presidential nominee. “People want to vote for hope, for a better future, improved lives — they want to vote for their families, so our message can’t just be about how terrible Trump is; it has to be about continuing the legacy that President Obama worked so hard to build for this country.”

Dave’s dark eyes are alight with passion and resolve. “The work’s not done,” he tells me. “We have to remember that as we’re motivating people to vote. We can’t just have an anti-Trump message; we have to give people something to vote for.”

He takes a sip of hot tea, not rattled in the slightest that we’re in an unusual election season that’s signaling the rise of the right.

“These people aren’t going away,” he says, shaking his head. “They’re not new; we’ve always had to battle [them]. But I’m definitely a pragmatist. I believe there’s more common ground than not with opposing viewpoints and perspectives. That’s something I’ve worked hard to build into One Colorado. Part of our jobs as advocates is to meet people where they are on their journey of acceptance, and walk with them. I hope to bring that to the table in my future role.”

(See what I mean about Dave? The guy isn’t scared of the opposition — he invites them on walks.)

He says nearly half of eligible Latino voters are millennials. “Often, the people who are most anti-Latino are also the exact same people who are anti-LGBTQ. All the research and data on millennials shows that they don’t see LGBTQ as separate from Latino, separate from gun control, from choice. It’s impossible to separate Latino from LGBTQ; it’s all connected. So millennials see what many advocates have known for a really long time: We’re stronger when we work together.”

Perhaps his cool demeanor is a reason why the 38-year-old executive looks like a millennial himself. “I find it funny that we’re using the word ‘Rolodex,’” he confesses after I ask him about bringing contacts from home to DC. “We’re really dating ourselves with that!” We belly-laugh like the late-30-somethings we are, and a few heads turn our way. No bother.

“But I don’t want to overplay any cultural tipping point,” he tells me, getting back to the business of the progress we’ve made under President Obama. “Orlando is a stark, stark reminder and very sad reality that there are people who really don’t like our community, that don’t like the progress we’ve made, who will work to undo that. While we’re making progress, we have to be careful not to lull ourselves into complacency.”

He mutes his ringing phone without even seeing who’s calling, never breaking eye-contact with me. I ask about his leadership style and he laughs a bit. For this question, he seems to think a little longer, as though he’s never been asked. And then:

“I try to take in as many perspectives as I can before I make a decision, to bounce as many big ideas off of the people who are going to execute them for a reality check on what is possible and what is not possible.”

He’s always under the pressure of “not saying the wrong things” and learning how to “parse words” in just the right way, and he admits there’s an added pressure involved when taking it to a national level. Thing is, he’s nailed it here in Colorado and we hope the humble guy gives himself the credit he’s due. He never seems to pat himself on the back for all he’s done during our interview, which is a rare quality in interviewees in executive positions, I must admit.

“One of the reasons I operate the way I do is that I grew up in a family with very few resources, so if I wanted to go on my senior trip or to senior prom, all of my family had to chip in,” he says, eyes softening. “None of us had the resources to make it happen individually.” He scoots his chair a little closer. “That really stuck with me, and is why I view everyone as one instrument in a broader orchestra. When we play together and harmonize, we produce something incredible — more than what one instrument could produce on its own. That is something that has shaped my leadership style and one that I will carry with me.” I can’t help but be touched with epiphany. “We are always better when we listen to each other and plan together,” he smiles.

That’s our Dave.