Queerness in Communities of Color

Hear from members of our community whose perspectives in academia, politics, and community leadership have been informed by their experiences as LGBTQ+ people of color. 

Panelists:

Kristie Soares is Associate Professor of Women & Gender Studies and Co-Director of LGBTQ Studies. They are also a performance artist. Both their performance work and their research explore queerness in Caribbean and Latinx communities. Professor Soares’ book, Playful Protest: The Political Work of Joy in Latinx Media (University of Illinois Press, 2023), argues that joy is a politicized form of pleasure that goes beyond gratification to challenge norms of gender, sexuality, race, and class.

Leslie Herod has served two terms as Representative for House District 8 and has sent 76 bills to the Governor’s desk addressing criminal justice reform, mental health, addiction, youth homelessness, civil rights protections, economic development and more. She is the President of Colorado Black Women for Political Action, and she serves as a Trustee for MCA Denver and on the Board of Directors for Urban Peak -- Colorado's leading homeless youth service agency. She has an extensive background in state service from her time as the Senior Policy Advisor in Governor Ritter’s Administration, as President Obama’s Deputy Political Director in Colorado during his 2012 Reelection Campaign and was the Colorado Co-Chair for Senator Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign.

Ray Rodriguez is the son of a New Mexican mother with Pueblo Native American roots and a Mexican father who migrated on his own in search of the American dream. Ray was born in Denver, Colorado and grew up in Fort Morgan, graduating High School before moving to Denver and then Longmont where he has called home for the last 24 years. He uses his perspective growing up "Gaytino" to ensure that all have the opportunity to thrive in safe and inclusive environments and to become who they are meant to be. He is currently serving on the C4 Board of Rocky Mountain Equality and as Treasurer for Longmont Latinx Voices, working with the board and  community to bring scholarships to underserved youth through New Mexico music, culture and celebration.

Tamora Tanniehill is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the Director of Programs and Services for Rocky Mountain Equality. Over the last decade, she has worked specifically with individuals experiencing intimate partner violence, multisystem involved youth, transition-aged adults experiencing homelessness and individuals experiencing struggles with substance use. (All of which were disproportionately comprised of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC folx.) Witnessing the severe lack in accessible, quality and culturally competent care for these social groups catalyzed a passion for and everlasting goal to become a provider that not only accounts for but adapts to the intersections encompassed in an individual’s identity.