All four of Colorado's openly gay state
lawmakers are backing the rival of Brian Carroll, the first openly
gay service member on active duty to run for elected office, the
Denver Post
reported.
Carroll
served two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq with Army Special
Forces Information Management, Special Operations Command. He
continues to serve in the Colorado National Guard.
Earlier this month, Carroll announced
his bid for a Colorado House seat.
“As far as I know I am the first out
veteran and active national guardsman in the country to officially
run for office since the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'”
Carroll said, referring to the recently-repealed law that banned gay
and bisexual troops from serving openly.
But Carroll's rival in the Democratic
primary, Rep. Andy Kerr, has the backing of all four of Colorado's
openly gay state lawmakers.
Senator Pat Steadman, who introduced
during the last legislative session a civil unions bill which died in
committee, will host a fundraiser for Kerr on November 9 at his
Denver home. The other 3 lawmakers are co-sponsoring the event.
Also backing Kerr are Robin Kniech, the
first openly gay member of the Denver City Council; Bobby Clark of
the Gill Foundation; and Brad Clark, executive director of the gay
rights group OneColorado.