GLAAD yesterday announced Dave Montez (pictured) as the organization’s new Chief of
Staff. Montez will be working closely with GLAAD President Herndon
Graddick on the organization’s development, operations and programs
departments which work for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
equality. He will be based in the New York office and is scheduled to
start work with the organization in January 2013.
“Dave’s strong relationship with advocates in the LGBT equality
movement along with his experience building bridges between the LGBT and
Latino communities will strengthen GLAAD’s culture-changing work,” said
GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “He will be integral in continuing to
create a new GLAAD where our dedicated staff builds national impact
through campaigns that raise the visibility of LGBT people and issues as
well as hold anti-LGBT activists accountable.”
Montez most recently served as senior program officer at the Gill
Foundation, one of the nation’s leading funders of LGBT advocacy
efforts. He oversaw the foundation’s Latino Initiative, which is
designed to build lasting alliances between LGBT people and Latinos. He
also worked with the Director of Allies and Institutions with the goal
of building broad support for LGBT equality. Previously, Montez managed a
portfolio of grants to state-based LGBT organizations working to
achieve policy change at the state and local level.
“Dave has been an outstanding leader for the Gill Foundation. We’re
excited that his talent and commitment will continue to benefit the LGBT
movement in his new role,” said Tim Sweeney, President and CEO of the
Gill Foundation. “Dave has a unique ability to build coalitions where
diverse communities recognize their shared values and common goals. He
also understands the important role that research plays in learning how
to communicate more effectively.”
Before joining the Gill Foundation, he was a research development
officer at the University of Colorado, Denver, where he researched and
reviewed funding opportunities, grant proposals, and funding contracts
for faculty members. He also worked for the Latino/a Research &
Policy Center as the events and publications coordinator, where he
planned, coordinated, and implemented all center-sponsored events.
Montez speaks Spanish and holds a BA in journalism/public relations
from Metropolitan State University of Denver. He is a gubernatorial
appointee to the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) in
the Denver Metro Area, which oversees an average of $40 million in grant
funding annually. He is also a graduate of Leadership Denver, where he
helped raise money and resources to remodel Urban Peak, a youth homeless
shelter in Denver.
"I'm really excited to join the GLAAD family,” said Montez. “I've long
respected GLAAD as an organization and Herndon as a leader. GLAAD has
an incredibly talented leadership team, and I look forward to working
with these colleagues to achieve full equality for all LGBT people."
The move has been applauded by leaders of LGBT and Allied
organizations. Read their statements after the jump.
"This is a great pick for GLAAD and for our movement. At the Gill
Foundation, Dave has been an invaluable partner and catalyst in building
the relationships and helping identify research-based approaches within
Latino communities that led to our creation of Familia es Familia and
other important Freedom to Marry initiatives. Dave is talented,
sensible, and adept at bringing people together, and all of us at
Freedom to Marry look forward to doing even more great work together now
that he is with our friends at GLAAD.”
Evan Wolfson, President of Freedom to Marry
“This is a great match that brings together a respected LGBT
movement organization moving into its next chapter of greatness with one
of the movement’s great young leaders. Dave is a bridge builder and
experienced strategist who will be a very strong addition to GLAAD's new
leadership team. This is terrific news for GLAAD and for the LGBT
movement at a critical moment in our journey to full equality.”
Patrick Guerriero, Civitas Public Affairs
“Dave’s smarts and passion for this work are going to be a
phenomenal asset to GLAAD. In his time at the Gill Foundation, Dave has
established himself as a leader committed to innovative thinking and
building forward-looking partnerships across social justice movements.
MAP is excited to continue our collaborations with him in his new role
at GLAAD.”
Ineke Mushovic, Executive Director of the Movement Advancement Project (MAP)
“This is a real loss for LGBT philanthropy but a great boost for
GLAAD. Dave knows our movement inside out and is smart, organized and
deeply committed to securing equality and justice for all LGBT people.”
Matt Foreman, Director of gay and immigrant rights programs at the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund in San Francisco
“In his work at Gill, Dave has placed a premium on broadening the
coalition of Americans who prioritize making our country a more
accepting place for gay and transgender people. His willingness to
challenge orthodoxy and adeptness at navigating LGBT issues in a way
that speaks beyond the progressive base to those in the middle will
enable him to carry out GLAAD’s mission with exceptional efficacy and
impact.”
Jonathan Cowan, President of Third Way
“NCLR, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy
organization in the country, congratulates our friend Dave Montez on his
new position as the Chief of Staff at GLAAD. As a key partner within
the Gill Foundation, Dave was instrumental in supporting NCLR’s efforts
to not only advance equal rights for LGBT Hispanics across the country,
but to bring communities together in a deeper way that would make
positive social change for everyone. NCLR looks forward to continued
collaboration together to advance equal opportunity.”
Eric Rodriguez, VP for the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation, National Council of La Raza
"Dave will bring a fresh, energetic and diverse perspective to GLAAD
as the organization continues to build effective coalitions with other
communities."
Arturo Vargas, Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials
"Dave Montez has been an exceptional leader in connecting different
communities in their common struggle for fairness and inclusion; not
just GLAAD but the entire progressive community are fortunate to have
Dave working on these critical issues."
Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF
“In supporting our Maryland collaboration between immigrant and
LGBT communities, Dave has been unwaveringly focused on achieving the
ultimate outcome of joint power building to create more rights for all.
GLAAD is lucky to get him and we look forward to continuing to work
with him in his new role.”
Gustavo Torres, Executive Director of CASA de Maryland
"During his tenure with the Gill Foundation and the Four Freedoms
Fund, Dave Montez helped advance a paradigm shift in Colorado and
nationally in terms of how we think about social justice movement and
alliance building. Dave's strategic vision and ability to connect
resources and relationships yielded unprecedented gains for immigrant
and LGBT equality in Colorado. In his new capacity, Dave will have the
opportunity to build on these incredible successes, and we look forward
to being a close, continued partner with Dave and GLAAD in the
struggle."
Julien Ross, Executive Director of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition
“Dave Montez has been a friend and a coach to my organization as
we’ve taken steps to explore the nature of oppression and the
intersection of immigrant and LGBT rights. He has been encouraging and
patient as we’ve charted new territory, fostering an organizational
culture that fully affirms all people and promoting constructive
dialogue about heterosexual privilege with members of an ethnically and
religiously diverse coalition in the South. We are incredibly grateful
for Dave’s support and leadership while at Gill Foundation, and are
thrilled to know that GLAAD will now be benefiting from his many
talents.”
Stephen Fotopulos, Executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition