Three Latinas in Colorado Senate, a First

It’s a first, for Colorado at least. Three Latinas will be sworn-in as Colorado state senators on January 12th, and that, for many, is reason to celebrate.

All three-Angela Giron, Lucia Guzman and Irene Aguilar-were appointed to fill vacant seats and will take the oath of office when the Colorado Senate opens its regular session. But strange as it may sound there is a tinge of irony in the celebration. Giron told the Denver Post:

“‘Here we are in a state that is 20 percent Latino and it’s a ‘historic moment’ to have three Latinas at one time and only five in our whole Senate history. That’s sad,’ she said.”

I hear that. You’d think that a 20 percent chunk would already be better represented in a state with a Spanish name. An interesting point, though, is that three Latinas (or any new group of three in any organization) does not mean three of the same. They may share gender and ethnicity, but,

“Guzman, who is gay and an ordained minister, advocates for human rights. Aguilar, a medical doctor with a severely disabled daughter, is active in health care and disability issues. Giron once oversaw the Girls & Boys Club, and her focus includes children, water and agriculture.”

The first Latina, and woman of color, elected to the Colorado state senate was Polly Baca, in 1978.