Before I understood I was gay or trans I knew that I wanted to be in politics. There are recordings of me no older than eight answering the question of what I wanted to be when I grew up with, “President.” Even at that age I wanted to accomplish something big, something bigger than myself.

One of my first jobs after high school was working on an LGBT Voter Registration drive in my home state of Colorado. Every day I would go out to wherever I could find my fellow LGBT people and persuade every eligible voter to register. I talked to tables of strangers at coffee shops, to people as they came and went from bars, talked to everyone I could at our local Pride festival and in the lines in front of clubs. I have since gone on to work with national LGBT organizations and LGBT marriage campaigns across the country. I’ve loved the work I’ve done with the LGBT community and our allies.

In May, I saw a job description for a position with the Obama campaign, and couldn’t stop thinking about the opportunity because our President speaks so clearly to my values of opportunity and fairness. I have been moved by the President’s efforts to build a strong economy that is built to last and expand access to health care and critical preventive services.

Among these accomplishments, I am especially grateful for the initiative the President’s administration has taken toward LGBT equality, including extending hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights to LGBT patients and their partners, as well as publicly endorsing and supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. When considering all that the President has done to improve this county and work toward LGBT equality, I realized that working to re-elect President Obama was the most important thing I could do.

With my fiancé’s encouragement, I moved back to Colorado to work as the State Training Director. We all have skills and gifts to offer our LGBT community and our country, and working to support President Obama is a way to contribute. He works hard for us and I’m proud to work hard for him.

We have to keep moving forward. Join me in supporting the President by volunteering in your community or by applying to be a campaign fellow this fall.