Christopher Monge has learned that securing a seat at the table matters only if he is prepared to use his voice once he gets there.
Monge, 29, is an openly gay Latino man from Miami whose political work has taken him into the Florida Legislature and conversations with former Vice President Kamala Harris about youth engagement and voting rights.
“Out & Proud isn’t a slogan; it’s an act of profound courage and liberation,” Monge said. “To me, it means refusing to shrink myself for the comfort of others.”
That refusal shapes how he enters professional and political spaces. Monge said representation is not simply about being present. It means speaking openly, defending marginalized communities and ensuring people who are routinely excluded are finally heard.
“My identity as an out Latino gay man shapes every aspect of my professional life,” he said. “For me, it means showing up to every room unapologetically as myself.”
Monge’s work reflects a belief that visibility can provide the representation he needed as a younger person. He lives openly for his own freedom, but also so others can see that they do not need to minimize their identities to participate in civic life or leadership.
He has been involved with SAVE LGBTQ+ and the National LGBTQ Task Force, organizations whose work spans local advocacy and national movement-building.
His advice to LGBTQ youth is equally uncompromising. Monge tells young people they are not required to alter themselves to ease another person’s discomfort.
“You are not a compromise to be tolerated,” he said.
That conviction does not mean the path will always be easy. Monge encourages young people to maintain hope, seek people who lift them up and rely on trusted networks and allies. He also emphasizes the importance of grace during the inevitable messy moments of becoming oneself.
“Have hope, because it truly does get easier, so continue to show up as your authentic self and build a community that lifts you up,” he said. “Give yourself grace in the messy parts, prioritize your peace, and rely on your networks and allies as your anchors.”
Monge’s favorite line comes from Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb”: “For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it.”
In his work and life, Monge is choosing to be visible enough to help others see that light, too.
