November 5, 2020
Despite Porn Past, LGBTQ Candidate Roger Montoya Wins in New Mexico
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Last month the GOP in New Mexico attempted to shame a Democratic candidate for a seat in the state's legislature by revealing his adult male entertainment past. On Tuesday, Roger Montoya won.
Last month the GOP in New Mexico attempted to shame a Democratic candidate for a seat in the state's legislature by revealing his adult male entertainment past.
Dem candidate Roger Montoya wrote on Facebook that he was not proud of his career as a performer "by the stage name of Joe Savage, (who) previously starred in two adult films in the 1980s when he was 22 years old," writes the NSFW website The Sword.
At that time the Democratic Party of New Mexico released a statement in which they called out the chairman of the state's GOP, Steve Pearce, for suggesting that Montoya's film roles from four decades ago disqualified him from seeking state office.
Voters agreed that Montoya's porn past did not disqualify him. "The New York Times is reporting that Montoya received 47% of the vote for District 40 while his Republican opponent Justin Salazar-Torrez only earned 43% of the vote. Neither Montoya or Salazar-Torrez have publicly commented on the projected results of the election," writes The Sword.
When his porn career was revealed, Montoya wrote: "I am not proud of that choice, as I was young and na�ve, but those experiences helped me to understand the exploitation young people face. Those experiences do not reflect who I am, and they are insignificant in the scope of my life's work, yet they helped inspire my dedication to my community and the work I do to make sure that youth have opportunities, support and confidence."
Last month the Albuquerque Journal reported "Montoya heads Moving Arts Espa�ola, a youth development center that uses dance, music and other art forms to promote confidence and goals for its young participants. His work with the program earned him recognition as a top 10 finalist for CNN's hero of the year award in 2019.
"He's also been instrumental in plans for Espa�ola's first homeless shelter and school arts programs, and has long been active in supporting victims of the AIDS virus, among other community and nonprofit works."
