Colorado Springs has a bad rap. Known more for its history of homo-hating residents – Ted Haggard, Focus on The Family and scores of other Evangelical wackos – than its mountain ranges, the city’s on a mission to remake its image. And, appropriately enough, the political face-lift comes in the form of The Diversity Forum…
It all started when The Forum’s organizers asked Colorado Springs’ city council to waive a $8,700 park permit fee for the event. A number of city’s politicos, however, weren’t down with a The Forum’s pro-gay ways. Margaret Radford dismissed the fee-waiving plea:
When a large portion of this community does not support gay and lesbian viewpoints, I don’t see us putting tax dollars into supporting that direction.
Councilman Darryl Glenn got a bit more political – and religious. “What I see happening is an expansion of the definition of marriage. And a display of an event like that, that’s a political issue.” No surprise considering the town birthed the anti-gay Amendment 2. But that was 1991. It’s 2007 and the pro-gays aren’t going to take this predictable anti-gay attitude. So they went back to continue the fight. With backup.
Diversity Forum’s Jay Patel tells The Denver Post: “We thought, ‘Enough is enough and members of our group showed up in force.” Patel and his peers’ efforts paid off: the city council sacrificed the fee. While some of us may be surprised by the council’s uncharacteristic timidity, gay activist Ted Trimpa (baby!?) insists the times are a changin’.
Despite the religious rights’ history – and tremendous power – in Colorado Springs, many of the GOP are rethinking the GAY: “People within the Republican Party there have started saying no to extremism. We actually may be reaching a tipping point.” He even says that he’d advise a friend to move there: news that certainly pleases Mike Kazmierski Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. He wants the world – and investors – to know that Colorado Springs has had a change of homo-heart: We’re really very diverse… If we can get [people] to come visit our town, Colorado Springs sells itself.”
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Both Patel and Trimpa agree that while there will be no miraculous religious turnaround, there’s slow, steady progress. Patel muses:
The gay and lesbian issue should be a nonissue. They’re just people. They are part of our community. We can’t have people criticizing them constantly and trying to put them down. If we want to be known as a great community, we have to put those things behind us.
That’s some wise shit…
City aims to shed homophobic image [Pink News UK]
Colorado Springs Citizens Hope to Improve City’s Anti-Gay Reputation [247 Gay]
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Editor’s Note: We’d like to share this picture with you…
That is all…
[Thanks, Above The Law.]
Donald
One fee waiver does not a changed city make. Until they get rid of those radical fundamentalist (Glenn, Radford, et. al.) that like to spew biblical passage about homosexuality but ignore passages about adultery, divorce, murder, etc., there is little hope for big changes for acceptance of the GLBT community.
RomanHans
A hetero friend moved from Los Angeles to Colorado Springs. He’s a Buddhist Caucasian married to an Asian woman. They just had a daughter, and wanted to raise her in a family-friendly environment.
They moved back to L. A. within six months. Apparently gay is just part of a long list of things those people hate.
bill
Colorado Springs is a shit hole most notable for its ubiquitous pawn shops.
john
RomanHans: Where did they get the idea that Colorado Springs was a family-friendly environment? Did they think Focus on the Family was going to roll out the red carpet for them? Did the Buddhist dude want to pick up a couple of extra wives while there? FYI: Christians = Bigots!
Mike Kazmierski
People that slam Colorado Springs have not been to Colorado Springs or have chosen to listen and believe the sensational media which is looking to make a story. Walk in our (shoes) town and visit with our former two term mayor, Mary Lou Makepeace, the Director of our Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado before you spread the misconceptions that breed the hate we all want to eliminate. P.S. Money Magazine Rated Colorado Springs as America’s best place to live in 2006.
Deb Martin
Donald: COS has more to worry about than Radford and Glenn. They’re small potatoes. When this city has the guts to start charging Focus on the Family the real worth of the land we practically gave them, they’ll move. But I wouldn’t wish them on my worst enemies.
BTW, the West Side of Colorado Springs (west of I-25) is extremely cool. No bible-thumpers here! Unfortunately, Focus and New Life Church (lately of Ted Haggard “gay massages and methamphetamine) pretty much own council.
It’s changing, but slowly. Give us credit for trying! We are NOT all those people you hear about. Come to our Cultural/Diversity Festival in August!
RomanHans
john says:
> RomanHans: Where did they get the idea that Colorado Springs was a
> family-friendly environment?
Well, the man was naive. He’d heard they were religious, but apparently didn’t realize there’s only one religion they respect.
Mike Kazmierski says:
>> People that slam Colorado Springs have not been to Colorado Springs
>> or have chosen to listen and believe the sensational media which is
>> looking to make a story. Walk in our (shoes) town and visit with our
>> former two term mayor, Mary Lou Makepeace, the Director of our
>> Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado before you spread the misconceptions
>> that breed the hate we all want to eliminate.
Uh, buddy, keep your lies to yourself. (1) I can give you the name of the guy who moved there and moved back. (2) I’VE BEEN THERE. There’s a reason Colorado Springs gets slammed.
Since you’re saying it’s gay-friendly, why don’t you tell us about your gay bars? Or your gay churches?
The fact is, the city is a clique that ostracizes everybody who’s different, be that black, Asian, Buddhist, gay, whatever.
> P.S. Money Magazine Rated Colorado Springs as America’s best
> place to live in 2006.
Something tells me Money Magazine doesn’t include gay rights in their list of requirements.