Criticism is being aimed at the Colorado GOP for sending out an email with a highly inflammatory subject line that reads “God Hates Pride,” alongside an accompanying video titled “God Hates Flags.” The video has been accused of spreading misinformation about Pride Month and perpetuating negative stereotypes about the LGBTQ community.
After the state party sent an email to its members, several Republican politicians, including Valdamar Archuleta, voiced their criticism. Archuleta, who identifies as a gay man and is a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Congress in Denver, even went as far as to decline the endorsement he received from the party just a day earlier.
As per X’s post, Archuleta expressed that he is critical of the direction in which the Pride celebrations have been heading in recent years. However, he acknowledged that the email he received was extremely hateful and crossed a line.
In his statement, he expressed his deep concern about the email’s content, describing it as highly disturbing. He also shared that he had conversed with several Republican supporters, both from the LGBT and non-LGBT communities, who were equally appalled by the message conveyed in the email. He made it clear that the views expressed in the email do not reflect the opinions of the Republican electorate in Colorado.
According to local news outlet Westword, Abe Laydon, the Republican Commissioner of Douglas County, who publicly came out as gay in 2022 and represents one of the most populated conservative areas of Colorado, denounced the email as “absolutely atrocious” and contradictory to his religious and party beliefs.
“Your current leadership is more closely aligned with the Taliban than with the founding fathers, and it’s time to acknowledge this fact. The LGBTQ community has served and continues to serve in the military, as well as holding positions as police officers, firefighters, and even being your own family members and neighbors.”
In the ’90s, the passage of Amendment 2 in Colorado restricted queer people from asserting claims of discrimination or claiming minority or protected status. This led to the state being called “the Hate State,” a reminder of its discriminatory history.
According to the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum, the drive for Amendment 2 was spearheaded by religious fundamentalists with a strong opposition to the LGBTQ community from Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs gained notoriety as “the city of hate and bigotry” due to the politically active Christian evangelical community’s focus on culture wars surrounding feminism, LGBTQ rights, and abortion.
Amid a surge of over 500 bills targeting the LGBTQ community and a disturbing increase in hate incidents, threats, and attacks, the call for action has become more urgent than ever.
Over time, the state has shifted towards the Democratic Party, but there are still conservative communities that remain.
On June 1, Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis celebrated Pride Month by taking to social media to express his support. As an openly gay man, he understands the importance of this month for the LGBTQ+ community. In his post, he acknowledged the significance of the ongoing fight for equality and celebrated the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Governor Polis recognizes the need for advocacy and visibility and is committed to promoting the rights and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado.
The governor’s spokesperson dismissed the email as “ridiculous.”
In response to a mailer that was deemed ridiculous, a spokesperson for Governor Polis stated that the Governor is dedicated to creating a Colorado that is inclusive of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Governor is looking forward to celebrating Pride Month with his fellow Coloradans and is not allowing the incomprehensible rantings of a politician to hinder his plans.
