Colorado GOP Chair Dave Williams started June by sending an email to Republicans in Colorado titled “God Hates Pride,” containing hateful rhetoric and earning backlash from queer Republicans and One Colorado. The official GOP Twitter account posted a tweet calling for the burning of all Pride flags.
Williams stated in the email that Pride Month was a time for “godless groomers” to attack everything “decent, holy, and righteous,” all in an attempt to harm the children of America.
Hateful as it is nonsensical, the email served to further the use of fear-mongering to attack the character of LGBTQ+ people, which is very dangerous. Gay and lesbian Americans are already more likely to be the victims of crime, as noted by Nadine Bridges from One Colorado, with transgender individuals being even more at risk.
In a statement issued to the press, One Colorado firmly condemned the email sent by Williams. They described it as both harmful and dangerous for the real-world consequences that could result from further radicalizing anti-queer extremists. However, understanding that the email does not reflect the opinions of the majority of Republicans, One Colorado emphasized the importance of unity, love, and acceptance, stating, ‘This is a time to celebrate our diverse community’s resilience and to reaffirm our commitment to fighting against hate in all its forms.”
Attending over 20 different Pride events around the state this June, One Colorado will continue to advocate and uplift the LGBTQ+ community, and you can directly support them.
A number of Colorado Republicans have spoken out against the email sent by Williams, including Valdamar Archuleta, an openly gay Republican running for Colorado’s first congressional district. He stated that he was disappointed but not surprised by the email and that it would only serve to hurt the image of the GOP and isolate LGBTQ+ Republicans. In response to the email, Archuleta denied an endorsement by the Colorado GOP for his congressional race, stating, “I don’t see any good that is going to come from this email.”
As Archuleta says, this email’s release ultimately isn’t surprising. Dehumanizing and vilifying the LGBTQ+ community has been a tactic of the GOP for decades, as seen in movements like the fight for gay marriage. The use of children as a moral shield is particularly manipulative, as criticizing these statements leaves opposition to the GOP to be labeled as just more “godless groomers.” This rhetoric is and has always been an attack on “the other,” a primal disgust towards LGBTQ+ people. If the safety of children was a real concern, it might be helpful for the GOP to start looking internally first.
Pride is not a time of debauchery or indecency. It originated as a protest, one aimed at intolerance perpetuated by people like Dave Williams. It blossomed into a massive celebration and will not stop because some detractors are trying to rile up a specific portion of their base. Stay proud, Colorado.
