Letter to the Editor from Mr. Gay Colorado

I am Mr. Gay Colorado (officially), and over the years, I have performed on the Club Q stage many times. It always reminded me of a gay club in a small town. No big fancy screens, no extravagant lighting or special affects—They didn’t need it. What made it special was the need to have such a place in such a conservative location. We are all well aware of the political climate in the Springs and even how members of Congress, including our own representatives, feel about us. They makes it no secret and use it as a weapon for their own gain, and this is a result of that rhetoric.

In a city where Focus on the Family in located, surrounded by military basses, this is the one place many of us felt safe, welcomed, accepted, and free to simply live.

My then-husband and I moved to Colorado Springs about a year and a half ago, and at the time, he was active duty military stationed at Fort Carson, south of Colorado Springs. We would frequent Club Q because it was one of the only places we felt safe as a military couple. Oftentimes, we would meet other gay military couples. It was our sanctuary, our home away from home.

My husband, who is also a drag queen, did a story hour there. How ironic. My husband is a soldier, but also does drag and reads to kids on a Sunday afternoon. Where is the harm in that? For God’s sake, Hooters has a kids’ menu. Can we talk about that?

Today, we grieve the lives of five beautiful souls and continue to pray for the 25 others who were wounded. And for what? What was the point? When will all this hate end?

The question is, what now? In my utopia, church pastors would have stood on the pulpits Sunday and denounced what took place. Not saying things like ‘Love the sinner, hate the sin.’ See, if there is a God, then I believe his love is pure, 100 percent. Oftentimes, we feel the hate coming from our churches, families, and communities. You can say you love us, but the words and actions usually end up with a mass murder in a club. It’s too late for your prayers and thoughts. I know this all to well because I was raised and groomed in a neoconservative, Trump-loving family. It’s hard; it’s hurtful, and it’s simply wrong. They’ll stand for pro-life, but are we not also alive and being murdered? Why are they not standing with us? Hypocritical.

The time is always now to stand, not wait until the dust settles and people have moved on. We must rebuild and ensure there is a safe haven for the LGBTQ community in the Springs and across the country.

On a personal note, I simply don’t understand why some people care about who I love. They often call us groomers, yet many of us grew up in conservative families surrounded by pure hate towards the gay community. So tell me, who are the groomers? Is it us, who teach others to be kind, show love and empathy, or is it them who take kids to church on Sundays where they hear from the pulpit that the gay community is living in sin. They preach this hate knowing there are those struggling in their pews, giving parents and community a path to bully and pray the gay away. No, the groomers are not us. It has always been them, and now it’s time we rise and hold them accountable.

I’m sick; I’m tired; I’m angry. Instead of trying to save our souls, how about you worry about your own. Start caring about all life! All life! Stop killing, bullying, and hurting us! Leave us alone!

Photo courtesy of Jesse Lopez, Mr. Gay Colorado