Santorum was here. Now it’s your turn for a surge

For the Colorado LGBT community, the news from the state’s Feb. 7 caucus is grim. The state’s most dedicated and conservative voters sent us all – gays and mainstream Republicans alike – a message: we’re here, we’re anti-queer, get used to it.

Sure, Colorado gay Republicans assure me, the ‘straw poll’ means nothing. Rick Santorum and his supporters might have won the battle, but the war is far from over.

No Colorado delegates are actually pledged to a candidate until the GOP unites for its state assembly in April. Nevertheless, I can’t help but wonder what impact this group of 65,000 conservatives means for us and the fight for civil unions.

For a year now, supporters of the Colorado Civil Union Act and Capitol insiders have told me, most Republicans won’t support the legislation out of fear of a primary challenge by a more conservative (read: Tea Party) candidate.

That narrative seemed to be shifting.

A handful of New York Republicans went first, green lighting not just civil unions, but full marriage equality for their state. Poll after poll shows most Americans, and Coloradans especially, believe in relationship recognition for same-sex couples.

“Let them be as miserably married as we are,” they concede.

And as recently as January 2012 a group of Colorado Republican thought leaders signed on to Coloradans for Freedom to support the legislation being re-introduced by state Sen. Pat Steadman.

There was hope.

But as I watched any-other-Tuesday turn into a spectacle for Santorum, hope, in my opinion, left the building.

Maybe, the sky isn’t falling.

“The caucuses are a small-scale event of dedicated Republican activists,” says one well connected Republican who asked not be named. “Santorum won because he has the recent momentum against Romney who they view as big government.”

Maybe, those Republicans who cast their votes for Santorum actually disagree with his anti-gay platform.

“I would be very careful categorizing either Santorum supporters or Coloradans for Freedom members into any one group,” CFF spokesman Mario Nicolais emailed me. “In the presidential primary there are many, many issues being debated. While CFF and its members may disagree with Sen. Santorum in regard to equal rights and civil unions, some may also support his candidacy for his positions on other issues such as the economy, education and taxes. Additionally, many CFF members consider themselves to be Christian conservatives leading deeply religious lives. In fact, for some of our members, support for civil unions is based in part on religious beliefs and values including acceptance, equality and love.”

So we return to the question of fairness and the proposition that all is fair in love and war.

“I think the base is inflamed,” the insider tells me. “And civil unions has less of a chance because it’s seen as such a hard issue. But I also see the party wanting to get past it. And I know there’s an aircraft carrier of money and organization that knows this is a losing issue if they don’t come out ahead on it and let (the bill) pass. I’ve never seen anything like it in the Republican Party.”

Nicolais echoes the latter.

“The battle for equal rights has been a long journey and continues today. When we began our organization, we knew it would be difficult and likely would require continued vigilance. We will continue advocating the conservative argument for civil unions through the legislative session, during elections, and until civil unions and equal rights become law in Colorado.”

The same night as the Republican caucus, Out Front Colorado’s staff gathered to discuss the future of the news organization. The question was raised: why do we do what we do?

While each staff member had his or her own opinion, a consensus was reached: we tell our own stories better than any other media outlet.

Sorry Huffington Post.

The same is true for you.

Whether Santorum’s victory really plays into the civil union debate, I don’t know.

But I do know your voice will.

Santorum’s victory came mainly from three counties – El Paso, Weld and Larimer. The coincidence that these counties are also home to the House Republicans who killed the bill? I think not.

But, like the Republicans who have several more contests before a nominee is selected to take on President Barack Obama, you will have plenty of opportunities to share your thoughts.

And gays, lesbians, their friends and family in the aforementioned counties and others, must be just as vocal and engaged as Santorum’s supporters.

The first chance to share your “vote” for civil unions is LGBT Lobby Day, Feb. 27 at the Capitol.

Hopefully by now you’ve read Noelle Leavitt’s preview of the event on page 8. One Colorado, the statewide advocacy group sponsoring the day of discussion, will help coach you on the talking points, to help you share your story.

To help you get what you deserve: equality.