Panel Voices: Who has done a lot for Colorado’s LGBT community but hasn’t been recognized yet?

Pieter Tolsma and George K. Gramer, Jr. weigh in on this week’s question.

Pieter Tolsma

I had a hard time trying to select someone for this topic. There are so many big names that have stood up and have been counted for the community and that makes it difficult to select just one. Instead I think I will select one to stand for many.

Recently one of our volunteers at Denver ELEMENT passed away quite suddenly. His passing and his memorial service really set my mind to work. Bryan McKay was a tireless volunteer and defined so much of his public identity by lending his time and energy to causes that he felt were important. He never objected to going out there and just finding out what needed to be done and simply doing it. No praise needed, just the opportunity to give.

In his way, Bryan and so many other volunteers like him are the unsung heroes of the LGBT community. They keep our foundations and charities running and so often they are the ones answering the phone or staffing the booth that we talk to when we are going through our most desperate situations. It is impossible to give these people all the recognition they are due. A thank-you never really is enough. I cannot begin to recognize everyone, but I can take this time to this recognize this irreplaceable one. Thank you Bryan for everything you had done. You are missed.

Pieter Tolsma is program coordinator of Denver PIQUE, a sexual health and social support program for gay/bi men in Denver.

George K. Gramer, Jr.

Many mainline Protestant churches in Colorado are far ahead of the rest of the nation in accepting and loving the LGBT community — they deserve recognition.

The web site gaychurch.org lists almost 150 churches in Colorado (100 of which are in the Denver metropolitan area) as “open and affirming” (gay-friendly). The predominant denominations are the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, and the Episcopal Church. I am proud that my church is on the list, has a rainbow WELCOME above a main entry door, and holds four core values: intergenerational, international, inclusive, and interfaith.

LGBT people often track away from organized religion, either not having an early grounding in their faith or from a fear that fire and brimstone will fall from the sky if they were to enter the doors of a church. We need to realize that God works in every one of us in mysterious ways.

Bishop Elaine Stanovsky and my pastor recently forwarded a letter written to the bishops of the United Methodist Church. The letter strongly criticized the views of some (mostly African) bishops regarding exclusion of LGBT in the faith community, and strongly criticized the rule in the Book of Discipline that prohibits United Methodist clergy from officiating at same-sex weddings.

Winning equalities in the USA is not enough if there are still people on other continents who can influence our own hopes and dreams. A faith community helps make changes for the better in our world. Thanks to our mainline Protestant supporters for their care and concern for us.

Iowa native George Gramer, Jr. is the president of the Log Cabin Republicans.