Unanswered questions after trans-activists infiltrate Creating Change event

Jan 5: In a fiery show of solidarity with slain minor and self-identified queer Jessie Hernandez, trans activists and allies took to the stage at this year’s Creating Change event in a swarm of more than 100 sign-wielding protesters demanding trans-acknowledgment, presence, and justice.

News of the event, dubbed by some as ‘political theater,’  may or may not have influenced Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s decision to pull out of his address to conference attendees.

Out Front has reached out to the mayor’s office and are awaiting response on behalf of inquiring minds. We would respectfully like to know:

Did Mayor Hancock cancel his speech before the protest? Word on the street is he gave notice that he wouldn’t be in attendance before the protest.

If he cancelled because of the protest, was it political in nature? With the often-polarizing insistence that trans rights be acknowledged and respected, is there any possibility that (re)election season influenced the decision to distance himself from the movement?

Was the protest planned in advance? If so:

Did the coordinators of the event, the LGBTQ Task Force, know about the protest beforehand and, if so, was there any connection in the timing of the speech and the protest?

As journalists, we don’t speculate; we ask.

So now, we eagerly await an answer from Mayor Hancock’s office.

Video of the protest can be seen here.