In the wake of controversy, Mayor Hancock yields floor to protesters at Creating Change

It appeared yesterday that Denver Mayor Michael Hancock declined to speak at the National LGBTQ’s Task Force event, Creating Change, as a direct response to the swarm of transactivists and allies who took to the stage with signs in solidarity of trans recognition and rights. The recent spate of trans injustice at the hands of police, judges, the federal government, and civilians — including the recent killing of self-identified queer Jessica “Jessie” Hernandez at the hands of the Denver Police Department —  were the touted catalysts sparking the more-than-100-strong display.

Mixed reactions came from far and wide as the National LGBTQ Task Force’s convention in downtown Denver is host to an event currently boasting upwards of 3,000 key players in  national LGBTQ media, politics, and community supporters. 

In an emailed response, Press Secretary Amber Miller of the mayor’s office, had this to say:

“After consulting with conference organizers, it was determined that protesters were unlikely to let Mayor Hancock deliver his speech last night.

The demonstrators were there to make a statement on recent events; and the Mayor heard them and respected their right to make their views known.

He offered to return another time this weekend and we are in discussions with the organizers about potential opportunities.

The Mayor believes it’s an honor to once again host Creating Change; he and his team worked very hard to bring this conference back to Denver this year.

Mayor Hancock has always been and will remain a steadfast advocate for the LGBTQ community.”

Stay tuned to OutFrontOnline.com for updates.

UPDATE:

National LGBT Task Force Executive Director (and native Denverite) Rea Carey took time out for three questions.

Did you know about the protest in advance?
Creating Change has a long and fabulous history of protests. Part of what Creating Change is about is people sharing ideas, sharing strategies, and organizing together. We’ve certainly known, because it’s happened almost every year, that if there’s an issue that needs to be brought to the fore for the LGBTQ community, and there are people who feel it’s not being attended to, it almost always shows up in a very powerful way at Creating Change. And that’s what we saw this year. We’d known there might be protests at [this year’s] Creating Change at different plenaries, so I wasn’t surprised by it, and in fact I thought it was a very powerful and important action.

I agree. How long ago did you know that last night’s protests in particular were going to happen?
As they were coming in. We knew that there would likely be protests, but we didn’t know about that specific protest until it was happening. The mayor was scheduled to speak [during that plenary], he saw the protests, and he made the choice not to.

That settles it, and thank you. Anything you’d like to say to the city?
It’s very exciting for us to have 4000 LGBT activists here in Denver. So much has happened and it’s all so exciting to be able to share strategies and successes with folks around the country.