The Colorado Republican Party stirred controversy at the beginning of Pride month by sending out a fundraising email that referred to LGBTQ+ people as “godless groomers” and called for Pride flags to be burned. The email was signed by state GOP chair and congressional candidate Dave Williams and included false claims equating LGBTQ+ individuals with pedophiles. Williams also promised to work with lawmakers to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The party also posted several inflammatory messages on social media, demonizing Pride month and promoting hateful rhetoric towards the LGBTQ+ community.
Following the release of the fundraising email, the Colorado GOP continued to spread anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment on social media platforms, reposting content from inflammatory accounts and encouraging the burning of Pride flags. This is not the first time the party has targeted the LGBTQ+ community, as they previously sent out an email warning about “LGBTQ indoctrination” in public schools and claimed that Democrats were trying to “turn more kids trans.” The party’s stance against gender-affirming care for children aligns with the broader trend of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being proposed across the country.
Dave Williams, who is running for Colorado’s 5th Congressional District and has received endorsements from former President Donald Trump and Rep. Lauren Boebert, has faced criticism for his extreme views on LGBTQ+ issues. Despite the state’s reputation for progressive policies protecting transgender residents, Williams has doubled down on his anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. The president of Colorado’s Log Cabin Republicans chapter, Valdamar Archuleta, denounced the state party’s email as “hateful” and criticized Williams for attempting to emulate Trump’s tactics.
The upcoming primary election for all eight of Colorado’s congressional districts is set to take place on June 25. The state, which has both conservative and progressive enclaves, has become a safe haven for families of transgender youth due to its inclusive policies. Colorado was the first state to explicitly require insurance providers to cover gender-affirming care in their lowest-tier plan. Despite the backlash from within the Republican Party, Democrats, and the media, Williams remains steadfast in his views and continues to advocate for restricting access to gender-affirming care for children.
The inflammatory language used by the Colorado Republican Party reflects a broader trend of increasing division and hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community in conservative circles. As Pride month celebrations take place across the country, the party’s rhetoric reinforces harmful stereotypes and perpetuates discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. The upcoming election will be a key opportunity for voters to express their views on these issues and determine the direction of the state’s representation in Congress.
