Opinion: Colorado farms going fallow? Wilson also suggests that some evangelical churches should lose their nonprofit status for electioneering in support of fundamentalist candidates in school board elections. He notes that the SPLCs hate map lists four anti-LGBTQ hate groups, including two headquartered in Colorado Springs: the Family Research Institute and the Pray in Jesus Name Project. November 29, 2022, Vandals targeted Focus on the Family's Colorado Springs headquarters two days after the Southern Poverty Law Center mentioned the Christian organization in an article tying the Club Q shooting to "anti-LGBTQ hate." Five people died, and at least 18 others were wounded. Opponents of these events often use language that conflates drag performers with trans people and dehumanizes LGBTQ people. But many police departments have misgendered LGBTQ victims of crime, particularly trans people, in investigations or press conferences. Now five are dead, at least 25 are injured, and an unknown number are traumatized for life by an act of violence primed by conspiracy thinking and hateful propaganda, Wilson concludes. The Orange County Sheriffs Department had previously responded to the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, where 49 people were killed. The names of the Club Q shooting victims are displayed as mourners hold a candlelight vigil outside the State Capitol building on November 23, 2022, in Denver, Colorado. The alleged shooter, whose defense attorneys have said uses they/them pronouns, ran a website and posted several videos of other mass shootings, including ones at synagogues and mosques mainly in Europe, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department's Rebecca Joines, the lead detective on the case. The influx of evangelical groups decades ago was at least in part spurred by efforts from the citys economic development arm to offer financial incentives to lure nonprofits. Instead, the SPLC illustrated how some on the Left smear political opponents, even when they have nothing to do with the crime at issue. Using the right name seems less like a thoughtful gesture than an obvious sign of respect for a victim and their loved ones. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. The sign of the Colorado Springs headquarters of the evangelical Christian ministry Focus on the Family was defaced days after a gunman attacked the citys sole LGBTQ+ nightclub. There must be a willingness to learn about the full lives of those taken from us for the sake of respecting and honoring their lives.. Colorado Springs Club Q survivor shot in the face shares her story. People gather at a makeshift memorial near the Club Q nightclub on Monday. WebColorado Springs nightclub shooting. The Human Rights Campaign estimates that since 2013, police and media have misgendered 70% of trans people killed in violent attacks. Shortly after the message was discovered, a Gazette photographer found the sign covered in a plastic sheet. This is a time for prayer, grieving and healing, not vandalism and the spreading of hate, Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, said in a statement shared with The Independent. 2. Aldrich, who according to his attorneys identifies as non-binary, comes from a conservative Republican family. A Warner Bros. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office told ProPublica it was following its policy at the time, identifying victims based on medical examiner reports and the victims state ID. Earlier this month, a gunman opened fire at Club Q, a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, killing five and injuring 25 others. A suspect, who was reportedly tackled by club patrons before police arrived, remains jailed without bond. Juan Chavez, left, hugs Jennifer Horn as they join other Club Q supporters outside the Colorado Springs City Hall on Wednesday. For others, the shocking act of violence in a space considered an LGBTQ refuge shattered a sense of optimism pervading everywhere from the citys revitalized downtown to the sprawling subdivisions on its outskirts. (In a Monday press conference identifying the victims, department representatives refrained from using gender-specific pronouns to describe the suspect. Five lives taken.". 2:27 PM EST, Wed November 23, 2022. / Survivors and victims' family members were in court on Wednesday. The families of the five individuals killed inSaturday night's senseless attack are in our prayers. Then get The Morning Bell, an early morning edition of the days most important political news, conservative commentary and original reporting from a team committed to following the truth no matter where it leads. She said she found community at Club Q when she would come back from college, but that sense of belonging didnt allow her to forget that people and groups with a history of anti-LGBTQ stances and rhetoric maintained influence in city politics. We will not take violence against our community and our families lying down.. Its opening sentence describes the shooting as coming after years of intensifying anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, acts of violence and intimidation, and discriminatory legislation from far-right individuals and groups, including powerful Republican politicians., After attacks on conservative commentators Matt Walsh, Ben Shapiro, and Candace Owens; Libs of TikTok owner Chaya Raichik; Florida Gov. An estimated 5 million Americans tune into its weekly radio program, which is broadcast by more than 2,500 stations around the world. On Wednesday, defense attorneys brought up the suspect's gender identity and sexuality, saying that they told James, "My mom will not accept me because I'm gay, you're all the same.". "Today, they should be thankful we don't repay blood with blood," another tweeted. Subscribe to Heres the Deal, our politics A statement from a group claiming responsibility for the vandalism, shared by a Twitter account called colorado peoples press, said we chose to proceed with this action because of the incredible violence that Focus on the Family continues to perpetuate against the LGBT+ community. Club Q had been considered a safe haven for LGBTQ people in the conservative community of Colorado Springs. Candidate name: Tom Strand. Lawyers for the suspect in the shooting said in a court filing Tuesday that their client is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, marking the first time that information was public. Willis Scott is an evening anchor for KRDO. Remember to include the url or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. @Tyler2ONeil, Tyler O'Neil is managing editor of The Daily Signal and the author of "Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center.". The suspect was apprehended by club patrons Richard Fierro and Thomas James as well as an unnamed trans woman, and later arrested by police. The shooting happened just after 7 p.m. at the Alta Convenience Store near the intersection of Palmer Park Boulevard and Potter Drive. Its a place full of art shops and breweries; megachurches and military bases; a liberal arts college and the Air Force Academy. There has been a concerted push to shed the citys reputation as Jesus Springs and remake it yet again, highlighting its elite Olympic Training Center and branding itself as Olympic City USA. Although it is not clear if the suspect had a connection with the organization, the conservative Christian ministry group is known for its anti-LGBTQ messaging. We do. It is important to us that you understand why Focus on the Family must be held accountable for the ramifications of their hateful theology, the statement adds, pointing to the organisations support for legislation targeting transgender people, its falsified research and support for so-called conversation therapy. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Joines also testified that the suspect had used anti-gay slurs in the past, calling their apartment property manager a "faggot" after they had an argument over the suspect not getting their mail. David Zalubowski / AP. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. In the 1990s, the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family advocated to amend the Colorado Springs Constitution to make it illegal to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Try the Morning Bell and get the days most important news and commentary from a team committed to the truth in formats that respect your timeand your intelligence. The US Supreme Court later struck down the amendment. We provide help and resources for couples to build healthy marriages that "We recognize the community is hurting in the aftermath of the reckless and violent actions of a very disturbed individual. Sin causes disconnection and separation from God and others. Last year, SPLC Chief of Staff Lecia Brooks insisted that the Southern Poverty Law Center is not anti-Christian at all. If so, the least it could do is condemn the vandalism directed at Focus on the Family. In an article published on Focus on the Family's website in 2016, it writes that "Gender Identity Laws Place Everyone at Risk." Its headquarters have been in Colorado Springs since 1991. Though it was later ruled unconstitutional, the campaign cemented the citys reputation, drawing more like-minded groups and galvanizing progressive activists in response. Law enforcement says a gunman They merely follow the Bibles teaching on homosexual activity and gender, along with Jesus instructions to preach the Gospel and build up the church. Politics here lean more conservative than in comparable-size cities. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. She said shes seen and heard hateful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from influential figures in Colorado Springs. After the shooting, Focus on the Familys president, Jim Daly, said that like the rest of the community he was mourning the tragedy. This is a time for prayer, grieving and healing, not vandalism and the spreading of hate., Focus on the Family defines itself as a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive. The organization supports the anti-abortion movement in the abortion debate, and features anti-LGBT+ broadcasts, including Leaving Homosexuality and Finding Forgiveness and Transformed by Grace: Leaving Homosexuality to Follow Christ., The families of the five individuals killed in Saturday nights senseless attack are in our prayers, Daly said. Priester-Collins watched the preliminary hearing remotely because she was unsure she would be able to stay calm inside the courtroom with the person accused in the attack sitting feet away. Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton joined The Denver Post in January 2022 as a business reporter, focusing her coverage on social inequities in business. A non-profit worker with a 'huge heart.' Have an opinion about this article? Misgendering a trans victim of crime can also thwart the delivery of justice. Police, media and public officials have a responsibility to lead with respect, said Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign senior vice president for programs, research and training, in a statement to CNN. Focus on the Family is known for its public stance against same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ issues. Focus on the Family President Jim Daly condemned the shooting on the day it occurred. In the 1990s it became known as a home base for evangelical nonprofits and Christian ministries including the broadcast ministry Focus on the Family and the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys. Outside the scene of a shooting at Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs in 2015. Dozens of people were inside Club Q that night for a drag show; when the shooting broke out, Richard Fierro and Thomas James, two club patrons, confronted the suspect and beat them, which authorities have said prevented even more people from being killed. Someone spray-painted the sign in front of the Colorado Springs-based Christian organization. Alex Clemons and his daughter Epifania pay their respects at a makeshift memorial near Club Q on Sunday. Much of the legislation aimed to limit trans youths access to gender-affirming health care or banned participation in school sports that aligned with their gender. Sam Metz, Associated Press Tyler O'Neil Americans are once again reeling in the face of unspeakable tragedy, after a mass shooting at a Colorado Springs gay bar left five dead and at least 25 injured. Following the incident, someone tried to conceal the graffiti with a tarp and cardboard, but as of Friday the tarp had fallen off, leaving much of the wording visible. Leia-jhene Seals hugs R.J. Lewis during the vigil at the All Souls Unitarian Church. Focus on the Family is privileged to be one of many organizations in our city positioned to help and support the needs of struggling individuals and families, he His biography for Focus on the Family says he's an Issues Analyst who "regularly shares his story of struggling as a Christian with same-sex attractions and how God brought healing and change to his life.". Wilson does not mention that Gordon Klingenschmitt, who runs the Pray in Jesus Name Project, condemned the shooting. To be sure, most people share varying degrees of personal information with family, co-workers, friends, and other acquaintances and that is, perhaps, especially true of people in the LGBTQ community. Opinion: Colorado farms going fallow? Focus on the Family is privileged to be one of many organizations in our city positioned to help and support the needs of struggling individuals and families, he continued. Their blood is on your hands, vandals spray-painted at the Colorado Springs headquarters of Focus on the Family. CLICK HERE for the GoFundMe Central Hub for donation information. Anderson Lee Aldrich in court documents, many on the Left blamed conservatives and Christians for the attack, and vandals targeted one prominent conservative Christian group in the city. Mike Trout, a senior vice president for Focus on the Family, said none of the hostages was seriously injured. It is no accident that this happened in Colorado Springs, a city steeped in homophobia, transphobia, and white supremacy, the statement continues. We urge everyone to pray for peace and we also pray for the individual or group responsible for this mischievous and unwarranted defacing of our ministrys property., A Twitter account called colorado peoples press, which has thousands of followers, on Thanksgiving evening posted photos of the graffiti and a letter signed by members of the Front Range queer community., Focus on the family vandalized in response to the club q murders in Colorado Springs THEIR BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDSFIVE LIVES TAKEN, A press release and report back from those who completed this direct action: pic.twitter.com/LszpJrTmzX, colorado peoples press (@colpeoplespress) November 25, 2022, Before proceeding we feel it is our responsibility to acknowledge that we acted without consent from the families of these people, the anonymous letter stated. "Needs fire.". These [five] individuals gathered at Club Q with friends and loved ones, new and old, to be in community and to grieve all the lives lost to transphobia, the statement adds, calling the mass shooting an act of hate. The vandals added, Five lives taken.. The people who lost their lives that night include: CLICK HERE to donate to a verified fundraiser page to help all the victims impacted. We will never, ever, ever stop being who we are, Vigil tweeted. PUBLISHED: February 22, 2023 at 9:05 a.m. | UPDATED: February 22, 2023 at 9:06 a.m. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Five people were hospitalized Their blood is on your hands and five lives taken were spray-painted onto the sign following Saturday nights mass shooting in Colorado Springs at Club Q. Joines said that detectives found a cellphone taped to a hat inside the suspect's car, leading detectives to believe they had considered livestreaming that night. WebFocus on the Family - Visit Colorado Springs Home Focus on the Family 8605 Explorer Dr | Colorado Springs, CO | 80920 Main: (719) 531-3400 Map Website Overview Focus on the Family welcomes visitors to the ministry's Welcome Center in Colorado Springs. She said yes. Police did not announce the Club Q shooting suspects motive, but they face five counts of first-degree murder and five counts of a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury, court records show. (Photo: Focus on the Family), Tyler O'Neil It's an apparent reference to the mass shooting at the gay nightclub, Club Q, where five people died Saturday night. Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. But as the praying carried on and the woman urged May and her friend to turn to God, she felt as if praying had turned into preying. Discovery Company. With the city under the national spotlight, he said the organization wanted to make it clear it stands against hate. But even departments in cities with sizable LGBTQ populations, such as the Orange County Sheriffs Department in central Florida, can be careless in their interactions with LGBTQ victims and witnesses: In 2018, when investigating the death of Sasha Garden, a Black trans woman, the sheriffs office misgendered her and used descriptions that LGBTQ advocates said were damaging, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Herod and others who have been around long enough are remembering this week how in the 1990s, at the height of the religious rights influence, the Colorado Springs-based group Colorado for Family Values spearheaded a statewide push to pass Amendment 2 and make it illegal for communities to pass ordinances protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination. ET: This article has been updated to include comment from Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. The man suspected of fatally shooting five people and injuring more than a dozen others at an LGBTQ nightclub is facing murder The graffiti was covered with large sheets of plastic and cardboard on Thursday afternoon. Someone spray-painted the sign in front of the A bartender who found a place to shine. To some in the LGBTQ community, the scene was less about solidarity and more a cause for consternation. Springs police say they do not have any suspects in the vandalism. The Family Research Institutewhich reported only $50,000 in revenue in 2021appears not to have addressed the shooting. Focus on the Family's Colorado Springs, Colorado, headquarters was vandalized on Thanksgiving with a message blaming the group for a recent mass People hold a vigil at a makeshift memorial near the Club Q nightclub on November 20, 2022 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Not for the "stupid price" of $150 an acre foot. A person pauses to pay respects at a makeshift memorial in November 2022, near Club Q. The organization's website has numerous "resources" for sexuality. Immediately following the shooting, Focus on the Family President Jim Daly told 11 News sister station CBS Denver that he mourned the tragedy and that the organization wanted to make it clear it stands against hate. She testified that she believes the suspect modeled the Club Q shooting after the shootings they posted on their neo-Nazi website. This can make it difficult to discern whether police and media are using the right terms to describe them. Thursday evening, the writing was covered with a trash-bag-like material, but it blew off in the wind. People link hands at the memorial near Club Q in Colorado Springs. People pay their respects at a memorial display set up to remember the five victims of the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Michael Robert Travis performs taps while his husband, Michael Travis, films on his phone near Club Q on Sunday. The SPLC did not respond to The Daily Signals request for comment on the Focus on the Family vandalism, and the center doesnt appear to have condemned it publicly. WebAt about 1:00 p.m. MST (20:00 UTC), more than thirty minutes after the 11:00 a.m. sermon had ended at New Life Church, Murray opened fire in the church parking lot with a Yemi Mobolade, an entrepreneur running for mayor as an independent, didnt understand how strong Colorado Springs stigma as a hate city was until he moved here 12 years ago. The Orange County Sheriffs Department did not immediately respond to CNNs request for comment on their handling of Gardens case. We urge everyone to pray for peace and we also pray for the individual or group responsible for this mischievous and unwarranted defacing of our ministrys property.. Human Rights Campaign, an organization fighting for LGBTQ rights, posted an article about Focus on the Family, calling the group one of the most well-funded anti-LGBTQ organizations in the U.S. Human Rights Campaign alleges that Focus on the Family uses the $515 million it has raised over the last five years to invest in public education campaigns against LGBTQ equality. It feels like the city is kind of at this tipping point, said Candace Woods, a queer minister and chaplain who has called Colorado Springs home for 18 years. Below you will find contact information and answers to a candidate questionnaire from The Gazette.

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