Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach Refuses To Sign Proclamation Of Support For PrideFest

Newly-elected Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach never claimed to support the GLBT community. So when the Colorado Springs Pride Center asked him to issue a proclamation for PrideFest, Bach said no.

In a written statement Wednesday, Pride Center executive director Charles Irwin said, "I recall a professor at Colorado College being quoted in the Gazette saying that "He (Bach) is going to set many precedents about how the new strong mayor of Colorado Springs will operate". It saddens me to see that statement actually become reality today as we received word that Mayor Bach "will not be signing proclamations such as (we) requested".

Prior to his election, in a Focus on the Family questionnaire, Bach expressed his opposition to mayoral proclamations of support for the gay pride parade. "The Mayor must be focused on the issues affecting city government and the advancement of Colorado Springs," he writes. "The Mayor should be focused on the day-to-day operations of the City, allowing private entities to engage in, and support, their own private initiatives."

Irwin particularly faults the Mayor for his lack of support when, during his swearing in ceremony, Bach mentioned the need for an inclusive community. The Colorado Springs Gazette quoted Bach saying, "I truly hope we'll have a more diverse community leadership involving more, younger people, more women and more people of color."

In an earlier mayoral debate with pro-GLBT opponent Richard Skorman, Bach said of the gay pride parade, "I don't think we should have a parade for people 6-feet-5."

Skorman countered, "People that happen to be gay and lesbian live in this community, they pay taxes, they create jobs. If you're really interested in jobs, why shut the door?" Skorman also stated, "to be the anti-gay capital of the United States, it's not good for our image ... it's not good for jobs."

The Colorado Springs Pride Center also noted in the statement that both U.S. President Barack Obama and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper have signed proclamations in support of GLBT rights.

The Gazette notes that, in previous years, Mayor Lionel Rivera refused to support PrideFest, while Vice-Mayor Larry Small would counter with a letter of support.

Colorado Springs will host PrideFest 2011 July 16th and 17th.

Comments

[Norcal2]

12:30 PM on 07/05/2011

Having visited Colorado Springs a few years ago...the city could use a good draw for tourism.

[Parade Keegan]

05:03 PM on 07/04/2011

I think it's odd that there are people obsessed with another person's sexuality. It's perverted thinking IMO. Why do people care who is having sex with whom if it's not about themselves? I'm also still waiting for answers as to why there are those who feel same sex marriage threatens christian marriage. Honestly, the only sexuality I'm concerned with is mine and that of who is in my bed. I don't care about any sex I'm not involved in. Really, any homophobics have answers for me?

[firstamendment3]

10:23 AM on 07/04/2011

Boycott Colorado and its products such as hatred...

[sarsipius1979]

12:47 PM on 07/05/2011

what products? Coors?

[LisaCACO]

09:43 PM on 07/03/2011

colorado springs is a right wing cesspool.

[juzcuz]

10:58 AM on 07/04/2011

Very true and I wonder just how much money the Focus on the Family klanners are paying the mayor of CS to be their 'token' bigot and hate-mongerer??

[Marshall Getto]

08:10 AM on 07/03/2011

/snark on
I'm with you, Mayor! If the gays persons are allowed to have a parade then we might actually have to recognize that god makes gays too. And we all know its better if they just stay where they are: as second class citizens. Now that I think about it, the Irish might be changing the definition of marriage from a Man and a Woman to a Man and a Guinness, so you better ax Saint Patty Day's parade too!
Just to be safe you might want to discontinue any Boy Scout activity in your city as well. Apparently they may have damaged your statue of Lady Liberty. I don't care how cute they are, that is totally unforgivable!
Really, why would any minority group want to have their own parade? Don't they know the only ones that matter are Christmas, Easter, and the 4th (in that order)?!
/snark off

[Johnny Smithsville]

02:53 PM on 07/02/2011

they should not allow gay pride day

[Marshall Getto]

08:12 AM on 07/03/2011

Can they please replace it with a parade of ignorant and intolerant people instead? I've always wanted to see people without fully formed senses of equality deal with marching in a parade representing how they really feel. Typically people who aren't for equal rights don't seem to want to march for it.

[BeerLover]

04:12 PM on 07/01/2011

Do they have a "Heterosexual Pride Fest"? If not, why a gay one?

[5ilver]

12:18 AM on 07/02/2011

I agree, the hypocrisy with people who claim to be fighting for equality is so obvious to everyone except them, and it completely undermines anything they are attempting to accomplish. I think they are just a bunch of heterophobes.

[Ioan Lightoller]

02:43 AM on 07/04/2011

Heterosexuals don't need a pride festival. Every day is straight pride for Straights. I haven't seen anyone beaten up for being straight. Grow up. The world does not revolve around straight people though the culture certainly seems to.

[WheelsOnFire]

02:58 AM on 07/04/2011

If you heteros want to have a pride fest, go right ahead.

Don't blame the lack of such a fest on us -- get off your duffs and go do it.

Meanwhile, let us not forget that you have your own pride parades -- have you ever been to New Orleans during Mardi Gras? Flamboyant heterosexuality is on full display there -- including sex acts in the streets and on the balconies. Ditto Carnoval in Rio.

[WheelsOnFire]

03:00 AM on 07/04/2011

Throughout this country there are many culture-celebrating fests.

Greek festivals, Irish festivals (and parades), Italian festivals (and parades) are common.

Some communities celebrate Swedish, German, Polish or other cultures.

I suppose you oppose all of them, too -- unless you happen to be of one of those nationalities.

[BillOlson]

02:21 PM on 07/01/2011

I can understand, but of course disagree with, Mayor Bach's decision to not issue a proclamation Pride Fest... However, he needs to understand that as Mayor of Colorado Springs he represents ALL citizens of Colorado Springs and not just the conservative Republican citizens and members of Focus on the Family. His refusal to participate just shows his narrow minded religious ideology...

[diesel09]

09:22 PM on 07/01/2011

Is he limiting his support for other causes too or is this something that he is doing just for Pride Fest?

[5ilver]

12:19 AM on 07/02/2011

Actually, he represents the constituents who voted him into office, not everyone.

[Marshall Getto]

08:45 AM on 07/03/2011

That is actually totally incorrect. All democratically elected representative officials are supposed to represent their entire constituency regardless of who voted for them.

While oaths of office can vary from city to city they pretty much say a very similar thing. Take this Aurora CO oath of office for example:
"Having been duly elected/to the City Council for the City of
Aurora, Colorado/ I, do solemnly swear or affirm/ that I will
faithfully and impartially/ administer the affairs of such office/ in
accordance with the Constitution of the United States of America/
the State of Colorado/ and the charter and ordinances/ of the City
of Aurora/ to the best of my judgment and ability/ so help me
God."

I don't see anything in the Constitution's Article 1 Section 8 that mentions anything about only dancing with them that brought ya, so to speak (unless "common defense" is only supposed to be "common" for your supporters?):

"The Congress shall have power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"

Of course there is a strong possibility that you're kidding...

[r henry]

02:32 PM on 07/07/2011

That's a sad idea, that an elected official only represents the exact people who voted for him or her. GW Bush seemed to have this mistaken idea, too.

[JeremiahA]

10:50 AM on 07/01/2011

I can understand people wanting to get together to have a festival but why call it a PrideFest? Is there some virtue in desiring someone of the opposite sex or the same sex? If orientation is only biological, which I do not concede here, then people wish to celebrate a biological trait they had nothing to do with.

And if this PrideFest is like S.F.'s pride parade, it will not be an entirely inclusive event, as evident by the signs in S.F. "Ex-Gays/Stay Away" "Ex-Gays/Traitors to Their Race" And the continuing discrimination of "born gays" against "wannagays" and "wannabis".

[Hermes Mercury]

11:27 AM on 07/01/2011

People celebrate their ethnic heritages all the time -- with proclamations from the mayors of their towns and cities -- and those are biological traits that they had nothing to do with.

But of course, you aren't interested in rational discussion - as you make evident with the statement that you are not willing to "concede" that orientation is biological. In answer to that I say:

1. It is clearly innate, and there are physical characteristics that can be observed as occurring at higher rates among homosexuals than heterosexuals - repeated studies have shown that -- clearly therefore it IS biological. (1)
2. Your concession or the lack thereof will do nothing to change reality.

Regards,

Reyn

(1) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/01/homosexuality-genetics-usa
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_caus4.htm

[JeremiahA]

02:23 AM on 07/02/2011

Usually we say we are proud when there is some conduct or quality that is worthy because of its virtue or nobility. Homosexuality in itself does not carry something of nobility or virtue, like being associated with a group, family, or country. I do not say I am proud of being heterosexual because there is no virtue in being heterosexual.

Next, as the article you linked to states "A number of studies on identical twins have indicated that perhaps 10% of people are born with the genetic predisposition to develop a homosexual orientation in adulthood. However, this predisposition may or may not be triggered, either before birth or during early childhood by a factor in the environment which is currently unknown."

Sexual orientation, or sexual preference, is an innate predisposition but it is not a predetermined trait. Genes, environment, and developmental noise are the main factors. Also, genes gives us insights into tendencies we might be susceptible to, but it's not that we have no voice in the matter.

[sensimilla]

01:18 PM on 07/01/2011

pride fest is about taking PRIDE in who you are no matter what culture, race or sexuality.

[JeremiahA]

02:09 AM on 07/02/2011

So it's a human pride fest whether there will be no flags representing individual groups?

[bgofca]

01:42 AM on 07/01/2011

again, the christian taliban shows how to hate; this is not what jesus would do.

[SteveDenver]

10:03 PM on 06/30/2011

People like Bach respond to a Fukiss On The Family questionnaire and in the same sweep say that private entities should function on their own. Irony and hypocrisy all over that.

[Cat-Lover]

09:11 PM on 06/30/2011

Close down the Air Force Academy.
That'll change his mind.

[kemarie21]

12:35 AM on 07/01/2011

Why should the students in the Air Force Academy suffer?

[mollymac]

08:22 PM on 06/30/2011

Colorado is so backwards! So no pitbulls and no gays! Ha!

[Bouldergirl77]

08:35 PM on 06/30/2011

I think you mean Colorado Springs, not Colorado. Theres a HUGE difference!

[5ilver]

12:21 AM on 07/02/2011

Same way that Boulder does not represent Colorado either.

[juliedc]

07:29 PM on 06/30/2011

He's worried he'll lose funding for his campaign from Focus on the Family - ha!

[Patrick Brennan]

07:29 PM on 07/02/2011

ABSOLUTELY! Colorado Springs is the Riyahd of zealot christians.

[Ioan Lightoller]

02:47 AM on 07/04/2011

Fanned and faved! That is the best description of Colorado Springs I've ever read.

[captainshorty]

01:32 PM on 06/30/2011

Isn't it LGBT?

[SteveDenver]

10:04 PM on 06/30/2011

As a gay man and a bacon lover, I prefer BLT-Gee!

[5ilver]

03:10 PM on 07/03/2011

Hmm, I thought gay men preferred sausage more then bacon.