Re: REX FULLER: Controversy and the decision to preclude police from Denver Pride are both warranted
Editor: We just learned of this today and are horrified. We are telling some members of our LGBTQ family that they cannot come home for the holidays because of their career choice. Really?
We completely understand the antipathy for police by people of color but how does this latest exclusion help healing? On the contrary it adds yet another rift in our already deeply divided society.
The Center prides itself on being a safe space for everyone, and totally inclusive, yet now we are touting exclusion.
We simply do not see the logic of painting the LGBTQ police with the same brush as the bad apples we all certainly accept are there, or a system which creates them. There are many many good, honorable, members of the police; should we not not want to believe that those who are LGBTQ are among them?
Upon hearing this, and reading your article in the Sentinel, we were overcome by that terrible feeling of ‘not in my name’. We have always been proud of to be members of the SAGE group at The Center but now we fear we will prefer to keep quiet about the fact that we are associated with The Center at all.
We know that The Board cannot involve the rest of us in every decision – that is why we have a Board.
But a decision such as this which reflects on all of us involved with The Center might surely have been open to a survey or similar? We wonder if even the staff and/or volunteers were allowed to offer opinions?
We are deeply angered and embarrassed by this decision and urge you to rescind it immediately.
— Gillian Edwards and Betsy McConnell, via letters@sentinelcolorado.com
You are as absolutely right in your indignation. Short sighted and profoundly stupid decision to be exclusionary to ANYONE.
What people need to know is that this was the decision of the few who sit on the board. I can guarantee you that the rank and file of the gay community do not agree with the decision.
Pigs dont belong at Pride. They do not belong at a celebration that started decades ago by rioting against pigs and their suppression, dispersion, abuse, robbing, and murder of us. Especially not when they continue to enforce laws that disproportionately harm lgbt people, and when lgbt people are still having to deal with harrassment from pigs, worse treatment, harsher punishments and abuse, etc.
The very presence of pigs at Pride goes against the origin of it, and serves to make a massive part of the community feel unsafe. Pigs do not beling at Pride.
Though overstated, I agree with this letter’s premise.