SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 ISSUE
Western Equality Board Endorses Referendum C & D
The Western Equality board of directors voted unanimously to endorse Referenda C & D. This decision was not made lightly, as the organization has historically been reluctant to take positions on issues that do not directly affect the GLBT communities in Colorado. After careful consideration we have decided that the passage or failure of Referenda C & D will have a direct effect on our legislative agenda of equal rights for GLBT Coloradans and their families. The 2005 legislative session marked a historic first for our movement in Colorado. The Colorado General Assembly passed, and the governor did not veto, a bill that added sexual orientation and transgender status to our state's hate crime law. That law took effect on July 1, 2005, andalready a district attorney in Colorado is contemplating whether to press hate crime charges in a case in Montrose.
Despite Democratic control of the state legislature, passage of the new hate crime law was not assured because this new criminal law carried what legislators call a "fiscal note" indicating an impact on the state's budget. Quite simply, sending additional offenders to prison for longer sentences costs money. And given Colorado's current budget crisis it was not clear that the state could afford the additional costs even though this new law enhances public safety. In the final version of the legislation approved this spring no additional money was
appropriated to the Colorado Department of Corrections, making this new law something of an unfunded mandate.
There are many items in the equal rights legislative agenda that also carry fiscal notes. If we are to obtain protections from employment discrimination we must acknowledge that this change in the law will drive additional caseload at the Colorado Civil Rights Division, which investigates claims of discrimination. Additional state employees must be hired to handle the increased caseload. Funding for these additional staff positions at CCRD is highly unlikely without the
passage of Referenda C & D.
If Coloradans pass Referenda C & D, budget pressures will be relieved, and our state leaders will have room to address the enormous demands Colorado's growth have put on programs like transportation, education and health care. If C & D fail, the next legislative session will see a budget meltdown, with deficits looming into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Public and higher education will both suffer major cuts. Arts and cultural communities will experience an erosion of support from which it will be most difficult to recover. And employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity will continue to go unaddressed.
Referenda C & D take a routine provision in Colorado government, one that's been used over 900 times throughout Colorado's cities, counties and school districts, to capture the next five year's of TABOR tax rebates and earmark them for improvements to the state's roads, schools and health care network. The measures address head-on many of Colorado's budget problems without raising taxes.
Colorado simply can't continue to deliver the level of services to our population without catching up on our road, education and health care needs. Western Equality has taken a formal position to support the two referenda. We're urging our members, their families, and friends to put up yard signs and pledge their support to the campaign. We hope you'll also join this effort to help Colorado's economy recover.
You can get more information on Referenda C&D at www.voteyesonc-d.com.
September brings a new year of AmeriCorps presence at Western Equality Western Equality continues to collaborate with the Gay-Straight Alliance at Mesa State College, which is now back in session with the new school year. Meetings are held Tuesdays at 7pm in the College Center. This month, the Colorado Anti-Violence Program (CAVP) will conduct "Safe Zone" training with MSC Residence Hall Advisors and staff.
Also, through our collaboration with the Anti-Violence Program, training for Mesa County Sheriff’s personnel has been scheduled for November and December 2005. It will be presented by staff from the CAVP and will present information and resources that will enable law enforcement officers to be in compliance with the hate crimes legislation passed earlier this year.
September is Suicide Prevention month. Western Equality is participating in planning and carrying out events each week that will help bring awareness to the problem of suicide in Mesa County. Our participation in the Suicide Prevention Coalition is part of Western Equality’s collaborative work with other organizations and human service agencies in Grand Junction. I would also like to encourage any of you who are interested to take the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) offered several times this year. Contact our office (242-8949) or Karen Levad at 248-6937 for more information and dates.
Two presentations of “Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium” are scheduled for September. We hope to make a connection with folks in Montrose to take “Journey” there in October.
Mike has completed his AmeriCorps service contract but will continue to lend a hand where he can in the work of Western Equality. We both have felt very supported by the board here at WE and have been honored to be working for our community. I will continue to work with several human service agencies in Grand Junction bringing our voice to the issues and concerns that face all the people in the Grand Valley and throughout the state.
Until next month,
--Gloria
WE DID IT! -- A YEAR IN REVIEW
A year ago Western Equality developed a relationship with the Western Colorado Congress that allowed Western Equality to receive a $10,000 grant from the Gill Foundation. This was to support us in our efforts to develop staff, program and community relationships. $7,500 was in cash, and $2,500 was a matching grant that could be invoiced when we have received $2,500 in new and increased membership. The $7,500 in cash allowed Western Equality to receive 60 hours a week of staff support from the AmeriCorps program at Mesa State College, Gloria Perez and Mike Morris. Gloria and Mike presented "Journey To A Hate-Free Millennium" to over 750 people in over 40 different settings, and regularly had a presence at the Suicide Prevention Task Force, the Human Services Council, attended anti-violence training, marriage equality summits, created safe-zones in community settings, and worked with Mesa State students to develop a resource directory for medical and mental health providers, lawyers, faith communities and law enforcement hate-crimes training.
People in the Grand Valley took this challenge on, and in the last twelve months Western Equality received 107 new and/or increased memberships totaling $3,058!!! This will let us receive the $2,500 from the Gill Foundation to continue our work. In addition, the final report that went to the Gill Foundation documents that we achieved all of our objectives which were to:
1) Increase Western Equality’s presence in the Mesa County;
2) Address youth issues and enhance community safety;
3) Provide resources for LGBTA persons, youth and the community-at-large; and
4) Increase funding base for Western Equality. Western Equality now has over 170 paid members and mails to over 300 households.
Special thanks go out to Gloria and Mike, the Western Colorado Congress, the Gill Foundation, and especially to our new and increased members who take our work to heart!
YOU ARE A RIPPLE IN THE POND
Western Equality board of directors adopted a revised mission statement at our annual retreat in July. The new mission statement reads: "Western Equality of Grand Junction is creating a more fair community through advocacy, education, support, referrals, and mobilization of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, our allies and the general public."
There are many reasons why the revision is so important, among which is to distance ourselves from the stereotyping our community has faced for decades. Sometimes people behave in ways that reinforce those stereotypes, such as behaving badly in public. OutFest 2005 is a perfect example. It was a huge success with the exception of a few who drank too much, became obstinate and confrontational, and approached violence. Guess who our guests, allies and friends remember the most? Was it the 325+ people who had a great time, or the four who can ruin it for everyone? As Western Equality moves into the future with our community building, we are going to become much more focused on the advocacy, education, support, referrals and mobilization aspects of our mission, and encourage men and women who behave badly to attend parties elsewhere.
Perhaps it is your voice? "Tell me the weight of a snowflake," a coal-mouse asked a wild dove. "Nothing more than nothing," was the answer. "In that case, I must tell you a marvelous story," the coal-mouse said. "I sat on the branch of a fir, close to its trunk, when it began to snow - not heavily, not in a raging blizzard - no, just like in a dream, without a wound and without any violence. Since I did not have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,741,952. When the 3,741,953rd dropped onto the branch, nothing more than nothing, as you say - the branch broke off." Having said that, the coal-mouse flew away. The dove, since Noah's time an authority on the matter, thought about the story for awhile, and finally said to herself, "Perhaps there is only one person's voice lacking for peace to come to the world."
-Joseph Jaworksi
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WESTERN EQUALITY WORKING CLOSELY WITH COLORADO ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRM AROUND MURDER OF GAY MONTROSE MAN
Coroner Confirms Kevin Hale’s Death Was Result of Strangulation
Following the death of 36-year old Kevin Hale, amid concerns from family members that his sexual orientation may have motivated his killers, Western Equality—teaming with the Colorado Anti-Violence Program—went into action to advocate for the victim and serve as a positive voice in the media for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons living on the Western Slope.
Although a final autopsy report has not been released, Montrose County Coroner Mark Young confirmed September 2 that Kevin died from strangulation, specifically “cerebral anoxia as a consequence of compression of the structures of the neck.” Two suspects—Jason Fiske, 24, and Adam Hernandez, 21, both of Montrose—are being held without bond on charges of robbing and murdering Hale. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 6.
Western Equality and the Colorado Anti-Violence Program (CAVP) continue to urge Montrose District Attorney Mark Young to fully investigate this case as a potential hate crime. If an anti-gay bias is established, this would be the first murder case tried under Colorado’s newly revised bias-motivated crimes law which, as of July 1, includes disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity as protected statuses.
“Although the addition of a class-5, ‘hate crime’ felony will not add a significant penalty to the offenders if convicted, it sends a significant message to the community that law enforcement officials are educated and working to protect those who are often targeted for violence,” said WE Board member Mike Mansheim.
“It’s important for people to understand that this is not an isolated incident, and to acknowledge and recognize that the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs have documented a huge spike in the last few years of anti-gay violence,” added Jeff Basinger, WE Board co-chair.
Over the last several weeks the CAVP has seen a dramatic spike in reported bias-motivated incidents.
“Unfortunately, we anticipated a spike in reports of anti-LGBT violence following the recent murder of Hale in Montrose. It is not uncommon that news of bias incidents sends messages to other would-be perpetrators that Colorado’s anti-LGBT climate condones such behavior,” observed Avy Skolnik, Director of Programs for CAVP. (See related article below)
Since early August, Western Equality has also worked closely with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to ensure media coverage about this case is fair and accurate, to offer guidance to reporters regarding language choices, and to be sure the story fully and accurately represents what is known of Kevin’s life and the events surrounding how he was killed.
“Language has a tremendous amount of power,” added Mansheim. “It’s important to remember that law enforcement officials and community members alike can be deeply affected by language used in media coverage.”
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'SPIKE IN ANTI-GAY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE CONCERNING' SAYS VICTIM'S RIGHTS GROUP
The Colorado Anti-Violence Program (CAVP) has seen a dramatic spike in reported bias-motivated incidents over the last several weeks. This most recent wave of attacks comes on the heels of the murder of Kevin Hale, a thirty-six year old openly gay man, in Montrose. Over the course of one week in August, the CAVP responded to ten incidents of assault, three reports of harassment and intimidation, and two cases of vandalism all motivated by a sentiment of increasing hostility towards Colorado lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities.
“Unfortunately, we had anticipated a spike in reports of anti-LGBT violence following the recent murder of Hale in Montrose. It is not uncommon that news of bias incidents sends messages to other would-be perpetrators that Colorado’s anti-LGBT climate condones such behavior,” observed Avy Skolnik, Director of Programs for CAVP.
In one case, security personnel at House of Babes, a local nightclub, brutally assaulted a group of four individuals as they attempted to leave. The only apparent motive was a complaint from another patron that one of the women assaulted had used the wrong restroom after the patron mistakenly identified the woman as a man entering the women’s restroom. “He literally picked me up and took me outside. He kept saying, ‘If you want to act like a [expletive] man, we’ll treat you like a [expletive] man.’” recounted one of the assault victims, as she spoke of being punched and then restrained in a choke-hold by one of four bouncers involved in the assault.
“There was just no reason for the physical abuse,” added another victim who sustained significant facial injuries among numerous other injuries after being repeatedly punched and thrown to the ground by one of the bouncers.
“In addition to working with LGBT victims of hate violence, we frequently are called on to provide services for individuals that are non-LGBT identified but are attacked on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation. This case demonstrates how homophobia and bias-motivated violence threaten the safety of all. Two of the victims in this case weren’t even LGBT identified,” noted Skolnik.
In another case reported to the CAVP last week, staff at the Rocky Mountain Pink Pages expressed their concern regarding a lack of responsiveness by officers from Denver’s Police Department after their windows where shot at and a derogatory message was left on the sidewalk outside their offices. The business distributes Pink, a national publication targeting gays and lesbians, and also publishes a biannual community resource guide for the local LGBT community. The incident marked the ninth time over the course of the last year that the Pink Pages’ offices have been vandalized. “They [vandals] are targeting gay and lesbian businesses in the community and the message that I’m getting from the police is that I don’t matter because I’m gay, nobody cares,” said Ronnie Suva of the Pink Pages as he described the responding officer’s unwillingness to document the incident as a hate-crime.
“We had hoped that the addition of sexual orientation to Colorado’s Ethnic Intimidation Act this year would send a loud message that violence of any kind is unacceptable. As long as society downplays incidences of bias-motivated attacks, we express a silent acceptance of the violence committed in our communities. This fear of difference leaves us all at risk of becoming victims,” said Veronica Garcia, Director of Operations and Community Relations for the CAVP.
The Colorado Anti-Violence Program is working to end violence within and against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities across Colorado. Anyone in crisis or possessing information on these or any other incidents of violence against LGBT people, is encouraged to contact CAVP at 1.888.557.4441.
The following is an op-ed piece reflecting the opinions of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Western Equality's members or board of directors.
Homophobia and Life Western Colorado
I fled Colorado when I was 18. The word "queer" had been scratched in the side of a straight high school buddy’s car, the worst insult anyone could think of. His untraditional long hair and advanced vocabulary was enough to charge him with the offense. As a sexually confused teenager in a small town, a scholarship to the University of Miami made my choice seem obvious: Salida was home, but not very welcome. I came back to Grand Junction last year to be closer to my family. A few days later I went for coffee with a male acquaintance, where we traded tales of romantic prospects. Even though the stories we shared were tame – I’ve heard straight women on their cell phones at the grocery store boast about sexual conquests with far more detail – my “openly gay” new friend was clearly nervous.
"Why are you whispering?" I asked. He looked around the coffee shop. “Well, um, I’m out, but…”
He didn’t need to finish the sentence for me to understand. I just didn’t want to accept it any more than my mother wanted to accept what I told her 10 years ago when I came out.
A few days later I had to rethink my big-city view. I went to see the remake of The Stepford Wives, which now includes a gay couple. On the way out overheard a man say, “I thought it was good – but did they have to include those f***ing fags?” His female companion didn’t flinch before agreeing with his review. Welcome home to Western Colorado.
I want to believe that the small-mindedness and ingrained prejudices I ingested and left behind years ago are not part of my community—a community whose citizens are giving and thoughtful, as exemplified by the record-breaking charitable contributions to the local United Way and strangers who look you in the eye and say, “Good morning.” But given these harsh reality checks, I’m afraid that’s just wishful thinking.
No doubt people are more tolerant now than when I moved away. They're certainly more publicly tolerant. But to deny the fact that such backward attitudes are prevalent is like denying there’s a huge forest atop the Grand Mesa because you can’t see it from town. In the year I've been back, I'm personally aware of no fewer than five hate crimes committed against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. And now we've got a possible hate-motivated murder just a hop, skip, and jump away.
Kevin Hale, an openly gay, 36-year old, lifelong Montrose resident was murdered July 30. His family fears his killing may have been motivated by an anti-gay bias of his attackers. The suspects' families have vowed that their kin are not homophobic and that their town is no place that cultivates intolerance. No one—including myself—wants to believe that their community might breed such intolerance, or that they themselves might harbor ignorant prejudices. But, as they say, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”
This is particularly true of people and bigotry. Homophobia is so pervasive in Western Colorado that many LGBT people have learned to swallow this bitter pill, enduring self-censored lives to maintain a status quo that denies them what we as Americans hold so dear: the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I can see why – it’s certainly easier to pretend everything is OK than to admit that sometimes people you’ve known your entire life are uncomfortable around you, or even hate you, just because of who you are – who you were born to be.
No one can teach a child to be straight or gay, but we can and do teach children to hate. Just as easily we can teach today’s youth (along with ourselves) to be tolerant of all, or, better yet, to truly celebrate diversity. I hope my fellow Coloradoans use this tragic event as an opportunity for learning and a chance to genuinely search their minds and souls for prejudices that lurk just below the surface, just out of view of their conscience. Make the choice to join in a much needed public discussion about our attitudes, about diversity, and about what the marquees of most every local church declares: “All Welcome."
--Mike Mansheim
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Pride Picnic a Success; Anticipating Larger Event Next Year
The 2005 Western Colorado Pride Picnic/Potluck—held June 19th at Hawthorne Park in Grand Junction—was a resounding success. Approximately 100 participants took part in an afternoon of outdoor fun, food, and making and building friendships. Most importantly, everyone took part in celebrating diversity and valuing families in Western Colorado, and provided a visible LGBT presence.
“We had significant participation from our allies as well,” said Michael Mansheim, Western Equality Board Member and one of the event coordinators. “City Council member Teresa Coons stopped by, as well as allies from local faith organizations, Western Colorado Congress, and the Crane Project.”
The event garnered media coverage from local CBS and NBC television affiliates, and the Grand Junction Free Press. “A few folks even wrote letters to the editor of both local papers about the event” said Mansheim.
“The media coverage serves a dual purpose,” Mansheim continued. “It lets our friends and allies know we’re active in the community; and it provides the greater public with an awareness that LGBT persons are like everyone else: we belong to families, many of us have children, and we do crazy things like BBQ’s and water gun fights!”
“Sexuality does not solely define who anyone is,” said Mansheim. “The intolerance we may experience can only be overcome by desensitizing people—and that’s accomplished through visibility,” he added. “Everyone who participated should be proud that they’re helping to realize this goal.”
Western Equality looks forward to larger event next year
While the event is not expected to outgrow it’s current venue, we do anticipate increased attendance next year. “This year’s picnic had to compete with Father’s Day,” said Mansheim. “Understandably many people were unable to attend because of that.”
The date for next year’s event has not been finalized but keep an eye out for the details. We also anticipate adding a few fun games during the celebration to allow people to get better acquainted with each other.
Thanks to our sponsors and supporters
Western Equality would like to thank Safeway for its support. For several years they have supported the Pride event by donating $100 to provide refreshments.
We also want to thank the local business owners and managers that helped promote the event by allowing posters to be displayed in their business. These included The Coffee Studio, Trader’s Coffee & Tea, and The Quincy. The only local business that refused to display a poster was Main Street Bagels.
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