Colorado GOP Urges Republicans To Burn Pride Flags

The Colorado Republican Party sent out a mass email and social media post urging Republicans to burn pride flags and used imagery that alluded to an anti-gay slur.

The email, titled “God Hates Pride,” has received backlash this week after calling members of the LGBTQ community “godless groomers” and using an image that states “god hates flags,” a reference to the signage used by the extremist Westboro Baptist Church in protests.

In a social media post by the organization, they called for the burning of all pride flags.

There has been an extremist shift occurring in the party, moving them further right. Last month, the party urged parents to pull their children out of public schools, stating that Democrats use the school system to turn kids transgender.

The email, signed by party chairman Dave Williams, attacked the concept of Pride Month.

“The month of June has arrived and, once again, the godless groomers in our society want to attack what is decent, holy, and righteous so they can ultimately harm our children,” read the email signed by Williams. 

Williams has had other controversies in the past, including sending a Christmas message in 2023 urging Republicans to give their lives to Jesus Christ. Williams has also reported that he is aiming to rework the state party to the image of former President Donald Trump. Trump endorsed William’s congressional campaign.

This stance was criticized by numerous state leaders, both Republican and Democrat.

Valdamar Archuleta, the president of Colorado Log Cabin Republicans and candidate for the heavily Democratic first congressional district in Denver, denounced the endorsement of the party in a statement on X.

“The morons running our state party made it extremely hard for some of us to accomplish our goals for Liberty,” Archuleta posted. 

He later called the email “just hateful” and “disgusting and offensive.” In an interview with 9News in Colorado he spoke further on the topic.

Additional criticism was received from Democratic leaders. The chairman for the Colorado Democratic Party, Shad Murib, issued a statement on X.

“This type of vile hatred has come to define the Colorado GOP,” Murib posted. “It’s why we’re organizing up and down the ballot to beat them at all levels.”

Additionally, Democratic State Rep. David Oritz, the first openly bisexual legislator in Colorado history, posted on X to voice his criticisms.

“LGBTQ folks served and serve in the military. We are cops, we are firefighters, we are your family members and neighbors,” Ortiz posted. “We will outlast your bigotry and hate.”