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. "We'd encourage you not to allow yourself to get locked into that category. Copyright 2023 KKTV. Five lives taken.". The memorials this week attracted a wave of visitors: crowds of mourners clutching flowers, throngs of television crews and also a church group whose volunteers set up a tent and passed out cookies, coffee and water. Wilson does not mention that Gordon Klingenschmitt, who runs the Pray in Jesus Name Project, condemned the shooting. The suspect accused of killing five people in an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs ran a neo-Nazi website and used anti-gay slurs, a police detective testified on Wednesday. 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. But police making the effort to get it right, particularly now, when anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is rampant, is meaningful. A man is comforted while crying at a makeshift memorial on Monday near the site of a mass shooting at an LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs. Their blood is on your hands and five lives taken were spray-painted onto the signfollowing Saturday nights mass shooting in Colorado Springs at Club Q. Join the millions of people who benefit from The Daily Signals fair, accurate, trustworthy reporting with direct access to: Dont have time to read the Washington Post or New York Times? Colorado Springs voted 3 to 1 in favor of Amendment 2, helping make its narrow statewide victory possible. 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. It comes as a shocked Colorado Springs grieves the loss of five people Raymond Green Vance, Kelly Loving, Daniel Aston, Derrick Rump and Ashley Paugh after a person armed with an AR-style rifle fired into Club Q just before midnight on 19 November. A rainbow flag is draped over the Colorado Springs City Hall on Wednesday, November 23, in honor of the victims of Club Q mass shooting. 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. In one of the organization's PDF handouts, Focus on the Family writes: "The Bible also teaches that sin has entered the world and affects every area of life. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Phylisha Priester-Collins, her daughter and a friend were inside Club Q when gunfire interrupted their lives and On November 1920, 2022, a mass shooting occurred at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. Not for the "stupid price" of $150 an acre foot. The families of the five individuals killed in Saturday nights senseless attack are in our prayers. CNNs Alaa Elassar, Elizabeth Wolfe and Theresa Waldrop contributed to this report. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Focus on the Family is the target of graffiti referencing the Club Q shooting. Thursday evening, the writing was covered with a trash-bag-like material, but it blew off in the wind. Its a place full of art shops and breweries; megachurches and military bases; a liberal arts college and the Air Force Academy. It is no accident that this happened in Colorado Springs, a city steeped in homophobia, transphobia, and white supremacy.. She testified that she believes the suspect modeled the Club Q shooting after the shootings they posted on their neo-Nazi website. The shooting happened just after 7 p.m. at the Alta Convenience Store near the intersection of Palmer Park Boulevard and Potter Drive. Photo by Isaiah J. Downing/Reuters. 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. City council debates revolve around issues familiar throughout the Mountain West, such as water, housing and the threat of wildfires. We recognize the community is hurting in the aftermath of the reckless and violent actions of a very disturbed individual, said Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, in a Friday statement. At a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, The hearing is scheduled to continue through Friday, when a judge will rule if there is enough evidence to take the case which includes more than 300 charges to trial. Michael Robert Travis performs taps while his husband, Michael Travis, films on his phone near Club Q on Sunday. Joines also said that the suspect sent a photo of a rifle scope over a Pride parade to someone else over Discord. David Zalubowski / AP. With the city under the national spotlight, he said the organization wanted to make it clear it stands against hate. WebPosted 6:25:16 PM. 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.. The department also told ProPublica it would create an LGBTQ liaison program. Opinion: Colorado farms going fallow? All rights reserved. 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Woman shot near CU Boulder overnight, suspect is at large, This is unprecedented": Avian flu has killed 12,000 birds in Colorado, Skygazers will have a great view Wednesday of two planets that look like they are almost touching, Letters: Proposed age limit for gun ownership in Colorado doesn't make sense, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. When officials unfurled a 25-foot rainbow flag in front of Colorado Springs City Hall this week, people gathered to mourn the victims of a mass shooting at a popular LGBTQ club couldnt help but reflect on how such a display of support would have been unthinkable just days earlier. It's an apparent reference to the mass shooting at the gay nightclub, Club Q, where five people died Saturday night. Juan Chavez, left, hugs Jennifer Horn as they join other Club Q supporters outside the Colorado Springs City Hall on Wednesday. "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 ministry's property.". Feb. 28A year after announcing grand plans for a new transit center, project consultants and Colorado Springs city staff Focus on the Family's Colorado Springs, Colorado, headquarters was vandalized on Thanksgiving with a message blaming the group for a recent mass Wilsons article doesnt mark the first time the Southern Poverty Law Center has suggested that anti-LGBT hate and conservative Christians may be responsible for a shooting at a gay nightclub. Read the full story on the Denver Channels website. 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. Ren Kurgis, left, and Jessie Pacheco leave flowers Sunday at the growing memorial in Colorado Springs. Severe Weather ", The article is written by Jeff Johnston. Colorado Springs native Ashlyn May, who grew up in a Christian church but left when it didnt accept her queer identity, said one woman from the group in the tent asked if she could pray for her and a friend who accompanied her to the memorial. The accused, 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, was also injured and taken to a local hospital. The retired Army major was one of the men who. Survivors and victims' family members were in court on Wednesday. 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.. Dealing with things is mentally tough, Priester-Collins told 11 News in her first television interview since the shooting. I think in a pluralistic culture now, the idea is: How do we all live without treading on each other? Daly said. 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.". Florida Gov. Thank you. Some called the city an epicenter of organized homophobia. Among these, the Southern Poverty Law Center, a leftist organization notorious for demonizing conservative Christians who oppose the LGBT agenda, named Focus in an article tying anti-LGBTQ hate to the shooting. Woman shot near CU Boulder overnight, suspect is at large, This is unprecedented": Avian flu has killed 12,000 birds in Colorado, Skygazers will have a great view Wednesday of two planets that look like they are almost touching, Letters: Proposed age limit for gun ownership in Colorado doesn't make sense, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. Refusing to acknowledge someones humanity in death adds insult to injury, according to GLAAD, compounding the tragedy by invalidating the persons lived reality.. Below you will find contact information and answers to a candidate questionnaire from The Gazette. He said the horrific event exposes the evil and wickedness inside the human heart. 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. A general view of Club Q as police respond to the shooting. 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. Discovery Company. The Colorado Springs Police Department identified the five people killed at Club Q as. Under the resources for homosexuality and sexual identity, there are video links, book recommendations, and more for parents and people looking for a "Christian" perspective. Though it was later ruled unconstitutional, the campaign cemented the citys reputation, drawing more like-minded groups and galvanizing progressive activists in response. This is a time for prayer, grieving and healing, not vandalism and the spreading of hate. In addition to the five people who were killed, at least 18 others were injured. 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. Will that affect potential hate crime charges? To sound off, please emailletters@DailySignal.comand well consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular We Hear You feature. Many right-wing extremist groups have narrowed their focus on drag performers who read books to children at local libraries or other venues. 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. She is now running to become Denvers mayor. People visit a makeshift memorial Monday on a corner near the site of the mass shooting. 2023 Cable News Network. AP writers Brittany Peterson and Jesse Bedayn in Colorado Springs contributed. A security guard in the lobby prevented the attack, and although the SPLC condemned the assault, it has kept the Family Research Council on its hate map ever since. After the shooting, Focus on the Family's president, Jim Daly, said that like the rest of the community he was mourning the tragedy. Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day. Outside the scene of a shooting at Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs in 2015. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Colorado Springs shooting: Club Q owners blame new type of hate as suspect held without bond, Ex-Trump lawyer says Colorado Springs victims are reaping the consequences of having eternal damnation, Mass shooting at LGBT+ club follows wave of threats to drag performers and venues, Colorado Springs shooting suspect Anderson Lee Aldrich seen for first time in court, Influential anti-gay evangelical group vandalised after mass shooting, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off selected items using this eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. People link hands at the memorial near Club Q in Colorado Springs. Focus on the Family President Jim Daly condemned the shooting on the day it occurred. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. 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.