Making strides on both sides

Colorado Springs remains ground zero in gay rights battle

Fernando Quintero, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 13, 2006 at midnight

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COLORADO SPRINGS - Ten years ago Jerry Albrent never would have imagined himself singing show tunes in a gay men's chorus featuring a bald, middle-aged trio performing I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair.

In 1996, Amendment 2, which was started by an evangelical Christian group, was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. But the bitter fight over gay rights had hardly come to end. Resentments lingered.

This picturesque city became known among gay and lesbian activists as the birthplace of Amendment 2 and the "epicenter of hate."

Meanwhile, Focus on the Family and other locally based religious organizations stepped up their efforts to fight same-sex marriage, gay adoption and other "special rights" for gays and lesbians.

A decade later, despite such events as this year's debut of the city's first gay men's choir, the cultural war rages on.

The City Council this week came under fire for not allowing gay or lesbian representatives on its new Cultural Diversity Advisory Board.

Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera refused to sign a city proclamation recognizing the gay community center's 25th anniversary because it advocates gay marriage.

And in 2003 the City Council voted to discontinue domestic-partner benefits, which were granted to city employees by the previous administration. All five newly elected council members, as well as the new mayor, had pledged in their recent campaigns to rescind the benefits.

"You take one step forward and two steps back," said Albrent, an administrator for a local mental-health service.

But there have been signs of a potential truce - or, at least, the willingness to sit down and talk. Still, both sides claim victories and continue standing their ground.

At Focus on the Family, the international evangelical group based in Colorado Springs, it has stepped up efforts to combat legislation aimed at legalizing same-sex marriage and gay adoption. In addition to contributing to conservative causes and promoting traditional marriage on its Web site and other materials, the organization also sponsors one-day conferences that "promote the truth that homosexuality is preventable and treatable."

"Our constituency is galvanized, but we're quiet. Our voice is heard through our voting," said Carrie Earll, director of issue analysis for Focus on the Family.

Earll said 19 states have passed laws reaffirming marriage as being between a man and woman.

"We encourage people in Colorado Springs to look to us. We elected a conservative City Council. I think that city policies are changing to reflect that," she said.

Local gay advocates, meanwhile, cite among the number of advances in recent years: Gay proms. Gay high school student organizations. Public same-sex commitment ceremonies.

In addition, the Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival is in its seventh year, and the city will hold its 16th annual gay pride parade, which has doubled in size over the past few years.

And there's the gay community center's quarter-century of service.

"For 25 years, regardless of the kind of opposition, we have seen our community through," said Ryan Acker, director of the center.

Acker said he also has seen the gay community become more organized and politically engaged.

"More people are more boldly willing to take a stance. We've had more people show up at City Council meetings and the courthouse steps to fight for our representation," he said.

Kevin Tebedo, co-founder of Colorado for Family Values, the Colorado Springs group that sponsored Amendment 2, said, "They are more boisterous because they need to be.

"What they're pushing for doesn't fly with the average American, and it certainly doesn't fly here in Colorado Springs," Tebedo said.

Mary Lou Makepeace, former mayor of Colorado Springs, said the influence of conservative Christians has adversely affected the local political and social climate.

"Politically, this community has grown more conservative. Look at who is currently in office. Some of the most strident voices in this city tend to be conservative," said Makepeace, who is currently head of the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, established in Colorado Springs the year Amendment 2 was overturned to support nonprofits that "promote equality for all people."

But despite her organization's presence, "which helped people become comfortable saying the words 'gay and lesbian,' " Makepeace said many people are concerned with the city's conservative reputation.

"It's a reputation for intolerance that continues today. This has made it difficult to recruit employers and employees. The community as a whole gets tainted by our reputation," she said.

Tebedo disagrees.

"Colorado Springs doesn't have a reputation as the birthplace of hate unless you live in San Francisco," he said, referring to the city's large gay and liberal community. "It's a peaceful, beautiful town with wonderful people."

But gay and lesbian residents say the city's reputation is their reality.

"Because of the city's political atmosphere, there is fear. People are still losing their jobs when they come out of the closet," Acker said.

Charles Kurchinski, music director of Out Loud, the gay men's choir, said the cultural climate mirrors that of the local military.

Kurchinski, who teaches music at a local private prep school, served as choral director at the Air Force Academy from 2001-2003.

"I wasn't out then, but people knew I was gay. It was a 'don't ask, don't tell' sort of deal. That's the way it is for many gays and lesbians," he said.

Both sides of the debate agree that progress has been made in reaching some sort of accord.

Last year, a forum on gay issues held at a local church drew a standing-room only crowd.

"Everyone came to the table and said we need to have a community forum, stop all the name-calling and agree to disagree.

"The fact that that happened was a huge thing in this town," Albrent said.

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