So this past weekend was pride weekend in Colorado Springs. I do have to say it was a blast despite the afternoon thunderstorm that hits every year. The religious types may interpret this as a sign, but I interpret it as being monsoon season and we get afternoon thunderstorms almost every day. It was amazing how many welcoming churches marched in the parade. I think the churches outnumbered the other groups. But that is not what I really wanted to talk about.
I wanted to talk about the protesters. Colorado Springs has a reputation of being a very gay unfriendly place. We are the home of Focus on the Family and the New Life Center and a lot of other religious organizations. Despite having these mega-churches and other religious organization there were a grand total of 4 protesters at Pride. Four protesters who everyone ignored and laughed at. In my mind this shows just how far we have come; however, we still have a long way to go.
I have not lived in Colorado Springs long enough to know the attitudes of years past, but I can say it is now a fairly welcoming place and has come a long way. Twenty years ago Colorado Springs was the home of a very discriminatory state law that was later overturned by the courts. Today, Colorado Springs can only muster 4 protesters at Pride.
This does not mean that we have changed the hearts of everyone. To me it means that it is no longer fashionable to argue against gay rights. Many people may still disagree, but because it is not fashionable they will not argue and protest in public. They keep their thoughts on gay rights behind their own doors. This is why their have been multiple lawsuits recently trying to keep the names of partition signers against gay rights private. This is why polling shows overwhelming support for ENDA but we cannot get it passed. Voting is a private institution and not a public institution.
We are never going to change the attitudes of the people who are still outspoken against gay rights. But how do we change the attitudes of the people who disagree with gay rights but will not admit it?