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After 'Gays Against Groomers' stunt, Colorado halts honorary flag program
After ‘Gays Against Groomers’ stunt, Colorado halts honorary flag program
The state paused the program after flags were flown in honor of “Gays Against Groomers.” an organization that other groups have described as an anti-LGBTQ hate group.
The Colorado Capitol in Denver. (iStock)
By Praveena Somasundaram
October 9, 2024 at 5:39 p.m. EDT
At first glance, the certificates looked inconspicuous, appearing similar to the hundreds granted under a Colorado program that allows private citizens, public officials and other groups to request honorary flags flown over the state Capitol.
But these two certificates, dated Oct. 1, led state officials to pause the more than 20-year-old program this week. … “The people of Colorado present this flag to Gays Against Groomers with thanks and recognition for all their work to protect children,” the certificates read.
Gays Against Groomers, a nonprofit that the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center have described as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group, posted the certificates on social media Monday. The group thanked Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, the country’s first openly gay man to be elected governor, “for his public recognition for our hard work in protecting children across the state.” The Democratic governor’s signature was printed on both certificates, alongside the Colorado state seal. … But Polis’s office didn’t know about the flag request, Colorado officials said.
The request for Gays Against Groomers’ honorific flags at the Capitol “was not appropriately vetted,” according to the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration, which reviews the requests. Following backlash and confusion over Gays Against Groomers’ social media posts about the honorary flags — a Colorado flag and a U.S. flag — the personnel department paused the program, pending “needed changes,” it said in a statement Tuesday.
{snip}
By Praveena Somasundaram
Praveena Somasundaram is a reporter on The Washington Post's General Assignment desk. She started at The Post as an intern in 2022 and has previously reported at the Dallas Morning News and the Charlotte Observer.follow on X @praveenavsoma
The state paused the program after flags were flown in honor of “Gays Against Groomers.” an organization that other groups have described as an anti-LGBTQ hate group.
The Colorado Capitol in Denver. (iStock)
By Praveena Somasundaram
October 9, 2024 at 5:39 p.m. EDT
At first glance, the certificates looked inconspicuous, appearing similar to the hundreds granted under a Colorado program that allows private citizens, public officials and other groups to request honorary flags flown over the state Capitol.
But these two certificates, dated Oct. 1, led state officials to pause the more than 20-year-old program this week. … “The people of Colorado present this flag to Gays Against Groomers with thanks and recognition for all their work to protect children,” the certificates read.
Gays Against Groomers, a nonprofit that the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center have described as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group, posted the certificates on social media Monday. The group thanked Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, the country’s first openly gay man to be elected governor, “for his public recognition for our hard work in protecting children across the state.” The Democratic governor’s signature was printed on both certificates, alongside the Colorado state seal. … But Polis’s office didn’t know about the flag request, Colorado officials said.
The request for Gays Against Groomers’ honorific flags at the Capitol “was not appropriately vetted,” according to the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration, which reviews the requests. Following backlash and confusion over Gays Against Groomers’ social media posts about the honorary flags — a Colorado flag and a U.S. flag — the personnel department paused the program, pending “needed changes,” it said in a statement Tuesday.
{snip}
By Praveena Somasundaram
Praveena Somasundaram is a reporter on The Washington Post's General Assignment desk. She started at The Post as an intern in 2022 and has previously reported at the Dallas Morning News and the Charlotte Observer.follow on X @praveenavsoma