Lobby Day empowered LGBT Coloradans

It was a sunny but chilly morning as participants in One Colorado’s LGBT Lobby Day shuffled into the basement of Central Presbyterian Church at 1660 Sherman St. Feb. 27, blocks from the Capitol. Volunteers distributed t-shirts reading “One Dream: Equality.”

Almost two hundred LGBT activists and allies packed the room. It wasn’t long before activists outnumbered the chairs set out for them.

Out legislators Sen. Pat Steadman, Rep. Mark Ferrandino and Rep. Sue Schafer urged the enthusiastic crowd to tell their legislators how the lives of the LGBT community would be affected by civil unions, a bill introduced by Sen. Steadman this year.

“A personal conversation might be enough to change that one vote that we’re going to need in the House,” Schafer told the audience. Since Republicans control Colorado’s House with 33 to 32 seats, a single vote could hold the key to the passage of the bill.

Later a sea of red t-shirts spilled from the church and overwhelmed the Capitol steps.

“Civil rights are an absolute,” said Denver resident Ellis McFadden, who has been working toward LGBT equality since the late ’70s. Bill Oliver, who drove from Colorado Springs, said “we as citizens can influence legislators. They need to hear from us.”

Debbie Brady, a transgender resident of Denver, wanted to speak directly to her representatives because “we still aren’t considered equal to everybody else.”

Jerry Shelton, a Republican and supporter of the Civil Unions Bill, drove for more than five hours from Grand Junction to meet with Sen. Steve King. As he waited to enter the Capitol, Shelton stated that many Republicans support civil unions, but “are in the vocal minority,” adding that it shouldn’t be a party issue.

Shelton waited several hours for Sen. King but was denied the opportunity to speak with his senator.
Other participants were more successful. Antonio Martinez of Denver sat down with Sen. Lucia Guzman in her office. He recounted an experience in a Denver metro emergency room when his partner was denied access.

“I had no emotional support,” Martinez said. He waited in the Intensive Care Unit for more than two hours before his parents arrived. They were allowed to see their son, but Martinez’s partner was still forced to wait outside.

Sen. Guzman urged the LGBT community to share similar stories with their representatives. “Send a short and personal email,” she said, adding that personal accounts have the most significant impact. Regarding the progress of LGBT rights in Colorado, Guzman said, “we couldn’t be where we are without you.”

Liz Eaton and John Gerkin hoped to speak with House Republican Rep. Kathleen Conti about their lesbian daughter, who, Gerkin said, “should have the same rights as her peers.” But after a 90-minute wait, they were told there wouldn’t be time.

Liz Eaton is determined, though. “She can’t escape us,” Eaton told volunteers in a gathering back at Central Presbyterian Church after the event. Eaton said she and her husband plan to return to the Capitol to try to speak to Conti again.

The day ended with participants returning to the Presbyterian Church and sharing stories of empowerment and optimism gained by lobbying their legislators. “We have people power,” one excited participant told the crowd.