Colorado AG Warns Burning Pride Flags Could Be Criminal Amid Gop Anti-LGBTQ Remarks
Burning a Pride flag can be a criminal depending on the circumstances, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser stated on Wednesday, following a string of anti-LGBTQ statements from the state Republican Party.
The Colorado GOP drew criticism and condemnation this week when its chairman, Republican congressional candidate Dave Williams, sent an email to supporters with the subject line “God Hates Pride” and a prominent graphic reading “God Hates Flags” to commemorate the start of Pride Month, an annual celebration of the LGBTQ community.
Several Republican candidates, including Valdamar Archuleta, head of the Log Cabin Republicans of Colorado and the expected GOP contender in the highly Democratic 1st Congressional District, criticized the state GOP’s statement.
Archuleta rejected the state party’s official endorsement on Tuesday, claiming that the email “went too far and was just hateful,” but added that he still plans to support the Republican ticket.
In response to critics, the Colorado Republican Party wrote on X, “Burn all the #pride flags this June.”
Weiser, a Democrat and Colorado’s top law enforcement official told Colorado Politics that state residents should reconsider taking that advice literally.
“Colorado is at its best when we honor our nation’s credo of e pluribus unum, out of many, we are one,” Weiser said in an email. “Any attack on a member of the LGBTQ community is despicable. If such actions, such as burning Pride flags, involve vandalism, harassment, or physical harm to others, they may be considered a felony.
He continued: “By taking part in the Hate Free Colorado coalition, our department is focused on fighting such crimes and supporting victims.”
Williams questioned Weiser’s reading of the legislation in a series of text texts to Colorado Politics on Wednesday night.
“Free speech is a crime? So the AG believes it is acceptable to burn an American flag but not a gay flag? Williams explained.
“The tweet was meant to be a written or verbal act of defiance, but we wouldn’t let the AG’s unconstitutional opinion deter our Free Speech right to do it if we wanted to.”
Williams denied that the party was “advocating damaging someone’s property,” stating, “We would only advocate for people to legally and peacefully exercise their Free Speech rights.”