Being LGBTQ in Colorado Springs wasn’t always easy. Now, some feel more exposed than ever.
As a queer woman who has lived for 12 years in this city known for its evangelical Christian and conservative roots, April Slawson has been the subject
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — As a queer woman who has lived for 12 years in this city known for its evangelical Christian and conservative roots, April Slawson has been the subject of unflattering looks and comments at work and is always cautious around strangers.
Last week, she finally told friends that she felt “comfortable” here.
Then just days later, a suspect entered the city’s sole LGBTQ dance club, killing five people and injuring 19 others. While a motive has not been shared by authorities, the suspect is facing five counts of first-degree murder and five counts of bias-motivated or hate crimes.
As the people of Colorado Springs grieve those who died, its queer community is also grappling with the stark realities many LGBTQ people face living in some conservative or rural areas of the United States — the loss of a safe space, the loss of security, the loss of trust in their neighbors.
Deepening the pain of Saturday’s tragedy, nearly all the LGBTQ people who spoke to NBC News said, they considered Club Q one of the town’s only “safe havens” for their community. Although there are a handful of other queer bars in Colorado Springs, Club Q is the sole space for them with a large dance floor — a far cry from the dozens of LGBTQ bars and nightclubs in large metropolises.
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