By Shannon Lukens.
The group called STAND gathered again this week. STAND is an acronym for Steamboat Team to Disrupt Antisemitism and Discrimination.
Rabbi Kolby Morris-Dahary organizes the meetings. She reminded those who gathered that “We are stronger together,” and that it is vulnerable and difficult work.
Steamboat Springs Interim Police Chief Mark Beckett was the first to share his story. He spoke of his oldest son, Jack, who was transgender, and born female in 2007. Chief Beckett said Jack suffered from mental illness and eventually took his life in 2021. Chief Beckett and his wife have two other children. They moved to Steamboat Springs in July of 2022.
Chief Beckett says there is anti-semitism, anti-trans, and homophobic people in the community, but it is a small group.
“The thing about Steamboat is it’s such a small and close community that we have an opportunity to really empower the silent majority to emphasize to everybody how inclusive we are. We have a small handful of people who tend to be very negative with different groups and we’re here to be inclusive to everybody.”
Chief Beckett asks that we accept all members of the community and accept each other. He says as people learn his family’s story, they are approaching him more, especially parents. He hopes the STAND group can continue to provide support for people to come forward.
The second speaker was a parent of two students in Steamboat Springs. The high school student is gay and has experienced bullying and snide comments. Other students have suggested to their child that they consider suicide, and that this happens, “in the hallways, at the hot springs, and on social media.” The father who spoke said that people observe it happening but won’t stand up for his child.
As for reporting it to the school, he says the aggressors band together and lie about what happened. He wanted to remind the group of what it can look like in the life of a victim.” “Leave these kids alone and let them be who they are.”
The third speaker was Chelsie Holmes who is the chair and founder of Yampa Valley Pride and Program Director for Advocates of Routt County. Holmes says the Human Rights Campaign has declared a State of Emergency for LGBTQ Americans.
Human Rights Campaign declares a national state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people
Holmes said solidarity is fundamental and necessary between LGBTQ, anti-semitism, and other marginalized people. She said to speak up and report bias motivated incidents to the Anti-Defamation League.
Report an Antisemitic, Bias or Discriminatory Incident
We asked Holmes to send us more on her comments at the recent STAND meeting.
“The first transgender health clinic opened its doors in 1919 in Berlin. It was called the Institute for Sexual Research, and it was founded by a man named Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld. He worked with endocrinologists, gynecologists, and more, to provide hormone replacement therapy, gender-affirming surgeries, and a safe space for LGBTQIA2S+ people. They developed a robust library of medical research on gender and sexuality. The library was burned by the Nazis in 1933.”
“In March of this year, the host of a popular news website confidently stated that “Transgenderism must be eradicated from public life” at the most well-attended conservative political conference in the United States. Last week, the Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQIA2S+ Americans, citing 75 bills that have passed into law so far this year throughout the country that threaten the health and safety of queer people. The ACLU is tracking another 491 bills. Many of these bills ban gender-affirming healthcare for minors.”
“The path to extremism starts with a reasonable suggestion. The suggestion now is that gender-affirming healthcare is inappropriate for youth. Some people use hyperbolic terms like ‘mutilation’ and ‘groomers’ to promote the righteousness of their case. I can see how a rational person might be convinced if they did not know that every single major medical association agrees that gender-affirming care is safe and medically necessary when indicated. Access to gender-affirming care significantly reduces rates of suicide for transgender adults and children who need it. Even in Colorado, it is not easy to obtain this care for trans kids. It is a long process requiring the involvement of parents and multiple specialists.”
“If you’re genuinely concerned about the welfare of children, these facts matter. If gender-affirming care is a weapon you use to foster hysteria, a justification for your hatred, a tool you use to scapegoat and further marginalize a small vulnerable population, then these facts don’t matter.”
“I feel profound gratitude for the unprecedented support Pride received this year, and I’m compelled to remind everyone that Pride is not a party. It is a refusal to internalize the shame and fear many folks in this world want queer people to feel. Please support the foundation of an LGBTQIA2S+ resource center. Learn about the historic and present struggles of the queer community. Vote with the humanity of your LGBTQIA2S+ neighbors and loved ones close at heart.”
To reach organizers of STAND, email standsteamboat@gmail.com
To reach Yampa Valley Pride, email yampavalleypride@gmail.com
FLYERS FOR “STEAMBOAT TEAM TO DISRUPT ANTISEMITISM AND DISCRIMINATION” ARE BEING TAKEN DOWN