Colorado LGBTQ+ advocacy leaders on Wednesday condemned reports of hate speech directed toward a Pride float in the Montrose Fourth of July parade.
Montrose Pride’s participation in the annual parade was met with “hate speech, slurs and other attacks,” the group wrote in a post on Facebook.
“That such behavior came from members of our own community is especially disheartening. This kind of conduct has no place in Montrose or anywhere else, and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms,” the group wrote Monday.
The incident also earned condemnation from One Colorado, a statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization.
“I am deeply disappointed that the Montrose Pride community had such backlash after hosting its first very successful and well-attended Pride this year,” Western Slope Field Organizer Heidi Hess said in a statement.
Montrose police have not received a formal complaint about the incident as of Thursday, but the department is aware of “a possible harassment/disorderly conduct incident” that took place between parade participants, Deputy Chief Tim Cox said in an email.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has related information can contact the Montrose Police Department at 970-252-5200 or WestCo Dispatch at 970-249-9110.
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Originally Published: July 10, 2024 at 3:20 p.m.
