Why a Gay Republican in Denver is Rejecting His Own Party's Endorsement

This week, the Colorado GOP sent out an email with the subject line, “God Hates Pride.” The email, containing a picture of a laser-eyed Jesus over a pride flag with the phrase “God Hates Flags”, saw a lot of pushback online — even from within the party. One of the most outspoken critics of the email is Valdamar Archuleta, a gay Republican running to represent Denver in Congress. In a video posted to X, Archuleta condemns the email and rejects the Colorado GOP’s endorsement of his campaign. He joins host Bree Davies to talk about why he felt the email went too far and whether he still feels welcome in his own party. Bree mentioned a CPR News story on the Colorado GOP’s attack on Pride Month; she also talked about the myths around statistics of people who actually perpetrate sex crimes against children. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Central City Opera Arvada Center Summer Concert Series Museum of Outdoor Arts  Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise