Two survivors of the Q Club shooting in Colorado blamed Republicans for their hatred of the LGBTQ community in remarks before a congressional committee
Survivors of the Q Club mass shooting in Colorado Springs directly linked Republicans’ hateful rhetoric against the LGBTQ community to the November 19 massacre at the Colorado club and detailed their experiences the night of the shooting in prepared testimony which was read Wednesday before the House Oversight and Reform committee.
The committee heard from Michael Anderson and James Slaugh, two survivors of the Q Club shooting, which left five dead and 17 wounded after a gunman entered the club and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle.
“To the politicians and activists who accuse LGBTQ people of cheating on and abusing children: Shame on you,” said Michael Anderson, who survived the shooting. “As the leaders of our country, it is your obligation to represent all of us, not just those you agree with. Hate speech turns into hate action, and hate-based actions almost took my life, at 25 years old.”
Survivor James Slaugh gave emotional testimony, describing how he was shot and how he watched his loved ones bleed. He also directly blamed hateful rhetoric from lawmakers, saying it was “the direct cause” of the Q Club massacre. He also warned of the harm caused by hateful rhetoric that does not explicitly call for violence, including rhetoric about which bathrooms LGBTQ people can use and whether they can join certain sports teams.
Anderson and Slaugh testified during the House Oversight Committee hearing on “The Rise of Anti-LGBTQI+ Extremism and Violence in the United States,” which comes amid a national wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation and an increase in hate crimes against LGBTQ people in major cities.
“Hateful rhetoric from politicians, religious leaders and the media is at the root of attacks like on Club Q, and it must stop now. Rhetoric that seeks to silence what sports we can play, what bathrooms we can use, how we define our family and who I can marry,” Slaugh said.
The hateful rhetoric being heard from elected leaders is the direct cause of the horrific shooting at Club Q. We need elected leaders who demonstrate language that reflects love and understanding, not hate and fear.”
James Slaugh, survivor of Club Q shooting
Anderson and Slaugh, as well as Club Q’s founding owner Matthew Haynes, also called on Congress to take action to restrict access to assault weapons.
Haynes criticized Republicans for voting against the Respect Marriage Act, saying that by doing so they were sending the message that “it’s okay to disrespect and not support our marriages. We are being slaughtered and dehumanized across the country in communities you are sworn to protect,” Haynes told lawmakers directly.
LGBTQ issues are not political issues. They are not lifestyles. They are not beliefs. They are not elections. They are basic human rights.”
Michael Anderson, Survivor of Club Q Shooting
“And so I ask you today, not just what are you doing to safeguard LGBTQ Americans; but rather, what are you or other leaders doing to make America unsafe for LGBTQ people? Anderson said.