As part of our weekly roundup of articles about political extremism, the Colorado Times Recorder is featuring Steve Rabey’s breakdown of Focus on the Family’s network of Conservative Christian organizations, Jason Salzman’s reporting of a staunch anti-LGBTQ+ advocate’s support of Gabe Evans, and James O’Rourke’s coverage of conspiracy theories and misinformation spread by State Senate Candidate Scott Bright. We have chosen Denver7’s Jeff Anastasio’s reporting on prominent election denier and former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ sentencing of nine years in prison for her role in a data breach plot.
How Affiliates of CO Springs-Based Focus on the Family Wage the Culture War Nationwide
Focus on the Family, a Colorado Springs-based Conservative Christian organization, has been cultivating a network of ‘family policy councils’ since the 1980s. These groups work to promote FoF’s legislative agenda, namely opposition to abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, vaccine mandates, and Critical Race Theory. This network has been one of the loudest voices arguing against legislation they see as “violating their values and parental rights.”
Michael Farris, one of America’s most prominent anti-LGBTQ conservative voices, has been a vocal supporter of Gabe Evans’ run for Congress. However, Evans has tried to distance himself from his opposition to gay marriage and abortion which may be driving a wedge between the candidate and some of his cultural conservative endorses, like Farris. Farris founded Patrick Henry University, Evans’ alma mater, which requires students to sign an anti-gay code of conduct.
Conservative education advocate and owner of a chain of education centers in Weld County Scott Bright has a penchant for spreading election conspiracy theories and other misinformation on social media. Bright is running for a seat in the Colorado State Senate against Kevin Priola (D-Aurora) who left the GOP in 2022 to join the Democratic Caucus.
‘You’re a charlatan’: Judge sentences defiant Tina Peters to 9 years
Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a myriad of charges (including felonies) for a data breach plot and falsely claiming voter machine fraud in the 2020 presidential election. “Your lies are well-documented and these convictions are serious. I’m convinced you’d do it all over again if you could, ”Judge Matthew Barrett said as he delivered Peters’ sentence.
