Sexual Orientation

Local LGBTQ community organizers and allies who were looking to establish a chapter of a national LGBTQ support organization in Sparta, North Carolina, received threats and community resistance to establishing a chapter and placing a float in an Independence Day parade. Due to the threats, the organizers requested additional city resources. There was disagreement on what additional security resources were needed. In July 2019, LGBTQ community organizers contacted CRS with concerns that the city only served its straight, white Christian residents. They requested CRS facilitate a dialogue between the parties and communicate their concerns to local law enforcement and local government officials.

CRS traveled to Sparta, North Carolina, in July 2019 to assess and monitor threat and intimidation activity, including social media posts that appeared to threaten gun violence, and to consult with law enforcement officials in their efforts to provide security and assurance to parade participants. Prior to the parade, CRS met with the county and town law enforcement officials to discuss the alleged threats, intimidation, and harassment reported by Sparta’s LGBTQ community organizers. The law enforcement leaders acted on CRS’s suggestion to increase patrols of the float-building site and security during the parade.

Before and after the parade, CRS facilitated communications between federal, county, and town law enforcement officials, local elected officials, and regional and local representatives from a national LGBTQ organization. During the parade, CRS monitored the security measures in place and the interactions between the LGBTQ community organizers, their supporters, and the crowd. The parade proceeded with minimal protest activity and concluded peacefully.

In September 2019, CRS provided mediation services between local elected officials, law enforcement officials, local LGBTQ organizers and local domestic abuse resource center representatives. As a neutral mediator, CRS worked with the groups to discuss issues and concerns regarding establishing a LGBTQ support organization in Sparta and the necessary steps to ensure the chapter could safely form and operate.

During the mediation, CRS first worked with the parties together, then separately, and reconvened the parties for the final agreement.

In the mediation agreement, parties agreed to designate and train a victim witness liaison, establish a school board liaison, publicize meeting opportunities, and invite and sponsor external anti-bullying resources.

In 2019, tensions among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) and African American students at a local high school in Cheyenne, Wyoming steadily increased. School and community relations became more strained in March 2019 after flyers appeared on the school’s walls that expressed anti-African American and anti-LGBTQ messages. The flyer incident and an incident involving a state senator who allegedly made anti-LGBTQ comments at a meeting of the school’s LGBTQ youth organization were at the center of the community tension.

State health officials and a Cheyenne-based civil rights organization contacted CRS to improve deteriorating relationships at the school. After news of the flyers on the school walls became public, additional stories spread of students at the school passing out flyers targeting Gay Student Alliance (GSA) members. The school also confirmed reports that a student shouted anti-LGBTQ slurs during a junior high school LGBTQ youth organization meeting.

CRS facilitated a process between the district superintendent, the school board, and race-based and ethnic community leaders to address community concerns regarding the management of bias incidents and equity issues throughout the district. In addition, the parties discussed ways to create greater race and ethnic awareness.

The groups then participated in a community meeting where participants developed an action plan for Cheyenne’s schools and the broader community that identified the community’s key issues concerning race and ethnicity, perceived anti-LGBTQ bias, and ways to address these concerns. Meeting participants established two working groups, one with the school board and superintendent to identify the public’s concerns and make recommendations, and a second with African American and Latino leaders. Both working groups agreed to carry out the action plan that was informed by all dialogue participants.