How Colorado’s ‘city of hate and bigotry’ is turning toward inclusiveness

Colorado Springs evangelicals once supported a discrimination bill. Now, religious leaders there are affirming LGBTQ+ people

Growing up, Amber Cantorna had very little exposure to anything outside of the church in her Colorado Springs home town. She was homeschooled through the 12th grade, and everything in her life was focused on family, faith and God.

But by the time she was in her early 20s, Cantorna realized she was gay. Coming out to her family a decade ago resulted in her being ostracized from the only life and people she'd ever known. Her keys to the family home were taken and she was compared to a murderer and a pedophile.