The El Paso County Democratic Party is calling on Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach to publicly condemn an attack that police have characterized as an anti-gay hate crime.

Local Democratic Party officials said community members will join them at noon Tuesday in front of City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Ave., for a news conference at which they’ll ask the mayor and City Council to back a resolution stating violence and intimidation against people because of their race, ethnicity, age, gender or sexual orientation won’t be tolerated.

Just days before the attack, Bach declined to issue a proclamation endorsing PrideFest, an annual gay pride celebration.

“We think it’s important for our mayor to stand up and say to the world, ‘No, this is not our city,’” said Christy Le Lait, executive director of the local Democratic Party. “We want our city officials to say Colorado Springs is not a place where hate crimes are acceptable.”

In a statement released last week, Bach denounced the attack, saying his decision not to issue a PrideFest proclamation was not an endorsement of discrimination.

“There is no place in our city for discrimination or intolerance of any type,” the mayor’s statement said. He added that his new “Spirit of the Springs” initiative will work to help unify people in the community.

City spokeswoman Mary Scott said the initiative is meant to help bring all people in the community together to help build a common vision and support the city.

Scott said last week that Bach’s policy is to not sign proclamations in support of private events that are political in nature.

Le Lait said she had been told about the mayor’s statement to The Gazette, but said it didn’t go far enough.

“I don’t think it (the statement) even really acknowledges it,” she said. “I think he is missing an opportunity to take a stand against hate crimes and say that is not who we are.”

She said a resolution endorsed by the mayor and council could help point the city in the right direction.

“It’s important that we as a city are very clear about where we stand about this crime and about welcoming openly gay members of our community,” she said.

The resolution must be approved by the mayor and City Council President Scott Hente before it is considered by the full council.

The reported attack happened July 3 around 3 a.m. at a fast-food restaurant in northeast Colorado Springs. No arrests have been made and police have said the only description they have of the attackers is that they were five black males and two black females.

Two male and one female dancers who perform at a gay nightclub and one female and one male security guards went to the restaurant after the club closed.

“We were still in our go-go outfits,” said Matthew, who spoke on the condition that his last name not be used. “These guys come in after us. They start talking crap basically. We were just standing in line getting food.

“We were trying to ignore them as much as we could. But this guy pushes (the female security guard) and then swings on her. We’re like, ‘This guy is going to hit a woman.’ It was basically an all-out brawl after that.”

Matthew, whose jaw was broken in two places, said he was hit with brass knuckles. Another of themen with him also had facial fractures from the fight.

“While they were beating us up, they were saying ‘faggot,’” he said. “That’s all I heard.”

Matthew said he hoped Bach would reconsider issuing a proclamation for PrideFest. Not because of the attack, he said, but because it’s the right thing to do.

“It’s basically equal rights, and I think everyone should get treated the same way,” he said.

Charles Irwin, director of the Colorado Springs Pride Center, an advocate for the local gay and lesbian community, dismissed any link between Bach’s decision on the PrideFest proclamation and the assault, but added the mayor should take a stand for equality.

“I don’t think the attack has anything to do with the mayor not supporting the proclamation,” Irwin said. “But in the broader sense, when we have a high-ranking leader saying ‘we support equality in our community,’ it makes people think twice.”

 Hate crimes in Colorado SpringsEach year, Colorado Springs Police record several instances of crimes against people because of their age, ethnicity, race, gender or sexuality. Police statistics include bias-based crimes against all people and not just those who are considered a protected class under Colorado hate crime legislation.NUMBER OF BIAS-BASED CRIMES IN COLORADO SPRINGS *            Against all groups         Against homosexuals2006            20                        12007            9                        3            2008            19                        22009            23                        42010            15                        4Source: Colorado Springs Police* Numbers are based on confirmed cases of biased-based crimes in the city. There may be more cases that police haven’t been able to confirm.

So Yeon Ryu holds the championship trophy after winning the U.S. Women’s Open Championship on Monday, July 11, 2011. Photo by JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE