COUNTY

hired by Castle Rock Pride.”

Zavadil said with the grant, her organization aims to help build connections and support and that the grant “is not being used for any other aspect.” omas mentioned that any grant recipient has to prove it is successfully using its money, and if it doesn’t, it won’t continue to receive funding.

“We know that this county is large, and that citizens, especially youth, can’t always drive across the county to access” support, Zavadil said.

‘Vulnerable populations’

Some in the audience at the meeting argued Laydon should “recuse,” or remove, himself from the funding vote because he identi es as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Laydon responded that Teal is a veteran and that “we’re going to support that community. I wouldn’t ask him to recuse himself when (talking) about veterans in our community.”

He noted that for many years in America, people were told that they were “unnatural.”

“And we hear, as the board of social services, (we know of children) who aren’t welcome in their own homes because of gender dysphoria,” Laydon said. “I’m a dad. I’m a Republican. I’m a man of faith. And I’m a member of the LGBTQ community … For me, supporting vulnerable populations is a priority.”

Laydon and omas voted to approve the funding for the several mental health-related organizations, with Teal voting against