“Hail Satan” Moment at Colorado Pride Parade Sparks Backlash

Do Satanic messages belong at Pride? That’s the question residents of Colorado Springs are debating after an appearance by a group called Satanic Colorado at the city’s annual Pikes Peak Pride Parade.

As the group marched, an announcer read a pre-written statement the group had written. It said: 

“And next up, we have the Satanic Colorado, a non-theistic religious community operating throughout the state, promoting benevolence and empathy among all people, advocating for justice, equality, and working toward a world where all can live freely and authentically.

Hail Satan!”

It was those final two words which caught the attention of critics. The incident, captured on video, was later shared by a popular conservative social media account:

The footage quickly spread across the internet, bringing a local moment into the national spotlight. It also sparked an intense debate within the chambers of the Colorado Springs City Council.

The City Council Responds

The city council leadership issued a statement denouncing the satanic group:

"The recent incident at a Pride event in our city... was not only offensive, but completely unacceptable. This kind of message does not represent the values of Colorado Springs or the respectful expression of any legitimate cause. It was a blatant provocation designed to shock and divide."

Councilmember Dave Donelson raised concerns, arguing that offensive speech at parades is a problem when taxpayer fund are involved. "I have to say, I was shocked," Donelson said. "Veterans Day parade will get nothing this year. The festival of lights will get nothing. But that celebration got $60,000, and it was a 50% increase."

Donelson and other members of the council say they may seek to revoke funding for the Pride event next year. 

But not everyone agrees that’s the right move. Councilmember Kimberly Gold countered that the city should not single out or exclude specific religious views, especially in an event designed to welcome all communities. 

"I believe that if we isolate one faith-based organization out of ten that participate in a parade to discredit their funding, we are not focused on the right thing at city council," she said.

What the Words Mean

While some may have been surprised to hear “Hail Satan” at a Pride parade, the group behind it insists the phrase is not what it seems. Satanic Colorado describes itself as a non-theistic religious organization – its members do not believe in a literal Satan. Instead, they use Satan as a symbol of rebellion against tyranny and as a vehicle to advocate for secularism, bodily autonomy, and individual freedom.

“This isn’t about shock value,” said Legz Fi Daisy, one of the group’s representatives. “It’s about reclaiming harmful language and turning it into something empowering.” From their perspective, the chant was less a provocation and more an affirmation: a way of asserting that even minority religious voices belong in public life.

Pushing Boundaries

This isn’t the first time such groups have drawn controversy. From installing Baphomet statues next to Ten Commandments displays to demanding equal treatment in school clubs, satanic organizations have long tested the boundaries of church-state separation. 

Supporters say their activism isn’t designed to mock faith, but to question the assumptions that shape which faiths are seen as valid, and which are not. They lean on religious freedom and free speech principles, arguing that if churches can march, if Christian music can play, if pastors can offer prayers at public ceremonies, then a pluralistic society must also make room for less familiar expressions of belief.

In that light, the reaction from Colorado Springs leadership reveals a deeper tension between a broader culture guided by a single major religion and minority faiths seeking recognition and acceptance within it.

Does Satan Belong at Pride?

Public reaction has, predictably, been divided. Some see satanic messaging as needlessly inflammatory. Others view it as a legitimate, even courageous, act of religious expression.

The conversation now unfolding in Colorado Springs is just one part of a much larger national dialogue about who gets to speak, worship, and be seen in public spaces.

Where do you stand?