Jamie Sanchez always felt a calling to help the homeless, but he never expected that this path would lead to him facing accusations of bias.
“It was bizarre, really, because we initially had a lot of negative feelings towards gay individuals on Instagram, and then we started to notice some chaotic comments coming our way,” Sanchez shared. “We learned there are organized groups planning to protest our café even before we opened, so we started looking into it.”
Sanchez owns the Denver Drip Café in the arts district along Santa Fe Drive. He also leads a ministry for the homeless, called “Recycle God’s Love,” which he initiated in 2012 with his wife, Carolyn, who passed away in 2018.
What started as a small initiative providing Bible study and meals to homeless individuals has evolved into a comprehensive community effort involving churches, local businesses, and many volunteers, offering everything from haircuts to food, clothing, and housing.
Sanchez remarked, “Over the years, it has developed into an amazing community of believers and those in need, all committed to helping others.”
Last year, he took a further step by launching Project Revive, a faith-based program aimed at assisting homeless individuals in rebuilding their lives. This initiative focuses on providing housing, transportation, identification, addiction counseling, and job placements through Christian discipleship.
As part of this effort, Sanchez opened the Drip Café, which not only serves coffee but also aims to hire and mentor people who complete the ministry’s programs, helping them transition back into the workforce.
“I’ve already seen some success with various projects,” he noted.
However, even before the café opened, Sanchez began receiving social media messages branding the café as anti-gay. On opening day, a local group, the Denver Communist Party, organized protesters who accused the café of being run by “right-wing churches” that oppose the LGBTQ community.
Reflecting on that day, Sanchez expressed his shock. “We opened this café to serve the homeless and support people in changing their lives, and here were these people protesting because of that,” he said.
The protesting group condemned “Recycle God’s Love,” labeling homosexuality a sin according to their website. Initially, they protested outside the café every weekend, and now they gather about 10 to 20 people on the first Friday of each month during an arts walk event.
Despite his efforts to engage with them peacefully, Sanchez reported that their interactions often involved a lot of shouting and little dialogue. He recounted an incident where they brought two elderly women to the café and another time when they protested alongside a blind Christian DJ.
“It’s peculiar. They claim to be about inclusivity, yet they’re harassing a blind black man just for being a Christian,” he stated.
His property has faced damage, including broken windows and defaced signage. Recently, they found spray-painted images resembling KKK members on the café’s entrance.
Sanchez regards the protests as a part of a spiritual battle rather than personal hatred. After feeling unsupported by local authorities, he and his team decided to “own” the noise by hosting live worship music at the café every Friday.
“Despite our differences, I love them and show nothing but kindness. The only image they’re getting from me is one of prayer,” he stated. “I believe they are experiencing an identity crisis and may feel hopeless. The only way to find peace is through Jesus Christ.”
According to the Denver Communists, they are not protesting the café solely because of its Christian values, but rather due to its beliefs regarding sexuality.
“There are many Christian denominations, like the ELCA, who don’t hold biased views. We even had support from a pastor and other Christians at our protests. Since then, Drip has shifted to a more homophobic stance,” a spokesperson for the group explained.
They view the protests as part of a larger struggle against various political movements, including the Trump administration.
“We might not be able to force Drip out of town before the lease is up, but that’s beside the point. Our protests serve as a training ground for new queer activists,” they mentioned.
The group also accused Sanchez of having ties to neo-Nazi groups and said he faced slurs and threats from them. Sanchez rejected the narrative, declaring the accusations as lies used to tarnish his reputation and that of his café.
“They told me I wasn’t welcome and even suggested I should end my life. My response was always ‘I love you, and you’re welcome to join us peacefully.’ We’ve even offered free coffee and food on cold days,” he remarked. “It’s absurd to label me as neo-Nazi when I’m a Latino.”
