Tenacious Unicorn Ranch: Sanctuary and target
The Tenacious Unicorn Ranch has become a haven for transgender individuals but not everyone is a fan. Now, residents are arming themselves as death threats mount.
An alpaca ranch as refuge
In 2018, Peggy Logue founded the Tenacious Unicorn Ranch as a sanctuary for the LGBTI+ community. Logan, transgender herself, founded the alpaca farm to provide a home and work for those still marginalized by society. Here they are free to love who they want and be who they are.
Finally accepted
Those who find their way to the farm have usually experienced a lot of discrimination. Ranch co-owner Bonnie Nelson is no exception: "I got here and I experienced a love and acceptance that I never did before. I had true family for the first time."
Moving to the small town
Initially based in northern Colorado, the farm — including 86 alpacas, 40 ducks, 20 chickens and a few dogs and cats — moved south to the small town of Westcliff in March 2020. That is when the trouble started, as right-wing groups quickly took up arms against the new neighbors.
Object of hate
The trouble started with hateful messages and calls, then photoshopped images showing a gun pointed at the house. Soon there were death threats. After armed individuals invaded the property, Unicorn Ranch residents began to arm themselves, too.
Killed for being different
The fear for life and limb is not entirely unfounded, US Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, claims 2017 was the deadliest year yet for members of the transgender community, with 31 people being killed. That was also part of what drove Penny Logue — shown here during firearms training — to establish the ranch.
Going public as protection
Meanwhile, residents of the ranch are turning to the media to report hostility. They hope the increased attention will deter their harassers. In addition, they have installed cameras, obtained protective waistcoats, started building a higher fence and intensified weapons training. Whether the Unicorn Ranch can remain a safe haven is uncertain.