In Aurora, the horrors are plentiful and fresh. Even their presence, armed and in blue uniforms, creates a visceral, unnerving reaction. Some Aurora Pride board members agreed that people of color who are LGBTQ or straight are understandably afraid of police. We have decided not to allow police participation in the 2021 virtual pride parade or to allow law enforcement agencies to participate as exhibitors.” “While we value our relationships with law enforcement and want to continue to build a safer community for all Coloradans, we feel we must take a stand. “We cannot in good conscience, as an organization that speaks up for justice, look the other way when it comes to police violence aimed at the Black community - a history of violence that goes back even further in American history,” Denver Pride officials said in a statement. The meeting’s focus was in reaction to news that Denver Pride, a larger and older regional event, announced it would not permit LGBTQ police officers to participate in any 2021 Pride Fest events. A separate foundation governs that event. He was also the driving force behind Aurora Pride, now a years-old organization that honors and supports Aurora’s LGBTQ residents, and especially its families. Cunningham is president and former publisher of Colorado’s Out Front Magazine, one of the nation’s oldest news sources serving the LGTBQ community. “I am heartbroken we’re faced with this decision,” a visibly upset Jerry Cunningham told fellow Aurora Pride board members yesterday during a hastily called virtual meeting. The pressing heft of the police-reform-Black-Lives-Matter conundrum landed squarely on Aurora and Denver Pride organizations this week. Obviously, this place is perfectly situated for a late night, post-bar-hopping dinner of fried food.Aurora Police Captain Redfearn (left) with husband, Javier, marching in a Denver Pride parade. If that’s your schtick, don’t spend another minute in Denver before going to Hamburger Mary’s, the gay-themed restaurant and bar just a hop and a skip away from the queer bar scene on Colfax. Lastly, there’s something to be said for a good old-fashioned burger and fries. Though BAD is technically a women’s party, all are welcome. Currently, these parties are happening the first Friday of every month, and vaccinated folks are allowed to attend mask-less. If you’re the partying type, you may or may not have heard of Babes Around Denver (BAD), a monthly women’s party at Tracks that purports to be the largest of its kind in the US. Triangle Denver is also a fairly short walk away, tucked away inside the old historic Triangle Lounge.
Pop by for a drink any night of the week, and while you’re on Colfax, check out nearby spots X BAR and Charlie’s Denver (the latter of which is Western-themed).
#WHEN IS THE GAY PRIDE PARADE IN DENVER COLORADO SERIES#
Relatedly, this is also the first year that Denver will celebrate Black Pride, a series of events in June co-hosted by The Center on Colfax, Youth Seen, and the Juneteenth Music Festival.Įat and drink your way through Capitol Hillĭid you know that there are only 15 lesbian bars left in the entire country? ICYMI, this is something of a crisis for the community, and it just so happens that Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood is home to one of them: Blush & Blu. All donations sent to Denver Pride will go directly to The Center on Colfax. Find those Pride hubs here, register for the Pride 5K here, and register for the parade here. 2021’s festivities will be a hybrid model of some virtual and some in-person events (aka Pride hubs), mostly happening over the weekend of June 26 - 27. If you’re looking specifically for transgender support groups and services Queer Asterisk, Transgender Youth Education Support of Colorado, and Transgender Center of the Rockies are good places to start (you can also donate to all of these non-profits, too).Īnd, of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without Denver Pride (produced by The Center of Colfax), the city’s annual gathering at the end of June. One Colorado is devoted to LGBTQ equality, specifically as it relates to healthcare, in the state you can sign up to volunteer here.
The Center on Colfax is a long-standing safe space for queer folks in Capitol Hill (and the largest one of its kind in the Rocky Mountain Region) they run events yearround, but especially during Pride.
Get involved with Denver’s LGBTQ non-profitsĭenver is replete with opportunities to both find community and support already existing communities with your time, money, and skills.