County hosts town hall to discuss issues about PrideFest

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Dozens of people gathered in an audience that vented its opinions — sometimes loudly — about the annual PrideFest in Douglas County at a community meeting one month ahead of this year’s scheduled event.

During the July 26 town hall, county o cials attempted to ensure the public that a repeat of last year’s controversial conduct won’t happen.

Commissioner Lora omas, one of the county’s elected leaders, reminded the audience that the event is “constitutionally protected.”

“And the rest of us don’t have to be there if we don’t want to be there,” omas said.

Last year, at a drag show during the annual Douglas County PrideFest at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock, a performer’s breast plate and false nipple were temporarily exposed.

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Amid numbers that show suicide deaths have steadily risen in Colorado in the past two decades, Douglas County’s elected leaders approved more than $1 million in funding for prevention and mental health support over the next three years.

e money will spread across a diverse array of approaches. Organizations that will receive the funding include the National Alliance on

Mental Illness of Arapahoe/Douglas Counties; You Are Not Alone Mom

2 Mom, a peer support system for mothers; and e Aspen E ect, a group that connects young people with horses for what’s known as “equine therapy.”

But the discussion about approving the funding became overtaken by a debate over whether Castle Rock Pride — a nonpro t that aims to build a supportive community in Douglas County for LGBTQ+ residents — should receive part of the money. e comments from area residents also included disapproval of transgender people.

One resident, talking about gender changes, said “this is satanic evil” and criticized the county commissioners for considering supporting Castle Rock Pride.

“You cannot recreate what God created,” the resident said at the July 25 commissioners meeting.

Videos of the performance circulated on social media, where some commenters expressed frustration with the exposure at an event not designated for adults only. Organizers had sent out an apology, saying it was not a planned part of the performance.

Criticism of the event has continued nearly a year later, with a part of the crowd at the county commissioners meeting room appearing angry that the drag show was still on track to occur this year without an audience restriction.