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.” e county commissioners had decided to hold the town hall discussion about the issue before PrideFest takes place again, hoping to clarify for the public what regulations apply to the fairgrounds.

“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.

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.

County sta had recently proposed changes to the county’s fairgrounds facilities policies, including an updated mission statement to state that all events are to be “family friendly.” e commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the fairgrounds policy updates on May 9. Still, some area residents remain frustrated and feel it’s an issue of protecting children, while others at the town hall voiced support for the event.

Another proposed change outlined that event holders agree “not to operate anything similar to a sexually oriented business” as dened in the county’s zoning regulations, according to the document of fairgrounds policies.

Oversight of event

Art Kerkezian, cochair with the Douglas County PrideFest, has said the event last summer doesn’t represent the values of the Castle Rock Pride group and the PrideFest.

Kerkezian told the town hall crowd that the performer from last year has not been asked to return to PrideFest, referring to the exposure incident.

“When we realized we didn’t have enough oversight on the entertainment portion, we (put in) parameters” to ensure that doesn’t happen again, Kerkezian said.

Some of those procedures include previewing costumes and acts ahead of time. Performers will have to sign an agreement saying that they understand the performance must be “G rated,” Kerkezian told Colorado Community Media.

“A Castle Rock Pride board member or representative will be on stage in the wings watching the performance and has authority to stop the performance” if something inappropriate happens, he said.

One community member, Randy Mills — advocating for public ofcials to add restrictions on PrideFest — at the town hall told omas omas responded that the county’s current policy outlines that no nudity and no “adult” entertainment are allowed at the fairgrounds.

“I’m going to call you out,” expressing frustration with her handling of policy related to PrideFest.

He wanted a new ordinance, or law, to prevent child exposure to inappropriate activity in Castle Rock.

In a drag performer’s words e town hall crowd also heard from a drag performer who goes by LaLa, who said “it’s very possible for drag performers to do G-rated acts.”

“Just like any other (actor can) go from rated R to G or Disney movie,” said LaLa, who is not a PrideFest performer but spoke generally about drag.

Performers care about kids in the community too, LaLa said.

“But what we want is for our queer youth to grow up to be queer adults,” LaLa said, adding that if people don’t have supportive spaces, that leads to youth dying by suicide.

In Douglas County, the number of suicide deaths went from a recent low of 15 in 2005 to dozens higher in years afterward, according to state data cited by Douglas County sta .

Last year, 53 people died by suicide in Douglas County, according to the state data.

But suicide risk is a direr problem for certain demographics, and that includes LGBTQ+ youth, who are far more likely than others to experience mental health distress, suicidal ideation, and suicide planning and attempts, according to an earlier presentation by county sta .

Among gay or lesbian youth, 19% attempted suicide one or more times, compared with 3% of straight people, according to 2021 Douglas County data focused on youth.

Making comparisons

County Commissioner Abe Laydon said detractors should give PrideFest a second chance after last year’s incident.

“I support the Catholic Church,” but it has thousands of allegations of sexual abuse against it, Laydon said. And so does the Boy Scouts of America, he said.

“Are we going to say Boy Scouts can’t come to the fairgrounds?” Laydon said.

He also pointed to the example of singer Janet Jackson experiencing what’s been called a “wardrobe malfunction” at the Super Bowl years ago.

“Are we going to say no one can go to the Super Bowl?” Laydon said. “You still have Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders in dental oss performing in front of families every week.”

Laydon also drew a line from the current conversation about wanting restrictions on what children can watch to the debate over masking in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. He brought up how area residents at the time asked authorities not to require masks for kids.

“We’re all about parental rights,” Laydon said.

Douglas County Undersheri

Dave Walcher ensured the crowd that if the sheri ’s o ce receives information regarding a crime, o cials follow up with the local district attorney’s o ce.

“We will have individuals from the sheri ’s o ce at this event,” and if anyone breaks the law, the o ce will take action, Walcher said.

‘Love the Lord’

One person, who made a comment remotely, said she thinks people should go to PrideFest because “I don’t want to see any kind of buildup of hate in our community.”

Kerkezian, with Castle Rock Pride, chalked the disagreement in the community up to cultural differences.

“It doesn’t shock us to see a man in a dress … Drag is part of the LGBTQ fabric,” Kerkezian told Colorado Community Media, saying drag is “not sexual in nature.”

Another commenter in the crowd referred to the concept of people choosing to be LGBTQ, and Laydon responded that “it’s not a choice.” Religion also came up during the event.

“I love Jesus, I love the Lord,” Laydon said in response. “I love queer kids who are struggling as well.”