DENVER PRIDEFEST
KEEPS THE PARTY GOING IN 2025
STILL
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OFM
June 01-30 picks
The Must-Do
Showtime with Anastasia Krystals Bluebird Theatre
Denver Undergrond Pride
Seventh Circle Music Collective
Scissor Stitch & Sip
Town Hall Collaborative
Boulder PrideFest Central Park and Civic Area 7 /29
Black Pride Gospel Brunch
Hyatt Centric at Apple Blossom
Black Pride Conscious Consumption
Cirrus Social Club
Transit on Heels
Town Hall Collaborative
Denver’s Annual Kink Pride
Tracks Denver
Drag Me to Pride: Classics
D3 Arts Creepatorium
The Beauty: A Juneteenth Burlesque and Drag Event
Cirque Du So Gay
Pink Party
The Pearl ReelWorks Denver
Denver PrideFest
Civic Center Park
Diversions Word Search - Jonathan Capehar t
Find the words in the list hiding across, backwards, up, down and diagonally in the grid. Words separated by a slash “/” are found individually in the puzzle. Words in parentheses “( )” are not in the puzzle. The unused letters starting at top left and going down by row will reveal a quote by him!
Jonathan/Capehart (Born in) Newark (NJ)
Carleton/College (B.A.)
Journalist/Commentator
TV Host/Anchor
Podcaster/Author
Today/Show/Researcher
New York/Daily (News)
Bloomberg (News)
Hill (&)/Knowlton
Public/Affairs (Senior VP)
PBS News/Hour (Analyst)
Washington/Post (2007)
Associate/Editor (2022)
Saturday/Sunday (Show) (on) MSNBC (2020)
Married/Partner
Nick/Schmit (in 2017)
Pulitzer/Prize (Winner) (Co-Host of The) Weekend (with) Jackie/Alemany (&)
Eugene/Daniels (also gay!)
First/Book (Out May 20th) Yet Here I Am
Visit DiversionsPuzzles.net for more free puzzles & book info!
Welcome to the gayest time of year! It’s once again time for Pride! Pride means a lot of things for a lot of different people. I talked last year about how Pride was a big part of the reason I came out, because I wanted to be part of this celebration of who I was. But Pride is more than a celebration. As a popular slogan reminds us, the first Pride was a riot. And, perhaps this year in the wake of Donald Trump’s harshly bigoted policies towards the LGBTQ+ community, that riotous spirit is coming alive again. But this is a special Pride for me because, last year, I sadly had to miss all the festivities.
You see, my father died last March. It was hard to say goodbye, but he was 89 when he died and had lived a very full, long life with three marriages, five children, and a lot of great stories to tell. I was far more prepared for my dad’s death than I was for my mom’s back in 2007, as she was only 58 when she died and passed very suddenly from lung cancer. My dad has always stated that, when he died, he wished to have his ashes scattered in Central Park in New York. My stepmom told him on his deathbed that she’d gladly fulfill his wishes, but she wasn’t doing it in the winter. So my stepmom waited until it warmed up a little bit to get the family together to scatter his ashes. It just so happened that my father’s birthday fell in June, so the ceremony was scheduled for the day of his birthday, which just so happened to fall on the same weekend as Denver PrideFest.
There’s no question in my mind that I made the right choice to join my family
in scattering my dad’s ashes rather than going to celebrate my identity in a park for a weekend. Obviously, my dad had to come first, and it’s a decision I would make again. But I can’t deny that I was a little frustrated that I had to make a choice between the two in the first place and couldn’t take part in both. I missed the traditions that I hold so dear, including manning the OFM booth at Denver PrideFest, going out dancing at Tracks for the Women’s Pride Party, and of course getting to see the parade make its way down Colfax Avenue.
So, for this year’s Pride, I feel like I’m making up for lost time, and I intend to make the most of it. One thing that I learned last year is how much Pride feeds my soul, and how much good it does for my mental health to celebrate the queer community. It may seem like there’s little to celebrate this year as Trump is systematically stripping rights from the trans community with the backing of a far-right Supreme Court that he packed with the help of manipulative scheming from the Republican Party. But I think that’s all the more reason why we need to celebrate this year.
Yes, the first Pride was a riot, but it was a riot because the cops got in the way of our party. We’ve fought long and hard to carve out a space in society where the LGBTQ+ community can come together to celebrate the resilience and strength of our community, and we’re not going to let that go just because a billionaire with an inferiority complex
is throwing a hissy fit over our very existence. Every time we gather together and celebrate, we remind the world, the country, and Donald Trump in particular that they can’t get in the way of queer joy. We will find our joy in the darkest of times, and we will flaunt it in front of whomever is made the most uncomfortable by it.
So, while it may seem like there’s little to celebrate, we have to remember that Trump wants us to have nothing to be happy about, to have no community to lean on, to have no identity to be proud of. Every time we put on a big party for Pride Month, we’re flying in the face of what Trump wants, and that just makes me want to dance my queer ass off even more. And this year, I’m remembering what it was like to go a year without this celebration, and I’m clinging to my queer joy with all my might. Think of your Pride celebration as part of a protest, and much like the patrons of Stonewall in 1969, don’t let anyone stop our party.
-Julie River
From The EDITOR
by Ivy Owens
Photo
by Nache
OUR BlACK PRIDE:
This year, celebrating Pride may be more important than it has been in previous years. Amidst all of the hostile legislation, acts of violence, and attempts at erasure facilitated by our current administration, it is absolutely necessary to honor the people we are, our stories, and the ones who walked before us. As a community, we need to make time and space for us to enjoy ourselves despite the efforts of the oppressors. And for the fifth year in a row, Black Pride Colorado has made sure to be a shining example of how to do just that.
lPhotos
by
Ivy Owens
IN THE IfE
Black Pride Colorado is a program through YouthSeen, led by Dr. Jae Jae (they/them), that is dedicated to the legacy and community of queer Black folks. Each year since 2021, the folks at Black Pride Colorado have held a week full of events leading up to Juneteenth catered specifically to the Black queer community. These events are about fellowship and connection. They are about being loud and joyful and soaking up some sun for ourselves.
Starting in the '90s, Black Pride was a response to the racism, homophobia, and lack of care available to our communities as well as the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It began in D.C. and has since spread to many states across the U.S.. Colorado's Black Pride will start Sunday, June 8 and continue until Sunday, June 15.
They will be kicking things off with Juiccy Misdemeanor on Sunday, June 8 with Gospel Brunch.
On Wednesday, June 11, they will be relaxing over at Cirrus on Colfax with Conscious Consumption.
SUNSHINE
Thursday, June 12, they'll be doing a fun Happy Hour at the MCA.
Friday, June 13, they will be having their 5th annual Strange Fruit of Black Excellence gala.
Saturday, June 14, Zarah and the Chocolate Factory is performing at X-Bar.
Sunday, June 15 is their Cookout at the Sie Film Center.
It will be an amazing week! Tickets for all events went live May 1. Oh! and if you're looking to have some fun before and after Black Pride, they will be doing First Thursdays all summer at Champagne Tiger at 5 p.m. Come out and join!
I had the wonderful opportunity to ask Dr. Jae about Black Pride. When asked what Black Pride means to them, they said, "Black Pride continues to be a space to find connection for me. With the world as it is currently, celebrating our ancestors and history is more important than ever. Learning about our elders and what they have been through gives perspective on what is happening now. Black Pride is about our resistance and legacy to continue to show up and be authentic." We need Black Pride specifically to remember and celebrate that which has been neglected and left out of history. Queer Black folks have always existed and deserve their time in the spotlight. Black Pride not only rejoices over our present in spite of the horrors, but honors those who came before us.
Dr. Jae started Black Pride Colorado in 2021 because they were, "hopeful to see that our community was seemingly finding compassion and a passion to fight against the violence that is a continual thread in our story. With that compassion, (their) hope was that it could turn into a celebration of joy for our Black queer community. The push was the light and excitement
(they) saw from others when (they) talked about the possibility of having space for us."
While Colorado is a state that is generally more liberal, we are not perfect. Racism and anti-Blackness specifically still exist worldwide, and Black queer folk still struggle, existing between multiple intersections and identities. Dr. Jae reminds us that folks of color are the reason we have Pride in the first place. "The first Pride was a riot." They also remind us that Black folks can and should take up space and embrace the cultures we have fought to create. "There is a beautiful, thriving Black community that is seasoning the culture here in Colorado and more specifically here in Denver. Our stories of identity and self -love are rich and run deep."
Many of us may look back at our pasts and wonder what might've been had we been given the resources and knowledge that we have today. How much easier it would have been to learn about and accept our queerness. How comforting it would have been to be encouraged to find community and take up space. While we cannot change the past, it is never too late to create those resources for folks who are coming up now. We can still give them and ourselves what we did not have.
"Black Pride is a testament to our commitment to ourselves and the spaces we occupy, giving representation to our young people to thrive in ways that we only wished we could when we were younger. We are still young, and all the opportunities are in front of us," Dr. Jae says while thinking about the future of Black Pride.
This year has been arduous for us all. To see a revival of fascism and white supremacy in our government, our jobs, and our communities is enough to make one lose hope. And that is exactly why our celebration this year is so valuable. Our joy is resistance. Our optimism is empowering. Those who seek to oppress us want us to feel isolated, hopeless, and powerless. And we will not give it to them. Instead, we will laugh, and sing, and share. We will make art and foster new connections. We will continue to live our lives in the sunshine, come what may.
SUNSHINE
Photos by Ivy Owens
Denver Underground Denver The Alternative to Corporate Pride
by Julie River
I’ve always been of two minds about the way big Pride festivals are handled. On the one hand, I think a lot of good comes out of Pride. Some people get a chance to see what it’s like to be their authentic selves for the first time because of Pride. I wrote previously about how my coming out was largely about wanting to join in this celebration of who I am at Pride. And a big, huge Pride festival isn’t going to be easily organized without a corporate sponsor. Furthermore, I know of many organizations that do a lot of good for the LGBTQ+ community who make a significant portion of their
On the other hand, it does seem strange to me that we celebrate a group of oppressed people fighting back against a discriminatory police raid by sending a Coors Light float down Colfax Avenue. My punk rock instincts tell me not to trust that any large corporation is going to support a minority group without seeing us as a means to an ends first and foremost. Even now as I look at the small Pride flags on my desk that I’ve collected from past years at Pride, I see a rainbow flag bearing the Xcel Energy logo and a trans pride flag with Smirnoff written
still feel as authentic when it’s also an advertisement at the same time?
One person in Denver wants to at least make sure that there’s an alternative to the corporatization of Pride. In 2022, Lucyfer (any pronouns) had recently lost a job and had a string of other bad luck, leading to them starting the queer event planning organization BiteSize Productions, with the inaugural event being her own version of Pride, a version with no corporate sponsorships which would maintain the revolutionary spirit of Pride’s history.
Pride festivals.
Underground Pride Underground
“The first year, about 100, people came through, pretty much just my friends, drag artists, and local musicians that I wanted to have,” Lucyfer says about his event. “And it was also the first time Seventh Circle (Music Collective), which is the venue that it's held at, had an actual drag event. And so from there, I wanted to bring more drag to Seventh Circle.”
Seventh Circle Music Collective, an underground music venue and arts space nestled in the corner of Federal Blvd and 7th Ave. in Denver. While the venue hosts multiple different genres of music, its bread and butter has always been hardcore and metal shows in heavily graffitied, open-air silos that give the place its real DIY reputation. After a modest start the first year,
the feedback for Underground Pride resulted in Lucyfer turning this into an annual event.
“It blew up after the first year, which I was shocked by,” she recalls, “because it was just a little thing I was trying to put together, because we were starting to really feel—as a queer community —pushed down by corporate America coming in and rainbow-washing everything. It just didn't feel genuine. And I knew a lot of queer performers and queer artists that were friends of mine that would apply to other Pride events and would not get in, but then they would be like, 'But Xcel Energy got in and not me?' Why aren't we giving money to the local queers here?”
But for the fourth annual edition of Denver Underground Pride, Lucyfer is adding another dimension to his event, incorporating an event theme for the first time ever: Wrath. “I don't think any of us feel OK or happy or very prideful right now,” she explains. “I think we're all scared, and we're all angry, and I think we need to be able to have a platform to show that anger, to show
friends, to the world around us, to our country, to countries outside of our own. We're pissed off, and we're mad!’”
As for what kinds of artists they pick, Lucyfer says that all artists have to be queer, local, and underground, and that he will even go so far as to reject some bigger name artists for the sake of getting more underground acts on the bill. “I want to showcase the underground artists, the queer artists, the people that got a day job, and they're doing this art on the side, and they're really trying to make it,” she explains. But he later adds, “However, I will say, of course, for headliners and stuff, I'll sprinkle in some people that will have a good pull, that you'll be like, 'Oh, I know them. I'll come see them.' But really, it's to get people to come out and see these underground folks and the 'undiscovered.'”
This year sees the festival, which was originally one day and later expanded to two, finally expanding to a three-day event. “Honestly, I just didn't want to keep telling people no,” Lucyfer explains, saying that they hated having to turn down great artists due to lack of space. This year’s Denver Underground Pride will see performances from dance-punk sensation Church Fire, R&B artist C.L. Fondal, melodic death metal act Hel Hath Fury, prog punk act Sexy Coyote, and Latinx riot grrrl act Soy Celesté, just to name a few.
So who is Denver Underground Pride for, exactly? “Queers!” says Lucyfer emphatically, although they add that they do want cis and straight people to feel welcome in the space. “If they're spending money at underground pride, they're giving that money directly towards queer folks,” she says, contrasting a large, corporate Pride where part of your money ends up with corporations. “This is a space where every single dollar that is spent there goes towards local queers and local queers that aren't already super successful in what they're doing.”
Denver Underground Pride is being held this year on June 6-8 at Seventh Circle Music Collective. There’s a suggested donation of $15 per day plus a $5 yearly membership to Seventh Circle. No tickets are sold ahead of time, and nobody is turned away for lack of funds.
Photos by Ivy Owens
FUNDINGCUTSIMPACTDENVER PRIDEFEST
by Matt Maenpaa
s if the year weren’t hard enough already, the Center on Colfax finds itself adapting to significant loss in funding moving into Denver Pride festivities. Though not alone in its funding struggles, Denver’s LGBTQ+ community center faces an uphill battle.
With the Trump Administration’s reckless economic policies, lawless governance, and attacks on civil rights, the only real question was a matter of when the dominos would fall. The Center’s communication manager, Ashley Schoenbauer, says the organization projected a sponsorship shortfall of $230,000 back in April.
Attacks on “woke culture” and Trump’s hostility towards diversity, equity, and inclusion, have seen corporations like Amazon, Target, Walmart and countless others opt to protect shareholder capital, rather than risk the administration’s wrath. The cuts aren’t isolated to
the LGBTQ+ organizations either, with medical research, environmental groups, and cultural centers feeling the effects of the funding drought and looking for other options.
While the loss of donations from billion-dollar corporations causes hardship, economic strife is another factor to consider. Budgetary concerns and purse tightening have caused a reduction in the size of donations from sponsors, Schoenbauer says, and some have had to withdraw entirely due to their own funding struggles.
There is a sense of optimism in Schoenbauer's comments, praising the work of her colleagues and Denver’s community for staying engaged and finding new sponsors to help bridge the gap for Pride this year.
Since the first pride event in 1974, Denver’s Pride festival has grown to bring in an estimated half million people to party and celebrate the rights of all trans and queer folk to live openly and honestly as their best selves. The free festival also acts as one of The Center’s biggest fundraising events, crucial for keeping their services and programming accessible to anyone in need throughout the community.
“Eighty-three percent of all contributions to The Center are directed back to our community through the vital programming we offer year-round to our LGBTQ+ community free-of-charge,” says interim CEO Natalie Zanoni. “The decrease in funding we’re experiencing puts these critical services at risk.”
Zanoni expressed disappointment at the decisions to decrease funding
“While the exact numbers are still in flux, we’re encouraged by the progress made,” she says. “We’re grateful for the support of the Denver community and its willingness to support The Center during this time.”
or withdraw sponsorship from Pride altogether, but emphasized that there was little return in calling the organizations out by name.
“We don’t feel (it would) be beneficial to our goal to call in and educate people on the importance of our work here at The Center,” Zanoni says. “We also recognize that these decisions do not reflect the views and opinions of everyone within those organizations.”
With future federal dollars unlikely under the current regime, supporting the work of The Center on Colfax and other LGBTQ+ organizations, like One Colorado and Rocky Mountain Equality, will fall more and more to the community. The best first step is getting out to celebrate each other, to volunteer and to build a better community.
Visit Denver PridFest on June 2829 in Civic Center Park. For more information, visit denverpride.org or lgbtqcolorado.org.
FROM CORPORATE TO CARE: WHY WE BUILT A FAMILY PRACTICE FOR OUR CHOSEN FAMILY
We came to Colorado because we couldn’t keep practicing in a system that burned us out and left our patients behind.
We’re a physician and nurse practitioner team—married, family-run, and Q+ ourselves. We built The Cove Concierge Medicine because we knew healthcare could be radically different. Our goal was simple: to create a practice we’d want our own loved ones to walk into, one grounded in science, built on trust, and centered around real relationships.
This work is personal. We’ve sat in exam rooms as gay patients and felt the awkward pause when someone didn’t know how to respond. We’ve watched people we care about delay necessary care because they didn’t feel safe. That reality isn’t abstract—It’s why we practice with intention.
At The Cove, we take the time needed. Visits are unhurried; care is collaborative, and our doors are open to anyone who's felt left out of traditional medicine. We provide evidencebased hormone therapy for trans folks navigating genderaffirming care. We guide women through perimenopause and menopause with clarity and compassion. We care for entire families—from exhausted new parents to Q+ elders who’ve never had a doctor who truly saw them. And
sometimes, when it’s hard to leave the house, our visits can be right on your phone or computer.
Pride, to us, means taking up space—and helping others do the same. It’s about ownership, belonging, and making sure healthcare finally reflects the people it serves.
We didn’t just start a business. We created a home for our chosen family.
And if you’ve ever felt invisible in healthcare, we want you to know: We see you. We built this for you.
The Of
INSIDE THE WORLD OF A BEYONCÉ TRIBUTE ARTIST
by Addison Herron-Wheeler and Ixora Cook
Miss Shalae
In the world of tribute artistry and drag, where performers channel the essence of music icons and stage presence is queen, Miss Shalae reigns supreme as one of the most sought-after Beyoncé tribute artists on the planet. With a striking resemblance and electrifying stage presence, she doesn't just mimic Queen Bey; she embodies her spirit, delivering performances that leave audiences breathless and believing they've witnessed the real deal. But behind the shimmering costumes and flawless choreography lies a dedicated artist with a unique journey, one fueled by passion, hard work, and an undeniable connection to glamor.
Hair by Michael David
Makeup by Loso Martinez
Creative Director and Photographer
Malachi Middleton
Models: Addison Ector, Jerry Morris @vampyrej, John Santos @ohrigines, Spirit of John
"My stage name is Miss Shalae. That's how everybody knows me," she shares. “I started getting into performing when I realized my friends were doing drag, and this was before I was out as a trans woman. I started doing it and I realized I couldn’t go back.”
The path to becoming a world-class tribute artist is rarely a straight line. For Miss Shalae, the connection to Beyoncé's music began early, shortly after discovering her love for drag performance. It wasn't just about the catchy tunes; it was about the empowerment, the artistry, and the sheer force of Beyoncé's talent. This admiration blossomed into a desire to share that energy with others.
“I fly all over the world, and I’m so blessed to do this,” she says. “I’m so blessed that I get to do this for a living. Where she goes, I go, and I perform at night clubs and afterparties all over the world when she’s performing. I love that I get to do this as how I make my living. I get to meet fans all over the world who love her as much as I do.”
While the specific moment of realization might be nuanced, the dedication to honing her craft has been unwavering. It's not enough to simply look like Beyoncé; capturing her essence requires meticulous attention to detail. This includes countless hours spent studying her performances, mastering her intricate choreography, and perfecting her lip syncs. Miss Shalae doesn't just learn the steps; she internalizes the emotion and intention behind them.
The transformation into Miss Shalae is a multi-layered process. The visual aspect is undeniably crucial. From the iconic hairstyles to the dazzling costumes, every detail is carefully considered to recreate the signature looks that have defined Beyoncé's various eras. This often involves working with skilled designers and stylists who understand the nuances of Beyoncé's fashion evolution. However, the true magic lies beyond the surface. It's in the way Miss Shalae carries herself, the confidence she exudes, and the way she commands the stage.
And somewhere along the line to doing that, she had a personal realization and discovered that she had been a woman all along. Like many drag performers who are drawn to the art of embodying femme beauty before coming out as trans women, she realized that while the full-on Beyoncé garb might be drag or a costume, living fully as a woman was something that had always been in her heart and soul.
Given that she’s a Black, trans woman in the public eye in 2025, one might expect a scared, angry, or defensive attitude towards the hate and transphobia in the world today. But Miss Shalae embodies an attitude we could all learn from—one of hope, strength, and resilience.
“I believe that right now, we’re seeing the pendulum swing (away from acceptance and inclusivity), but it always swings back,” she says. “It’s all about what you put into the universe, so I just try to stay on that higher frequency. When I found out that the highest frequency, even higher than
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love, is authenticity, that changed my life. So we all need to just keep being ourselves and being authentic despite the hate, because that’s the highest frequency there is.
“One of the strongest and bravest things you can do is just continue living your life,” she continues. “That’s the best thing we can all do right now is keep living as authentically as possible.”
The journey of a tribute artist is also one of personal growth and discovery. By embodying another artist, performers often gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their own capabilities. Miss Shalae's dedication to her craft has undoubtedly honed her skills as a performer, pushing her beyond what she might have thought possible. The confidence and stage presence she exudes as Miss Shalae likely permeate other aspects of her life, a testament to the transformative power of her art, as well as what she offers the community.
Naturally, since she follows Beyoncé around the globe, one of her bucket list goals is to meet the queen herself.
“That’s a bucket list item for sure,” she shares. “It’ll happen.”
But ultimately, Beyoncé aside, Miss Shalae is her own woman carving her own path as an artist, performer, and strong woman. In a world where authenticity is highly valued, the art of impersonation might seem paradoxical. However, artists like Miss Shalae demonstrate that tribute can be a powerful form of artistic expression. It's about more than just imitation; it's about connection, celebration, and the ability to transport an audience through the power of music and performance.
APRIL 20, 2025—AUGUST 17, 2025
THE WORLD IN A CITY AT GLOBAL FEST IN AURORA
Home to residents from over 160 countries, where one in five residents are foreign-born, Aurora is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Colorado and has become a place where global traditions, languages, and flavors blend to create a rich, vibrant community. This international spirit is on full display at Global Fest, the city’s premier multicultural festival, where visitors can experience the world without ever leaving Colorado.
Each year, Global Fest transforms Aurora into a bustling hub of culture and connection, bringing together live performances, cultural crafts, and international cuisine
from around the globe. The family-friendly, one-day event is a feast for the senses, featuring the Parade of Nations, where flags from dozens of countries wave proudly in a colorful display, and a fashion show, where traditional attire from around the world takes center stage. It’s also the end of the Global Flavors contest, where the winning restaurants are recognized for having the best international flavors, further highlighting the city's diverse culinary landscape.
Food lovers will find no shortage of delicious discoveries at Global Fest, with food trucks and vendors offering authentic dishes from around the world. The city’s renowned Aurora Eats guide makes it easy to continue the journey long after the festival too, with a new interactive map that guides foodies to hidden gems and beloved eateries representing cultures from a wide variety of places.
Whether you come for the music, food, performances, or community spirit, Global Fest is more than just an event, it’s a celebration of everything that makes Aurora unique. Mark your calendar and get ready to experience the world in a city at this year’s festival on Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Aurora Municipal Center.
Learn more at AuroraGlobalFest.org.
Denver Pridefest celebrates queer joy! At a time when we can all use some queer joy, we need to celebrate our community, revel in our visibility, and show the world our pride in who we are with the largest Pride festival in the Rocky Mountain region!
Civic Center Park will host the iconic two-day PrideFest on Saturday, June 28 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 29 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sashay with queer attendees and allies beginning Saturday at 9:30 a.m. for a 5k fundraiser benefitting programs for LGBTQ+ folks including counseling and support groups for youth, older adults, trans folks who face isolation and financial challenges, and more; free healthcare and education programs at The Center on Colfax; and tearing down systemic barriers facing the queer community by creating inclusive policies and systems in the workplace.
DENVER PRIDEFEST KEEPS THE PARTY GOING IN 2025
by London Alexander
Then, join the PrideFest event to experience more than 300 exhibitors, 30 food vendors, and captivating live performances across four entertainment zones: Center Stage featuring musical artists, drag acts, burlesque, and ballroom headlined by drag icons Vanjie, Detox, Chika, and Pattie Gonia; Absolut Dance World where DJs and go-go dancers bring the high-energy vibe headlined by Sean O’Grady and Twisted Dee; US Bank Latin Stage showcasing vibrant cultural performances; and the Family Area, where you and your loved ones can enjoy story time, games, and crafts designed for kids and families.
On Sunday morning, join Denver PrideFest for the Coors Light Denver Pride Parade. The dazzling parade will begin at 17th and Franklin, concluding at Lincoln. The free parade will draw more than 100,000 attendees, so line the streets early to celebrate Pride!
Photos by Ivy Owens
Come make queer history this year by celebrating with over 500,000 visitors for the 51st annual PrideFest! The event began as an intimate gathering in 1974 at Cheeseman Park inspiring The Center on Colfax, the current event’s producer and nonprofit organization that provides year-round programs and services to the community, to be founded two years later. The gathering evolved into a full festival in 1990 and has built on queer joy ever since to create a monumental annual event that continues to showcase the fun, beauty, sass, and resilience of the queer community.
Not ready for the party to end? The local queer bars have you covered! On June 27 - 30, Charlie’s Denver will be hosting PLANET PRIDE! featuring the Taylor Swift Experience, WrestleDrag, foam parties, live DJs and more. X Bar presents X Fest, a week-long festival of Pride events June 23 - 29. Tracks will hold a variety of parties including an 18+ drag night on Jun 26 featuring Jewels Sparkles and Lexi Love, finalists from Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 17, which will serve as the official PrideFest Afterparty. They will also host Women’s Pride on June 27 and an underwear party on June 29.
Though June is the official Pride month commemorating the 1969 Stonewall uprising that saw the LGBTQ+ community ban together against police harassment, queer joy is something that should be celebrated year-round. So, check out monthly events at The Center on Colfax like the Trans Masc Support Group, Club50, Rainbow Writers Room, the Oral History Committee, and more. Continue spreading that queer joy all year by supporting queer-owned businesses like Ivy + Oak Salon, Queer Asterisk counseling, Petals & Pages bookstore, BarberX Barbershop, and others.
The greatest form of queer resistance is to celebrate the joy of who we are. This Pride month, celebrate queer joy as a community to show yourself and each other that we are visible, we are loved, we are supported, and we are here to have an amazing time!
QUEER & ALLIED BUSINESS LISTINGS
Laura Brodie MA, ATR, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
303-981-8508 | be.passionate.in.life@gmail.com DenverTherapist.org
You will be able to clarify what is needed to heal yourself and/or your relationship. My 40 years serving our community will guide us well.
Meadowlark Tattoo
Cei Lambert
303-909-2313 | meadowlarktattoo@gmail.com meadowlarktattoo.com
Meadowlark Tattoo is a fully custom tattoo studio in Fort Collins, Colorado, owned and operated by queer and trans artist Cei Lambert.
Molly Brown House Museum
Andrea Malcomb
303-832-4092 | amalcomb@mollybrown.org MollyBrown.org
The Molly Brown House Museum is the home of Margaret “Molly” Brown, one of Denver’s most intriguing legends and survivor of the Titanic!
Natural Embodiment Somatic and Dance/Movement Therapy
Lauren Pass Erickson
401-307-3449 | lauren@naturalembodiment.org naturalembodiment.org
Lauren Pass Erickson offers embodied therapy for healing trauma, reconnecting with your body, and embracing your authentic queerness.
PCS Therapy (Professional Counseling Services)
Annie Butler
720-653-2438 | info@pcstherapy.net pcstherapy.net
Compassionate and confidential counseling with an experienced, licensed therapist.
Yewpets
Danny E. Winters yewpets@gmail.com | yewpets.com
A zoo of cute animal themed goodies, most of them of the feline kind. Pins, shirts, wallets, and more. Express yourself with Yewpets!
August 30 @ Fletcher plaza
BAR TAB
BAD HABITS DENVER
3014 E Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 335-9690 badhabitsdenver.com
BUDDIES
504 E. Colfax Ave. buddiesdenver.com
CHAMPAGNE TIGER
601 E. Colfax Ave. champagnetiger.com
CHARLIE’S NIGHTCLUB
900 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 839-8890 charliesdenver.com
DENVER EAGLE
5110 W. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 534-0500
Facebook @denvereaglebar
EL POTRERO
4501 E. Virginia Ave. Glendale (303) 388-8889 Facebook @elpotreroclub
GOOD JUDY’S
BAR & CLUB
103 N. 1st St. Grand Junction (970) 433-7115 good-judys.com
HAMBURGER MARY’S
1336 E. 17th Ave. Denver (303) 993-5812 hamburgermarys.com/denver
LADY JUSTICE BREWING
3242 S Acoma St. Englewood (303) 578-8226 ladyjusticebrewing.com
LIL' DEVILS
255 S. Broadway St. Denver (303) 733-1156
Facebook @lildevilslounge
POISONED BY ME
1526 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
THE PEARL 2199 California St. Denver
R&R LOUNGE
4958 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 320-9337
Facebook @randrdenver
TIGHT END BAR 1501 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 861-9103 tightendbar.com
TOWN HALL
COLLABORATIVE
525 Santa Fe Dr. Denver (720) 389-7502
townhallcollaborative.com
TRACKS
3500 Walnut St. Denver (303) 836-7326 tracksdenver.com
TRADE
475 Santa Fe Dr. Denver (720) 627-5905 Facebook @tradedenver
WILD CORGI PUB
1223 E. 13th Ave. Denver (303) 832-7636 wildcorgipub.com
X BAR
829 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 832-2687 xbardenver.com 5pm-9pm
#VYBE 1027 N. Broadway St. Denver (720) 573-8886 303vybe.com
THE 99ERS SPORTS BAR 909 E Colfax Ave, Denver the99erssportsbar.com
#VYBE 1027 N. Broadway St. Denver (720) 573-8886 303vybe.com
DENVER SWEET
776 N. Lincoln St. Denver (720) 598-5648 denversweet.com
TUE: Solve That Puzzle w/Mr. Will 7pm w/Taco Tuesday, $3 Modelo Draft, $5 House Margs
WED: Trivia w/Alejandro 7pm w/Wing Wednesday .75 Wings, $5 U Call It At The Bar
THU: Karaoke w/KJ Shug 8pm w/1/2 priced bites, BOGO Wells & Drafts 2pm-8pm
FRI: Sinna-G Happy Hour 5pm-9pm Drag Race & Star Lite Show 6pm-10pm w/Happy Hour 2pm-8pm, 1/2 price flatbreads
SAT: Rooftop T 5 pm-9 pm w/Happy Hour, $5 Off Burgers
SUN: Loteria Brunch 11am Charity Beer Bust 4p-8p $12/cup Bud Light & Truly Hard Seltzer
