July 24, 2019 :: Aurora Pride

CO LO R A D O'S LG B TQ M AGA ZINE | F R E E

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CONTENTS JULY 24, 2019 VOL43 NO8

8 DUSTIN SCHLONG IS STILL DOIN' IT 10 AURORA’S RENAISSANCE 13 FINDING HOME: THE COMITIS CENTER’S COMMITMENT TO HELPING EVERYONE IN AURORA 16 AURORA RISING. RYAN FRAZIER WANTS TO REVOLUTIONIZE AURORA 18 GET WET: THE VIRGIN’S GUIDE TO AURORA PRIDE 26 AURORA RESERVOIR IS A COMMUNITY PARK FOR ALL 30 EVENFLO KEEPS IT COSPLAY ON THE DANCEFLOOR 32 VICTORIA PAIGE MATTHEWS BECOMES HER 38 MADISON ABSAROKA HAS FOUND HER PRIDE 42 PARTY AT AURORA PRIDE WITH ALASKA 5000 48 CHEERS FOR QUEERS 54 BETSY BOOTNOCKER WANTS TO TAKE IT ALL OFF 56 THE AURORA SINGERS BRING THE POWER OF MUSIC 61 PHOENIX IS COLORADO’S TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY CHOIR 64 PUNK ROCK BURLESQUE GET NAUGHTY WITH AURORA PRIDE 66 DRAGUTANTE WILL MAKE YOU LIVE… HAPPILY EVER AFTER

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FROM THE EDITOR

F

or some, Pride Season is just a few weeks in June, but not for us. At OUT FRONT, it begins in March or

earlier when we start talking about Denver PrideFest and extends through September with Boulder Pride. By the time it’s over, it’s Gala Season; then the holidays rush by, and before we know it, it’s Pride Season again.

All this can be totally exhausting, and it’s easy to look at things as one obligation after another. That’s why it’s important to pause, take a step back, and remember why we’re doing all this madness.

It’s not about taking advantage of client’s generosity during the summer months, scoring celebrity interviews, and getting to party wearing rainbow on the company dime. Sure, those things are all part of what we do, but they aren’t our purpose.

The reason we hustle during Pride season is to keep the queer love alive. Otherwise, we’d all be elsewhere, chasing the big bucks and the cushy paychecks.

That’s what Aurora Pride is all about. Not everyone can cough up the cash to be a part of a Pride celebration, so we try and keep it affordable. Some folks feel they don’t always have a platform or voice in the queer community, so we try to give them one.

This year, Aurora Pride is going to be even more special. Hopefully, people can break away for a day, go swimming, and celebrate their queer identities one more time before the colder weather starts moving in. And, if this year’s Aurora Pride is a success, you’ll have enough Pride to carry you through the winter.

-Addison Herron-Wheeler

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By Addison Herron-Wheeler Photo courtesy of Soona Studios

D

ustin Schlong has been a queer hero in Denver for a while now. Between being a drag icon and one of the major reasons drag kings have been getting so much respect, his power drag couple relationship with Evelyn Evermore, and his work in the cannabis industry, he’s been quite busy.

So, it was a rude awakening, and a painful reminder of the fragility of human health when he was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It was also a reminder of the medical issues that can be especially impactful to trans folks.

But luckily, Dustin isn’t the kind of person to let cancer set him back. Not only is he planning on jumping right back into drag while he recovers, he’s also planning to use this as a teaching moment for the community.

“I've been trying to spread the word in regards to being a trans-identifying person with ovarian cancer,” he said. “It’s kind of a weird thing to have to talk about. I want to use this as an opportunity to reach more people. Sometimes it’s hard for trans people to get themselves to a doctor and make sure everything’s fine. Things can still happen; get yourself checked out, because it can get so much worse. I definitely want to use this as a platform to reach people.”

Now that his cancer scare is over, however, Dustin wants to get back to doing what he does best: drag.

Dustin Schlong is Still Doin' It

“I really just want to take everything up another level, especially now that the tumor is out of me,” he said.

“Overall, I've lost like 40 pounds over the last couple months from all of this, and I’m ready to get back to it. Dancing has always been my favorite part of drag, so I really want to get more into that. I want to do Drag Nation again. If I can do Drag Nation with a 25-pound tumor, then I can definitely do it without one! I really just want to keep setting everything up, because it was on a good path before going into the hospital. I just want to keep that momentum going.”

Luckily for us, part of his path to getting back on track with drag involves co-headlining Aurora Pride with his partner, Evelyn Evermore. He’s excited to take center-stage and help host the festivities.

“The two of us get really dumb on the mike together, so it’ll be a lot of fun,” Dustin said. “And being able to work with Alaska is going to be amazing. I got to meet her when she was here for Drag Nation a couple months ago, and she’s super nice, super cool, and friendly. I’m also really excited to just be a drag king hosting a Pride event. That in itself is awesome.”

Catch Dustin, Evelyn, and the entire Aurora Pride crew on August 3.

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Aurora’s Renaissance

By Yvonne Wright Roche painting her mural

“I

’d like to be able to build things. Build companies. Build communities. Build movements.”

Jevon Taylor isn’t defined by his art. Or his international company that’s based in Aurora, Colorado. He uses words like “revolution” and “universal movement.”

Taylor is only 24 years old, and wise, powerful words fall from his youthful mouth like a seasoned politician.

He’s a man who wants to build platforms of collaboration to change the world.

Taylor is a fashion designer and the owner of False Ego, an environmentally sustainable clothing company. It isn’t just about fashion; it’s about culture, sustainability, the future of the planet.

“I found out that fashion’s the numbertwo polluter in the world right now, and I was like, ‘I wanna design something to make an impact.’ Everybody wears clothes. Clothing just gives me a platform to go to these different companies and say, ‘I’m Jevon. This is what I’m doing.

I’d love to work with you.”

Only in business for one year, False Ego has already partnered with a company that plants a tree for every product sold and a recycling company to turn used fabric into new garments.

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Taylor is part of Aurora’s Renaissance.

Signifying a rebirth or revival, The Renaissance goes back to the 14th century when Italy experienced a dramatic revival of art, architecture, literature, and learning. Today, Aurora is becoming an artistic hub of culturally diverse art and industry.

Infinite possibilities are what Aurora is all about. A booming arts district in the north part of the city is attracting artists from around the world.

Taylor’s fashion line is riddled with symbols of change. He excitedly points to the many t-shirts and sweatshirts on sale. Each carries the company’s motto: “A Part of Everything.” Each contains a hieroglyph–Greek for “sacred writing.”

Her one-woman show, Brazil Latin Fusion, was on display at the Stanley Marketplace—the same building that houses the men’s boutique, Squadron, that sells Taylor’s fashions.

The symbols were heavily used during the Renaissance as an artistic representation of an esoteric idea. Today, they give meaning to his fashion line.

“This one,” he said, pointing to a small hieroglyph on one of his cotton t-shirts, “means to ‘lift.’” Pointing to other shirts, he goes down the line, “this one is to ‘protect,’ that one ‘create,’ this one here means ‘connect.’”

The fashion is both cutting-edge and meaningful. Taylor shows me a beautifully designed tree root that stretches across one of his shirts. “It’s a root that signifies the foundation and values you stand on as a company … with infinite possibilities.”

“I’ve noticed there’s more diversity in Aurora. And I think the art itself is expanding with different media. I think that’s a plus there,” said Jiacuy Roche.

Roche’s mural, Aqua Flower Lady, also graces a wall at the Stanley. The industrial warehouse and former airplane hanger sits right in the city’s arts district and is now home to dozens of independently owned shops that sell everything from maple and bacon donuts to completely sustainable antifreeze.

For the mural, Aurora-based Roche said she wanted to showcase the diversity she sees in the city she now calls home and the city where she was born. “I love flowers personally, so I wanted to incorporate that as the afro itself ... She was very poised, beautiful, and very ethnic. That’s what I wanted to show.”

Roche was born in Brazil and, at 3 years old, adopted by a white, American

Taylor in front of Squadron

family. Her art brings her back to her roots, “focusing on my culture, Brazilian culture, and how African influences are brought into the art.”

Roche also said, “A lot of my mixedmedia paintings focus on Salvador de Bahai,” the area in Brazil where she was born.

What this means is, her art is colorful.

Immensely so. An explosion of bright yellows, blues, reds, pinks, and purples. Much of her work centers on Brazilian women wrapped in her vivid and vibrant designs.

Roche’s company, Universal Creative Expressions, is based in Aurora and sells not only her artwork, but t-shirts and bathing suits with her artwork on them.

Aurora’s city counsel is putting a lot into this artistic boom. They’re using grant money to create artistic spaces and are in the process of surveying residents to see what they want.

Economics also play a role. Like most artist colonies, Aurora attracts artists because it’s less expensive than its neighboring city of Denver. With Denver ranking 87th in this year’s WalletHub’s list of most diverse cities, Aurora far surpasses its neighbor in 38th place.

The Aurora History Museum reports more than 100 languages are now spoken in the city’s public schools.

The Census Bureau’s racial breakdown looks something like this: roughly 46 percent of the population is white; 29 percent is Hispanic, and

15 percent is black. That leaves a full 10 percent of the population falling into other minority groups. And it doesn’t stop there. The city is at the center of Colorado’s refugee growth with a sizable population of people from Nepal, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

And those minority numbers are expected to increase when the new census comes out next year.

Art by Jiacuy Roche

That’s a lot of inspiration for upcoming artists, especially minority ones.

“I notice where I live, we have Ethiopians down the street; we have Indians; we have Asians. I mean, it’s just a melting pot. I love it,” said Roche.

Both Roche and Taylor are working on getting their products launched worldwide. Roche is working to bring her exhibit to Sao Paulo, Brazil. And Taylor has a line on bringing his fashions to New York.

More than that, Taylor hopes to use his art as a platform to bring consumers and companies together to make sustainable products the norm, not the alternative.

“I do believe in the power of numbers.

If we’re able to come together and put our efforts towards one cause, that’s how big movements get built and how big problems get solved,” he said You can purchase Taylor’s products at falseego.eco Roche’s company can be found at universalcreativeexpressions.com

Art by Jiacuy Roche

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Finding Home

the Comitis Center’s Commitment to Helping Everyone in Aurora

By Bryce P. Walsh

T

raditional systems of health have underperformed in providing adequate support for the LGBTQ and homeless populations for a long period of time. Mile High Behavioral Healthcare challenges the transitional structure of care when it comes to a number of disadvantaged populations.

people experiencing homelessness, LGBTQ individuals, and female veterans and their families. These groups are supported by programs and branches of MHBHC including Denver Element, the Transgender Center of the Rockies, and the Aurora-based Comitis Center.

Director of Mile High Behavioral Healthcare Bob Dorshimer has started to address the challenges facing these communities in the Denver metro area through his healthcare centers. In Aurora, the Comitis Center provides a place where queer folks experiencing homelessness or lack of access to resources can get help.

Dorshimer’s goals are to “provide a really comprehensive service delivery to individuals that did not fit in other traditional systems of care,” aiding those who have been neglected in most healthcare systems. The Comitis Center expands these types of services past the Denver city limits, focusing on individuals experiencing homelessness on East Colfax.

Coming to Colorado by way of Massachusetts, Dorshimer has been an active force in the public and non-profit sector of metro Denver for over two decades. Having held a career in Denver’s Office of Drug Strategies, Dorshimer became the director of MHBHC in 2006, expanding from a six person team to over a hundred.

Working in conjunction with a number of other programs in Aurora, the Comitis Center functions as a crisis center geared towards families, women, and female veterans. Offering nightly and transitional housing, Comitis also caters to the daily health needs of individuals dealing with addiction, mental health issues, trauma, and homelessness.

Providing services to about 400 individuals per day, MHBHC has evolved from its original mission to treat drug and alcohol addiction, expanding to include a number of different services.

The current iteration offers a series of programs centered around mental health and basic human needs. The specific populations that the organization supports include women,

Though conservative in some ways, the city of Aurora is facing the homeless and drug epidemic proactively in partnership with MHBHC and Comitis. The working relationship between the non-profit and the city is “relatively pretty fantastic when it comes to trying to provide basic human needs,” said Dorshimer.

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This is the driving difference between Aurora and Denver—the proactive work that is being done to help meet basic human needs. Aurora has driven resources to these safety nets through the city’s cannabis tax by supporting services that bring families back together and offering literacy lessons to children as well as providing additional support for those who are homeless or underhoused.

“I think what the city of Aurora does well is, [they know] they can't do everything,” said Dorshimer. In contrast to the strategies in Denver, Aurora has taken action in smaller capacities by supporting programs that address the difficult transition out of homelessness and the under-employment crisis that leads to precarious housing situations. Within this collaboration, Dorshimer recognizes the city and Comitis are doing what they can with limited funding and resources compared to Denver.

However, Denver “is trying to do it all.” Dorshimer believes that the issue of homelessness has become a politicized subject within Denver, leading to a lack of action. For example, with the most recent mayoral race in Denver, the camping ban was a major hot topic.

of the homeless youth population is LGBTQ, traditional services either do not have the capacity, knowledge, or desire to serve this community.

There are some systems of support currently in place in Denver, such as MHBHC’s clinical support. However,“The problem with young adults and our LGBTQ youth is the trust factor. If you're not known to do this work ... then they’re not coming.”

To establish this trust requires consistency and a permissibility to “allow people to let us know where they feel safe.” This is the first challenge that public services face when trying to aid LGBTQ homeless individuals—establishing a system of trust.

This requires not only physical resources but also education regarding the special needs facing this community.

“Knowing what our rights are and getting our rights met is where I see a disconnect,” said Dorshimer about addressing the next step in helping with LGBTQ folks and homeless communities. “A lot of times, the gay community wants to go right into action.” This can lead to protest that typically lacks follow-through or solving the problem.

Most candidates provided large-scale plans that aimed to face the universal challenges of homelessness in Denver, causing a debate about the actual right for individuals in homelessness to exist within public spaces. The city of Denver “[is] trying to take it all on. That's why it's a chaotic and political issue.”

Rather than focusing all resources on protest, Dorshimer suggests that the LGBTQ community should “educate our brothers and sisters” on all the details regarding queer issues in order to establish a conversation that will lead to systemic changes.

However, the debate has not included a conversation about the lack of services for women and LGBTQ individuals facing homelessness, as most programs allocate resources to mostly cis, straight men. With experts estimating that up to 40 percent

Instead of stalling at protest when facing a challenge, Dorshimer always asks “what’s next?” This mentality drives the Comitis Center to continue offering new programs that meet the needs of its specific communities.

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Aurora Rising

By Addison Herron-Wheeler Photo courtesy of Ryan Frazier

Ryan Frazier Wants to Revolutionize Aurora

H

e’s lived in and served Aurora for years, and now he’d like to keep doing so, but in an even bigger capacity. OUT FRONT chatted with Ryan Frazier, the Aurora politician running for mayor, about his plans for queer issues and his love for the city next to the Mile High.

What are some of your most important values as a politician?

I believe in equal treatment, fair treatment of all people, no matter who you are, no matter where you're from. In 2006, I was in support of a referendum in favor of domestic partnerships.

This was before marriage equality, when we were just trying to establish some equal treatment of people. And I came out for that.

And I think that was important, because I caught a lot of flack.

But I did it because I believed it be right.

What will you do to stand up for LGBTQ people in Aurora?

I want the LGBTQ community included in discussions about Aurora and how we should work on some of the problems that we have to face in our city. I want to have an inclusive discussion of all people from different backgrounds, so that we have differing opinions and perspectives about how to address education, housing challenges, and economic development in our city. I believe that as mayor, my job is to help unify us. And I think a part of that is having the inclusive discussions with all people from our community, rich or poor, black, white, Hispanic, or Asian, you name it.

I want to invite in those in the community who I feel haven't been part of the conversations about our city so far. I want everyone to be able to help make it an amazing city. If I win this election, I want to include everybody at the table to be part of working on some of the challenges we face, but also to benefit from the opportunities we have in front of us.

Will you be at Aurora Pride?

I’ll be there! I'm looking forward to joining so many others who are going to be there. I feel like showing up is half the battle, and then the follow-through is the other half. And so for me, this is about showing up and hearing people and talking with people about what they care about and what's important to them. And then the other half is following through and helping when we hear the issues and concerns and when people share their stories with us. I want people to know that I support them, and I’m seeking to build an inclusive city that has all people at the table. I want to listen and learn.

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Get Wet The Virgin’s Guide to Aurora Pride

By Kevin Assam Photos by Charles Broshous, Jeremiah Corder, and Veronica L. Holyfield 1 8 \\ J U L Y 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

Z

ander Oklar is an event producer and the lead cat wrangler for Aurora Pride. He works with the community and festival partners to create an event that represents Aurora’s LGBTQ base and provides a safe space where all are welcome. He’s also going to walk us through a step-by-step guide that answers the most frequently asked questions about this wildly entertaining addition to Colorado’s event circuit.

Since Aurora is technically a suburb, does that mean the menu will be confined to polo-wearing daddies with strollers?

Although Aurora is a suburb of Denver, it has a unique culture and a diversity of age. Aurora Pride welcomes all. We have activities that will excite everyone.

Denver PrideFest remains in June, competing with any major city that coincides that month. Boulder made the decision to host Pride

activities in September. Why host Aurora’s in August?

We researched all of the LGBTQ Pride events in Colorado and determined a weekend that did not conflict with other Colorado Pride events. We love hosting Aurora Pride on the first Saturday in August, because the weather tends to cooperate more than early summer.

Colorado is landlocked, but the third-annual Aurora Pride will be held at the Aurora Reservoir. Why the change in location, and how does the atmosphere of a reservoir compare to a beach?

We decided that Aurora Pride needed to be unique. We thought, what better way to differentiate ourselves from the other Pride events than to host it at Aurora Reservoir? We know that it’s pretty hot in August, and the water gives people a way to cool off. We love that the reservoir venue allows us to rent cabanas, kayaks, and paddle boards!

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Aurora Pride is advertised as family friendly. Just how mature do my nieces and nephews need to be to understand and partake in the festivities?

We have guests that are from one month to 90 years old. This event will not only have the beach for the kids to play on, but a large and shaded playground with activities including cheerleading classes

by Cheer CO. This is a great event to bring your blankets, chairs, umbrellas, and set up a spot on the beach for your family or rent a cabana.

I’m recently “out” and fairly new to the LGBTQ circuit.

I’ll be attending Pride alone and would appreciate pointers on how to make friends and even find a romantic interest at an event like this.

Welcome to the LGBTQ world! The best way to make friends is to sign 2 0 \\ J U L Y 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

up to play volleyball with a group, go paddleboarding, or better yet, volunteer for the event.

Is admission free? Just how much cash should I stuff in my over-the-knee rainbow boots?

Zander: Admission is free! Parking is $10. Carpool or take a Lyft to save money! You can find parking passes, Beer Bust tickets, and cabana rentals at AuroraPride.com.

Are costumes and fanciful unicorn wear encouraged?

How should I expect the weather to impact my hair and outfit?

Definitely! Aurora Pride is a great place to go all-out and be accepted. We will also still love you if you come in your normal clothes. The weather should be pretty hot. Colorado can be unpredictable.

We can get late summer showers, so be prepared for the heat and the beach, but bring a rain jacket just in case!

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How was the entertainment for this year curated, and was there a particular theme?

There were two main goals when putting together our entertainment schedule: to bring exciting acts in to get the community ecstatic about the event and to ensure that the performers are representative of the LGBTQ community. We are thrilled to announce that our headliner this year is Alaska 5000, who will be performing live. We will also have a slew of drag kings, drag queens, burlesque artists, choirs, bands, and some amazing DJs!

What can we expect from Alaska 5000’s performance, and do you think she’ll help me put together my Drag Race audition?

Alaska will be performing a full, live set for the show and will be playing some of the music from her new album. Alaska has been great to work with so far. I’m sure that she would be happy to give you some tips!

What would you want Aurora Pride to communicate to members from communities where LGBTQ and women’s rights have been rolled back across the U.S.?

Aurora Pride believes that the best way to change minds is to bring the community together.

The only way we can change minds is by directly interacting with people of different mindsets and showing them that we are a community worth protecting.

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Proud Partner for 20 Years.

A portion of every Pride Bottle sold will be donated to GLAAD. ENJOY RESPONSIBLY © 2019 Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light® Beer, St. Louis, MO

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Celebrate Aurora!

SPONSORED CONTENT

From vast, open spaces to outstanding cuisine to vibrant neighborhoods, there’s a lot to celebrate in Aurora. But what makes Aurora truly unique? Our people—a diverse group of residents who come together to form an electrifying, dynamic community.

People from every walk, every creed, and every culture drive our city forward. They’re building businesses. They’re displaying eclectic art across public places. They’re setting the stage

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for performances we’ve never seen before.

This rich tapestry—this inclusive fabric—ties us all together and makes us a stronger city.

To the 378,000 residents who call Aurora home, we say thank you, and we embrace the diversity you bring. Thanks for inspiring our big and bold community. Thank you to every individual who has let their voice be heard. Thank you for celebrating how far we’ve come—and how far we’ll go.

By Sophia Gabrielson Photos courtesy of Aurora Reservoir

Aurora Reservoir is a Community Park For All

T

his year marks a change in location for all of the festivities of Aurora Pride. For the first time, it will be held at Aurora Reservoir. It was essential to have a location that not only brings the fun, but also the acceptance and ethos that OUT FRONT stands behind.

Brian Green, superintendent of parks, recreation, and open space, affirms that the reservoir is home to the best beach in the metro area.

The Aurora Reservoir is a beautiful outdoor space with an eclectic amount of activities for people to enjoy all summer long. On average, the staff at the reservoir serves half a million people every year. This is due to their accommodating services and the welcoming atmosphere that

works to engage communities in a healthy and active lifestyles.

Right next to the swim beach, there is a boat dock which will be available the day of Aurora Pride with paddle boards and kayaks. The reservoir does not allow motorized boats on the water due to the fact that it is also a source of drinking water for over 300,000 citizens. The lack of boat-generated waves results in a calm water environment, making way for a paddler’s paradise.

The water at Aurora Reservoir is unbelievably clear and crystal blue, which, according to Green, is because it is pure runoff. The runoff water is piped in from the mountains, treated, and then sent to the people of Aurora and surrounding areas, including Centennial.

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Aurora Reservoir is also home to Senac Creek Nature Center, one of three nature centers located in Aurora. The nature center is based at the reservoir, because beyond the water is a vast expanse of beautiful prairie land, plains, and wildlife.

Green explained that there is exceptional bird watching in the area, which is home to waterfowl, gulls, grebes, geese, ducks, herons, and plovers. Surrounding the reservoir is a beautiful, mild hiking trail that extends about eight-and-a-half miles, giving visitors the chance to escape to nature while still close to home. Spotted in the area have been pronghorn, coyotes, jack rabbits, bald eagles, and many more rare animal sightings.

Green explained that the decision to move Aurora Pride from its previous location at Aurora City Hall to the reservoir is simply a step in the natural evolution of this event. The reservoir is a much more unique area with wide 2 8 \\ J U L Y 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

open spaces, giving way to a larger community gathering. Aurora Reservoir is busy every day during the summer, which Green says should potentially help Aurora Pride to gain traction and receive bigger support than it ever has.

“Aurora City Council got behind the idea to move Pride to the reservoir right away and even donated city funds towards making the event possible,” he explained. “Aurora is a very inclusive city, and we want to be welcoming to everyone as well as promote diversity and individuality.”

As this is the first year that Aurora Pride will be held at the Reservoir, everyone in attendance must do their part to help ensure that the location remains at our disposal in the years to come. It is important to remember to treat space as if it were any other day, which means all rules and regulations must be respected.

Reservoir rules can be found on their

website, and signs are posted around the site. Two big ones to keep in mind are a strict no-glass policy and, even though you might want to include them in the festivities, no furry friends are permitted on reservoir grounds. These friendly reminders are small efforts to help protect stunning natural resources that we all hold dear.

All in all, everyone involved with helping put this event together at the OUT FRONT Foundation, Aurora Reservoir, and Aurora City Council are so excited to be putting together Aurora Pride and can’t wait to see it all come together.

Friends and family will be able to celebrate our LGBTQ communities while swimming, paddling, playing volleyball, eating at delicious food trucks, listening to live music, and of course, enjoying sensational drag performances. Just don’t forget to bring lots of sunscreen!

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OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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Evenflo Keeps it Cosplay on the Dancefloor

By Caitlin Galiz-Rowe Photo courtesy of Space Kitten

E

rin Evenflo, aka DJ Evenflo, has been DJing since 1999. Her homebase has always been Denver, but she’s played sets all over, including Portland, Mexico, New York, L.A., Oakland, and Dallas. She got into DJing through raving originally.

at Aurora Pride. To secure the gig, she simply emailed the festival with some samples of her work and was invited to perform. A lot of what Evenflo has achieved has come from just shooting her shot and seeing what sticks. Along with that comes networking.

“I would watch the other local DJs and just knew it was something I wanted to do,” she explained. So she traded her car for a set of turntables and got to work.

“That comes as part of any small business,” she said. “You party for a living, so you’re expected to be outgoing and social.”

Becoming a DJ wasn’t necessarily an easy process. “Getting turntables was the first step. The next step was a lot of crying,” she said, laughing a little. From there, her path involved a whole lot of practice and hustle. “I handed out tons of mixtapes, knocked on a bunch of nightclub doors, and handed out a lot of rave fliers.”

But the days of simply working with a party promoter are gone now, so social media has taken a bigger stage. Instagram is Evenflo’s platform of choice; she has even connected it to her Twitter account to sync up posts. Since a lot of what she does is incredibly visual, the platform helps her show offher latest looks.

That hustle paid off. Evenflo got her first residency at Tracks’ old location after giving her mixtape to the manager. It sat on his desk for two months before he finally listened to it and reached out.

From there, she’s only kept growing, now doing performances at Deviant at the Triangle and sometimes Tracks.

This visual work is inspired by costuming and cosplay culture, and Evenflo creates elaborate costumes for her gigs, which can be seen on her Instagram account.

She even does commission work for other folks who are looking for costumes. Her creations usually match the themes of the nights she’s playing.

Evenflo’s hustle has opened doors for her, such as her upcoming performance

“That’s part of why I like playing Deviant,” she told us regarding the local goth DJ

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night. “They usually have theme nights, so I can put something together to match.”

With so much going on, it can be hard for creative folks like Evenflo to maintain a healthy work-life balance, which is why she ultimately abd g====“I started walking dogs during the day instead,” she told us. She’s had a history of more flexible jobs in the past, mostly working at record stores, which helped her career as a DJ. “Really, I’ve always just found creative jobs that work around me.”

DJing has changed a lot since Evenflo first got into it. “When I first started, people used records and turntables.

Now, there’s, like, infinite ways.” This can make it extremely tricky for folks who are trying to get started in the industry. But, Evenflo has advice for those who want to try. “Do your research and find out which way speaks to you most. Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s the right way or the wrong way.”

For those who are interested in dipping a toe into the scene or attending a show, Evenflo says go for it. “If you want to go to an event, but you’re unsure, just go.

There’s so much to be gained from it; it’s a whole culture.”

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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Victoria Paige Matthews Becomes Her

By Veronica L. Holyfield Photo by Mike Bomberger

3 2 \\ J U L Y 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

T

he art of drag is not simply one which requires an external transformation—it’s a way of finding self-potential and acceptance in those areas that are often quieted and forgotten. For Victoria Paige Matthews, becoming her persona means more than taking to the stage; it’s about making herself a fully self-realized performer.

This queen from Minnesota has seen the scene at its best and its worst, and through it all, she still has the heart and essence of a performer who is eager to learn and grow. As Victoria prepares to co-host the mainstage at Aurora Pride on August 3, she is not only ready to deliver a spectacularly fabulous performance, she also plans on telling a story that embraces what truly matters most.

When did you become interested in drag?

It was in the spring of 2005 in Minnesota; I went to a drag show at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and I never had been to one. It was so much fun and so exciting; I had such a good time. I told my friends, ‘I gotta do that!’ How do I do that?’ The following fall, I was in a show, and, oh God, it was so bad! [laughs] I had no experience; no one talked to me or told me how to do anything, and I just purchased makeup with no idea what I was buying. But, over time, I've just gotten to figure out what works better for me.

How long did it take you to get into the scene once you moved to Denver?

It was like hitting the reset button; it was really slow at first, because, like most places, a lot of the bars are about who you know, that type of thing. I kept trying to get connected and people were like, ‘Do you have pictures? Do you have videos? You need to come out in drag.’ I was working in retail with odd schedules, so I couldn't, but I finally got in after a year of being here.

How is the Denver drag scene different?

Back home, you got a chance, but you could definitely tell people held their noses up in the air. There was this unspoken rivalry between the Duluth queens and the Minneapolis queens. Then I came out here, and it was so diverse. There's different drag depending on what your take of drag is, and each bar does their own thing. They were more inviting if you were a good queen, if you did a good job. It was more about putting on a good show than rivalry. So, it was a little more inviting, but [you still have to have a] reputation.

Is there something about becoming Victoria that is different than who you are every day?

It provides me with a sense of confidence that I feel I lack. I I feel like there's things that I do is a Victoria Paige that I never would do as a guy. I'm very shy. I don't understand why there's a difference, but there is.

It helped me get through a lot, because when you're shy and you're not as outspoken, you need that sense of confidence to help keep going. I would be depressed often just because I had low self esteem, but when I do drag, it’s totally different.

What makes for a signature Victoria Paige performance?

I'm definitely a 90s queen, and I feel like that makes me stand out, good or bad. I often do 90s and 80s stuff, because I still adore music from that era.

I'm doing better at broadening the genres; after Aurora Pride last year I got to know Novelli, and she's amazing. She helped me get into Koven, and I found out I have a pretty decent witchey-type Koven vibe with the numbers I've done there.

What do you have planned for Aurora Pride?

This is a big year in the LGBTQ world, and I’m also a member of the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus. We recently did a Stonewall tribute concert. I got so connected with Stonewall and our history; it was just so beautiful. I’ve planned out a special outfit that has to do with the trans community, because they're going through a lot of crap right now. I may not be in the trans community, but I have a lot of friends who are, so it's important to me to support them. I’m going to dedicate my first number to Dustin Schlong, because I know that he can't be having an easy time right now because of ovarian cancer, so I plan on donating all my tips for that number to him.

What makes Aurora Pride different than other Prides you have been to?

I feel like the other Prides are all really wonderful; I think they're just so grand. For Aurora Pride, it's a bit more focused and centered on all the aspects of Pride. Aurora is amazingly diverse in itself, so it’s more Aurora Pride and not just Gay Pride. You don’t have to be gay to come to this Pride; straight, gay, bi, whatever, all are welcome. And, this year's gonna be awesome, because it's Colorado's first beachfront Pride!

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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S

he’s fierce, fabulous, and an advocate for sexual health and cannabis. She pops up all over town, from Planned Parenthood’s The Drop, where she councils on HIV prevention, to brunches and latenight drag shows. Felony Misdemeanor is a beloved Denver staple, and she never missed a good Pride party.

How did you first get into drag?

I first got into drag by chance really. I was asked to fill in an empty spot at my friend’s birthday show. A queen had dropped out, and he asked if I could step in and do the show. He found someone to do my make-up, clothes, and hair. I went out and performed, and I haven’t looked back since. I was always an ‘entertainer’ growing up, always dancing and singing, so this was just another way to do that.

What inspires your style?

I am inspired by the great pop and hip-hop artists of the 80s and 90s. That’s where most of my influence comes from, though I’m still inspired by them today. The queens of today also keep a fire lit under my ass. My style has changed over the years; I can’t be put in just one category. I’ll just say I’m pretty and funny.

How did you find out about Aurora Pride?

Felony Misdemeanor It’s a crime to be this Fierce

By Addison Herron-Wheeler Photo by Ben Seagren

3 6 \\ J U L Y 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

I first heard about Aurora Pride at work, to be honest. I work with Planned Parenthood’s The Drop, and we have to stay looking in the community to see what’s going on as far as LGBTQ+ events. It was one of the events we discovered before it was being announced.

I was also approached by Zander Oklar, and he asked if I could perform.

The past year was amazing, despite the tornado-like wind. I’m super excited this year, because it will be next to a lake! Events like this tie into my HIV awareness, because me and my buddies and coworkers at The Drop are all over the place spreading the word about HIV screening and PrEP!

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’m still single.

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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Madison Absaroka has Found her Pride

By Veronica L. Holyfield Photo courtesy of Madison Absaroka

A

s Madison Absaroka has gone through the ups and downs of life, she keeps coming back to one thing that is consistent: her love for drag. She takes the art of self-expression through an unconventional bending of society’s expectations, and that has helped her discover that the persona of Maidson isn’t too far off from her essential inner self. Finding authenticity through performance art has helped this self-starter make a parallel between life and art that people rarely get the opportunity to experience.

Absaroka is a Denver native and has performed at a variety of Pride festivals in Colorado, hosted Drag Against Humanity with her drag sister, and frequently performs at Lil’ Devils and Charlie’s. As she prepares to take the mainstage at Aurora Pride on August 3, Madison talked with OUT FRONT about her beginnings, doing drag, and what makes Madison Absaroka stand out in a city of fabulously unique queens.

How did you get your start performing as Madison?

It's been something I've been interested in doing really since I was very young. I really started getting into drag when I was in school at the University of Wyoming. The first time I went out in drag up there was Halloween, like so many people do when they first try out drag. I wanted to go out and be the fishiest girl I could be; I was probably more like rotten tuna than a sexy fish, but still.

I only do a show every month or two; it’s just with where my life is now, but I still put myself out there and have always enjoyed drag.

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How did Madison find her name?

For a long time when I was first doing drag, I didn't have a name. Every time I’d go out, I would invent a new name and tell people ‘this is my name tonight,’ but then I settled on the name Spooky Delight, which was fun. Then, as I learned that I wanted to do drag, I realized that names gave people an idea of what kind of queen I was, and that name just didn't feel right to me. So, I was exploring names, and I settled on Madison, because I like that name; I think it's a powerful name. Absaroka is the name of a mountain range in Yellowstone, so it kind of touches on my heritage of going to school there and having a love for hiking in the Yellowstone area of this country. When I first heard the name, I said, ‘That's a gorgeous name,’ so that just became that.

What are you most looking forward to at Aurora Pride?

I think it's awesome that it's going to be on a beach; that’s super cool and unique. I think as far as my performance goes, I intend to find a new look, something that I've never worn before. I haven't gone out shopping for new looks at all. I always like when I'm in a show; I love being backstage and seeing how the other queens approach drag and how they organize their closet and the looks that they bring.

What does performing at Pride mean to you?

I definitely struggle from a lot of self-doubt and not believing in my own gifts and talents and feeling like it’s silly and I’m going to get made fun of for expressing myself in that way. I feel like being able to perform at Pride, what I want to give people is a feeling of believing in yourself, trusting your instincts, not being afraid, and letting go of that voice of doubt.

Why is the art form of drag so important?

At its core, it's just the art of self-expression. We are creative beings who can express ourselves however we want to, and how we express ourselves has nothing to do with our true essence, who we truly are, which is so much more than the physical appearance that we put out there. It helps remind us that our creativity is powerful, and drag helps us understand that our bodies are just the shell to carry their soul. With self-expression, it's about having fun and breaking free from the roles that society wants to put on you. Society tells us that there's a lot of pressure to express yourself or to present yourself in a certain way to people around you. Drag gives you the freedom to be more feminine or more masculine and to be the thing that we're not allowed to be.

“I want to give people a feeling of believing in yourself, trusting your instincts, not being afraid, and letting go of that

11.99

voice of doubt.”

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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Iron Man Onyx Steele is the Rebel King of Denver

By Apollo Blue Photo courtesy of Onyx Steele

T

he Denver drag scene is one rife with talent. There are performers who represent almost every aspect of the city’s drag scene. When it comes to kings, one of those signature performers is Onyx Steele.

A legend in the local scene, Onyx started drag in 1998 at age 13. He was drawn to drag by his sister and her friends.

“They would go to drag shows, and I wanted to be a part of the community. I saw it as a way to really become involved and have a voice,” Onyx stated. He saw drag as a socially acceptable and creative way to be an advocate for the LGBTQ community.

Onyx often gets called “a classic king,” but sees himself more as a rebel king, out to have a good time with as many people as possible. “Whether it’s throwing a dance party in a parking lot or playing games in a bar, he just wanted everyone to be themselves and enjoy life together,” he says of the drag king character he has created and become.

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Onyx fights for the little guy and doesn’t back down. His shows often take a strong political stance, but you can see his fun side in the campy and comedic numbers he enjoys performing. His drag persona isn’t static, though. It’s still changing, which comes with the art form.

When it comes to Onyx in drag versus out of drag, he cares just as much about activism, but is less outgoing out of drag. He sees drag as a mask, something to stand behind that allows him to be more outgoing.

As far as activism goes, Onyx has personally put a lot of effort into bettering our community. He is a founding member of Rainbow Alley, a safe space for LGBTQ youth located in The Center on Colfax, and continues to support them. According to Onyx, “Rainbow Alley was a program designed to be a youth-run, youth-led organization offering mental or physical health, housing, jobs, and other community need-based resources, a place for queer kids to be free to be themselves after school and on weekends.”

He also runs the Denver Dyke March and throws other fundraisers for various LGBTQ nonprofits, such as The White Rose Scholarship. Onyx also works closely with The Transformative Freedom Fund, a nonprofit brought to life by his drag brother. This fund helps with the cost of transitioning, such as name changes or hormones.

Onyx really enjoys the current drag scene as a whole. He likes how it covers plenty of niches “from witchcraft to regular, campy drag bingo.” He says it’s positive to see more drag kings in the community. He does believe the drag community has lost sight of fundraising with shows, though.

Onyx will be performing at Aurora Pride for the third time this year. He is a big fan of Aurora pride, especially because he was born and raised there. He also likes how the focus is more on the people than just one corporate sponsorship.

Come see him in action on August 3 at his hometown Pride celebration.

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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Party at Aurora Pride with Alaska 5000

By Denny Patterson Photo by Santiago Felipe 4 2 \\ J U L Y 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

A

re you ready to hit the beach and soak up some sun? In addition to all the other festivities at Aurora Pride, there will be a very special guest.

Joining the party is none other than Alaska 5000, Season Five contestant and All Stars 2 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race. We had the pleasure of catching up and having a kiki with Alaska before her visit.

Hiiieeee, Alaska! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today!

Of course! Happy to be here!

We are very excited to have you as a headliner for Aurora Pride! How excited are you to be here for Colorado’s first beachfront Pride, and how surprised are you to attend a landlocked beachfront Pride?

Well, how is it possible? [Laughs]. How are you doing it? I’m impressed! I mean, I love Colorado, and it’s so beautiful out there. So, I am excited to get to come and be a part of your Pride celebration.

What does Pride mean to you, and why should it be important to others?

Well, on the outside, Pride looks like the time for us to dance shirtless and get wasted in the daytime. As important as those traditions are, Pride is a time for us as a queer community to stand up and say we are here. We see each other; we demand to be seen by the world and respected and treated like humans. We are still fighting for our lives and our rights as far as fair treatments and f*cking human rights.

So, we are still fighting for it, and Pride is the representation of that.

Aurora Pride’s slogan is “for all,” and we are all about giving everyone a seat at

the table, even if you don’t bring money. How do you think we can make Pride more inclusive?

I love that you’re doing that! I mean, a lot of Pride festivals are for people who throw out that extra money to buy a ticket. It’s really cool that you’re doing that. If you are one of those people who is fortunate to have disposable income, then you can go ahead and donate to the cause so they can turn it out and make it fabulous.

This year also marks the 50-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. When was the first time you learned about Stonewall?

I don’t know when I first learned about it, but I think I learned about it in-depth in college. We had a course called queer theatre, so we got a really well-rounded crash course of everything queer and queer history, and Stonewall was definitely a part of that. We had an amazing instructor.

What can audiences expect from an Alaska performance?

Oh geez, I don’t know [laughs]. I usually don’t know myself until I hear the music play on the speaker. I am looking forward to performing my new song called “Pride.” I mean, it’s kind of appropriate for this time of year. It’s a really fun song, and I get to wear rainbow print, and that’s always enjoyable.

And you pulled a Beyoncé when you dropped your new album, Vagina. How has the record been received by the public?

The response has been really good, and it was really encouraging that it went to number-one. I am glad that there are people out there supporting drag music and queer artists. It is very encouraging and makes me happy.

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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Photo by Magnus Hastings

In addition to drag, has music always been a big passion of yours?

Yes, definitely. I mean, when I was a little kid and had to take piano lessons, I kind of hated it, but I didn’t realize how much music was a part of my life. We had music playing all the time, whether while I was in my room drawing or it was just around the house. So, that really continued to influence me. I still listen to music all the time. All different types of music. And I love getting to make music.

It is one of my favorite things to do.

Millions of people obviously know you from your time on RuPaul’s Drag Race. How would you say the show has changed your life?

I mean, it’s like the before Drag Race and after Drag Race. It has changed my life so much, and it has given me the opportunity to have a career doing this crazy thing called drag that I love so much. It never dawned on me how crazy of an opportunity it has been, and I am certainly grateful for all of it.

What were your thoughts on the most recent season?

I know you were pulling for our Denver girl, Yvie Oddly.

Why? Well, she’s amazing! She is one of those rare moments where somebody singularly unique comes through the show, and it was her moment. You know, she brought it to the runway; she brought it to the challenges, and she also brought it to Untucked. She’s very well-rounded, a really cool person, and an inspiring young artist. So, I’m proud of her. Well played.

How would you say drag has evolved since your time on the show?

Well, the biggest thing is that it’s cool to be a drag queen, and everyone wants to do it. That was not the case when 4 4 \\ J U L Y 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

I started drag. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy. People were like, you want to do this thing where you go out in public dressed up? Even though it’s dangerous and you can get beat up and get glitter all over your house? Are you sure?' Yeah, the biggest difference is that everyone now wants to do it. Also, we now have Amazon, eBay, and YouTube.

If you are a young drag queen starting out, those are your drag mothers.

If given the opportunity to compete again, would you?

Yes, definitely. It’s been one of the greatest pleasures of my life to get to go into that crazy pink room. If I ever got the chance to do it again, I of course would love to do it again.

You were also ranked number seven last month on Vulture’s “Most Powerful Drag Queens in America.” I saw that the article received mixed reviews. How do you feel about it?

because of it, and as the seventh most powerful drag queen on earth, I hope I can make that happen!

What powers do you think Bianca could do? She’s number one.

Well, she’s just fine about it! She’s like, I don’t know why everyone is so upset about this article. I thought it was great!

Like, shut the f*ck up girl.

What kind of legacy do you hope to leave?

Geez, I mean, Oprah said that you can never know what your legacy will leave, because what we do and things we put out there, we don’t know what kind of impact it will make. I know that drag means a lot to young people who are finding themselves and finding their way in

this weird, complicated, and changing world. So, if drag can do something with that, I hope it will reverberate through their lives in whatever way. And I am still on the journey myself, so I don’t know what my legacy will be.

How’s Lil’ Poundcake?

Well, she’s in and out of jail. We’re doing the best we can. Please pray for her.

What’s next for Alaska?

Any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for?

I never know where life is going to take me, so check out my website alaskathunderfuck. com to see where I will be next!

I think the sort of ranking system that they used was dehumanizing, and it was really disrespectful. Okay, I’m number seven. Whatever. I think all the other people listed were put into these categories, and I’m like, what good is this doing? We are not millionaire celebrities in Hollywood where you are saying these are the 10 sexiest celebrities. We are young artists working our *sses off to f*cking make it and to keep ourselves afloat. So, to do that sort of demeaning, I’m not going to call it journalism, and to do it during Pride Month, I thought it was ugly, tacky, and I personally want somebody from Vulture fired

Photo courtesy of Alaska 5000 OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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Kaptain Inherpants is Gonna Help You Shine

By Addison Herron-Wheeler Photo by Mike Bomberger

I

n some circles of the drag community, there exists jealousy, backstabbing, and general shade. With Denver drag, however, it’s all about holding each other up, and that’s especially true in the king community. Kaptain Inherpants is one of Denver’s most recognized kings, but all he wants is for even more kings to be recognized. We chatted with him about Aurora Pride, Denver drag, and all things king.

How do you feel about the recent upswing in drag king popularity?

It’s long overdue. But we do have some amazingly talented kings in this town who are getting recognized. It's harder to be as successful as a king, because it's more difficult to change outfits between numbers. It’s a little harder to be over-the-top in the same way that queens do things. We can't just change a wig and a pair of heels and look like a completely different person; we have to add makeup and facial hair.

Do you try to be super vocal and use your platform as a king to spread the word about gender issues, since you also work as a lecturer on gender studies?

Absolutely. I'm very vocal, especially about trans veteran rights, because I'm also a veteran. I was in the army for six years, and the VA doesn’t cover surgeries for hormones. They'll pay for binders, packers, breastplates, but they won't cover surgeries, which is kind of ridiculous. When you add the other things up, they might as well have just paid for the surgery in the first place.

What do you think the community needs to do to make drag more inclusive?

There's parts of our community that do need to work more together. I have a show that I host at Blush & Blu where I'm trying to merge together burlesque and live vocalists and drag.

I’m trying to bring everyone together for a variety show where 4 6 \\ J U L Y 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

everybody can showcase their art. In a lot of other cities, the burlesque and the drag people perform together in the same shows all the time, and I’d like to see that happen more here.

What can we expect from your performance this year at Aurora Pride?

I’m not sure exactly what I'm doing yet. I think on this one, I'm taking more of an approach of crafting and then choosing songs and things to fit more with the look. I change it up.

Sometimes I do the song first, and then I build the number around a song. Sometimes I find a concept and build a mix and look to go with it. I might bring back Bill Nye the Science Guy. I did that last year, and people loved it.

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Cheers for

Queers

By Angel Rivera Photos by Danielle Lirette

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W

hat do spirit fingers and philanthropy have in common? Lindsay Miller of CHEER Colorado will tell you that they are one and the same. Cheer Colorado is a growing non-profit of adult volunteers who “stunt, have a passion to perform, raise spirits, and raise funds” for the LGBTQ community. After moving to Colorado from Seattle, Miller was inspired by her CHEER seattle team to begin her very own squad right here, bringing a fresh new take on charity and cheer.

Of course, it’s wonderful to be fortunate enough to do what you love, but even more so, it’s a triumph to be able to help those in need while doing it. Miller knew that as an ally, she wanted to ensure she was able to help those in the LGBTQ community in need by raising funds, but also by having members of the community to interact and cheer with one another.

When first beginning her organization, Miller felt it important that her non-profit take a whole new approach to raising money and awareness. To her, its “charity through the lense of cheerleading.” Not only is the orginization cheering for LGBTQ folks, but for ally involvement as well. CHEER Colorado made its first appearance at Denver PrideFest’s 2017 parade. Miller wanted to make sure that people, queer or not, were able to see that her nonprofit was coming to Colorado.

Over the past two years, Cheer Colorado has chosen a beneficiary to receive a large, single donation each year to help benefit its cause. This year, that beneficiary will be Rainbow Alley, a program through The Center that creates a safe and brave space for members of the LGBTQ community and their allies ages 11 to 21. However, donation is not the only way CHEER gives back. They also take part in community events and allow audience members to interact with their shows.

Though not a member of the community herself, Miller wants to make sure that the people on her squad and the people she is helping feel the power of cheer. “ My goal is to meet people where they are at currently and move one little step further.”

To Miller, CHEER Colorado isn’t only a non-profit but a way to create lasting friendships and impact the community in a new, fun way.

“I see friendships and bonds form from this squad that might have not happened, and when I see people post on social media, I get excited” she stated. “I’m like, LOOK! We did that! You’re friends because of CHEER!” For Miller, performing and cheering at all sorts of events is wonderful, but the bonds formed are the cherry on top. She also makes sure her squad members are comfortable and happy by making sure they all have a little SPARK. SPARK is an anagram for “Safety, Philanthropy, Accountability, Respectability, and Kindness.” These five core values of CHEER Colorado are what allow Miller to have fun cheering while also making sure herself and her squad members conduct themselves in a manner most befitting of a cheer squad.

Miller says, “Most people think we are on the sidelines of football games, but more often than not, we aren’t doing that.” With 29 volunteers and counting, miller says she has seen a “tremendous ripple effect” in her squad and the LGBTQ community, and it has increased the size and scope of the event they are able to do, garnering beneficiaries and accolades from the community and allies alike. With each performance, CHEER Colorado not only creates a bigger movement in the LGBTQ and ally community, but in the cheer community as well.

For the second time in a row, CHEER Colorado will take center stage at beach-themed Aurora Pride on August 3 from 1 to 2 p.m. This special treat will be called “Spirit Fingers: Cheer and Workout Demo with CHEER Colorado.” It will include a demo of tricks and skills from CHEER as well as audience engagement.

CHEER hopes to open its doors to more people looking for a fun new way to give back to the community and create lasting relationships with the members on the squad. They are excited to bring an energetic and interactive performance to Aurora Pride, showcasing their talent and team. “We are as always, excited to extend the season of rainbows into Aurora.”

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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"A

s public health, we start with the data," Kathy Staats, Prevention and Policy Specialist for the TriCounty Health Department, said.

"We know that LGBTQ+ people in our communities experience a higher disease burden of chronic and acute conditions. So first, it is important that we collect an evidence base to ensure the programs we offer are reaching the right people in the right places."

Tri-County Health Department JOINS THE CELEBRATION

By David-Elijah Nahmod

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Dedicated to serving residents of Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties, the Tri-County Health Department offers a variety of services. With an official policy of inclusion, Tri-County has committed to supporting the LGBTQ community and will be participating in this year's Aurora Pride celebration.

Tri-County health spoke to OUT FRONT about what they are offering the community and what moves them to support the community and to become involved with Aurora Pride.

The department serves over 1.5 million people. Services for the general public include immunizations, which are provided to anyone who needs one based on income. Other programs include birth certificates, restaurant inspections, family planning, STI/ HIV testing, infectious disease investigations, and more. The department's statement on inclusion says, in part, that they "value and welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, gender identities/expressions, and sexual orientations."

"Pride events are so important to celebrate the vast amount of

people in our community across genders, orientations, and everywhere in between," said Staats. "We want to make sure all LGBTQ+ people in our communities are supported to live healthy, thriving lives."

Staats spoke of what TCHD will be offering when they set up their table at Aurora Pride.

"Tobacco-Free 303 is a platinum-level sponsor of the event and is hosting the volleyball area, rainbow volleyballs included," she said. "At our table, we will be handing out information about tobacco prevention and quitting, and are looking forward to meeting and getting to know you. Some of TCHD's other programs will also be handing out information and safe sex resources."

Staats explained why her office places such a strong emphasis on the tobacco prevention initiative.

"According to the American Lung Association, LGBTQ+ individuals are at an additional risk for tobacco use than the general population because of several key factors they are more likely to experience or to which they are exposed," she said.

"These include the effect of stigma and discrimination, social bonding and bar culture, lack of access to quality treatment and care, and targeting by the tobacco industry."

Throughout the year, TCHD offers a variety of services and referrals which benefit the LGBTQ+ community, such as their Syringe Access Services program. They carry backpacks with sterile injection equipment and naloxone, a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose situations.

Outreach is provided three times per week. This year alone, they have distributed 24,790 sterile syringes and have collected and safely disposed of 21,662 syringes, according to Staats.

"The LGBTQ+ community is at a higher risk for substance abuse for several reasons, including social stigma and lack of health resources," she said. "This can include both injection and non-injection drug use."

In addition to HIV testing, TCHD offers PrEP screening, counselling, and free safe sex materials such as condoms, lube, and dental dams. They also offer testing for sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia, which Staats says is of particular importance, because rates of sexually transmitted diseases are rising among men who have sex with men in the Denver area.

Those who need a prescription for PrEP are referred to the Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment which can connect them to financial assistance if needed and to a healthcare provider who prescribes Truvada for PrEP. Staats recommends checking out the Proud To Be Prepped website as a good resource for PrEP providers.

"We want to emphasize that LGBTQ+ people are always welcome at our Tri-County Health Department offices," said Staats. "While we know that there are many reasons that LGBTQ+ people may not experience the highest levels of health due to stigma, lack of social support, or non-affirming services, we are proud to serve you and want to continue to learn how we can best support your health."

For more information, please visit tchd.org.

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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Colorado Springs Pride

Photos by Charles Broshous Remembering Fifty Years Since Stonewall was the largest Colorado Springs Pride ever, drawing out vendors, participants, and community to the parade and festivities on July 13 and 14.

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August 7-11, 2019

Brad Loekle, Comedian performs August 9th at 8:00 p.m.

Randi Driscoll award winning singer songwriter/actress performs

August 10th at 7:00 p.m.

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OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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Betsy Bootnocker Wants to Take it All Off

By Amanda E.K. Photo courtesy of Starlight Images

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B

urlesque performers often don’t get the time in the spotlight that drag does in the queer community, but they really should. They’re fierce; they’re often femme, and they’re not afraid to take it all off. In anticipation of Aurora Pride, we spoke to Denver burlesque dancer Betsy Bootknocker about her Aurora Pride performance show and how the burlesque community has influenced her life.

my burlesque community. Every day, they encourage me to be myself and follow my creative dreams. These are the humans who helped me become a producer of the Colorado Burlesque Festival. The ones who helped me make Queeriosity a reality.

They’re not just my community; they are my family.

What was your inspiration for becoming a burlesque performer?

I originally heard about Aurora Pride from friends who had attended in the past. They spoke very highly of it, and I decided that there’s no time like the present to try something new and meet more like-minded people. I was put in contact with the entertainment booker, and now I get to perform and attend!

I’m so excited!

I’ve always wanted to be a performer in some capacity. My introduction to Burlesque happened in high school when we put on a production of Gypsy, and I instantly fell in love.

When I finally became of age to attend an actual show, I found Ooh La La Presents at 3 Kings Tavern. The more I attended shows, the more I wanted to be a part of that world. It took a friend, Olivia Longtime, getting involved in it for me to gain the confidence to audition, and the rest is history.

Did you meet with any resistance when you first started out? How about now?

There were people in my life that didn’t understand it. If there was resistance, no one said anything directly to me. At the end of the day, I do Burlesque because I never liked who I was before. Burlesque allowed me to finally find my beautiful and most authentic self. There will always be resistance. If someone has an issue with my artform, they are entitled to that opinion, but I’ve never felt more like myself than I do when I am on the stage.

How would you describe your performance style?

My performance style is a melting pot of genres. It ranges from storytelling and nerdlesque to a good, old fashioned bump ‘n’ grind. I don’t like being in a box. I enjoy having a variety of acts for any and all of the shows I could be a part of.

What do you feel is the most rewarding thing about burlesque?

If I had to choose one, it would be seeing other performers shine bright on stage and finding inspiration through their confidence, beauty, and the incredible creativity that flows through each and every one of them. These are the people who lift me up and keep me going. Their success is my reward.

How has the burlesque community supported your dreams and individuality?

The community has given me platforms to share my art. They have provided opportunities for me I couldn’t dream of. I get to be on stage, and for those five minutes, I feel invincible. I wouldn’t have found my creative happy place if it weren’t for

How did you hear about Aurora Pride?

What made you say yes to the gig?

Pride is important to me. Celebrating the people who paved the way for us to have Pride festivals in the first place.

Honoring those who fought for our rights. Getting to spend time with our queer community and allies in one safe space.

Not to mention, the opportunity to get to perform with some incredible performers.

What can we expect from your Aurora Pride performance?

I chose my act because it was the first act I’ve ever performed at a Pride fest. This act has a lot of movement and power. One might say it’s dripping in gold...

How does your burlesque relate to queer rights?

Burlesque and drag aren’t so different. It’s not just about the strip-tease. It can be a powerful tool to show vulnerability, take a political stance, and give you the ability to own your sexuality and body. I perform to be visible and own my femininity and queerness.

Performing allows me to express myself, but my first love is my wife. She encourages me to go for things I wouldn’t normally try. She’s there to support me at every show she possibly can attend. She has her own “Mrs. Bootknocker” hat. I perform because she is my number-one fan, and I will always fight for her. Our queer rights deserve to be fought for, and I will continue to perform in the name of love!

What advice can you offer an aspiring burlesque performer?

I would tell them to stay true to themselves! Don’t let others dictate your art. You are valid and wonderful in every way.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We all started somewhere, and we didn’t do it alone. The burlesque community has its ups and downs like every other community out there, but we always come through when you need us most!

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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The Aurora Singers Bring the Power of Music

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By Denny Patterson

T

he Aurora Singers have been around since 1977, and they’re still going strong. Over the years, the ensemble has strived to enrich the entertainment experience of its audience through performing high quality choral and musical repertoire with an eclectic mixture of popular tunes and musical theatre.

As performers, the Aurora Singers understand the power of music, and its ability to connect groups and individuals with a universal language. They have become an iconic staple within the city, and OUT FRONT had the pleasure of chatting more with Tanner Kelly, the artistic director, about the choir and their upcoming performance at Aurora Pride.

Let’s begin by chatting more about your upcoming performance at Aurora Pride.

What can audiences expect?

Audiences can expect a fun, exciting, and energetic performance! We are always honored to perform in any capacity, and I know the Aurora Pride audience will have a great time.

What are you looking forward to the most about this performance?

We are looking forward to sharing our love of music at this wonderful and important event.

Are the Aurora Singers specifically a LGBTQ-oriented group?

What do you hope members gain by being a part of this group?

We are like a family. We love to work and play hard!

As the artistic director, what have you personally gained?

Many members of this group have been in the singers for decades. They have welcomed me with open arms, and I have gained several new friends in my short time with the singers.

Why did you initially want to be involved with the Aurora Singers?

I have heard nothing but great things about the people in the organization and what the organization stands for, and I enjoy teaching the music and the movement.

How would you say the Aurora Singers have evolved over the years?

We have welcomed some new singers and instrumentalists into the groups, and I believe our showmanship gets higher and higher each show.

What are some accomplishments or goals you would like the Aurora Singers to achieve within the next year or so?

No. The Aurora Singers openly welcome anyone and everyone in our group.

We are always looking to work with new and diverse organizations and to extend our performances to more of the community.

How would you say the Aurora Singers are unique and stand out from other choral groups?

Do you have any upcoming performances scheduled?

We are different than traditional choirs, as we are a show choir and have choreography in our shows. While we do focus on great musicianship, our concerts really do feel more like a performance than a concert.

We are very excited about our next season! October 5-6 is “A Splash of Color;” December 7-8 is “The Spirit of the Season;” March 7-8 is “Gone Overboard,” and May 2-3 is “Show Tunes and Theme Songs.”

For more information, visit aurorasingers. org.

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6 0 \\ J U L Y 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

Phoenix is Colorado’s

Transgender Community Choir

By Denny Patterson

F

ounded by writer and educator Sam Bullington, Phoenix, Colorado’s Transgender Community Choir is a collaborative, intergenerational social justice arts collective based in Broomfield. With singers from all over the Front Range, this is not your traditional chorus.

Phoenix is described as more of a safe space to take risks of self-exploration around gender and identity, creativity, voice, leadership, and community building. Many of the members identify as trans, but this choir is home for anyone who does not fit neatly into the gender binary, as well as touched by trans issues. OUT FRONT had the pleasure of chatting more with Bullington about the choir and their upcoming performance at Aurora Pride.

Let’s begin by chatting a bit more about the choir’s history. When was it founded, and why did you want to start it?

Phoenix was started because it needed to exist.

There is an LGBTQ choral organization named GALA that has big festivals with hundreds of choral performances every four years. I went to the GALA 2012 Festival in Denver and was shocked to find zero trans anything there. I vowed it wouldn’t happen again in 2016, even if I had to start my own chorus. So, in fall 2015, that is exactly what I did.

What can audiences expect from your performance at Aurora Pride?

They can expect to be touched and inspired.

We are a very heartfelt and soulful group who prioritize moving, inspiring, encouraging, educating, and awakening our audiences more than entertaining them.

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

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They can also expect to be invited to sing along with us. We are a collaborative organization, and we love to collaborate with our audiences. Phoenix is ultimately a welcoming place of community as well as a space of growth and risk-taking, so we invite our audiences to become a part of it rather than just sitting there passively.

Is this your first Pride festival performance?

We actually had our first Pride performance on June 12. We performed at Melodies of Pride with the Mile High Freedom Band.

What are you looking forward to the most about this Aurora Pride performance?

I have never been to Aurora Pride before, so I am excited to check it out. I like that there are local alternatives to the big Denver celebration. Phoenix sings at a lot of community events, so one of the benefits of being in Phoenix is getting to attend a lot of cool events!

How would you say Phoenix is unique and stands out from other LGBTQ-oriented choirs?

We are very different from other LGBTQ choirs. Since we believe trans people are innovators, we feel compelled to reinvent what a choir is and how an organization runs. We are a collaborative arts collective, so we have a multi-headed leadership model very different from the usual top down leadership of most choirs. And we write a lot of our own material, which is very unusual. At the 2016 LGBT choral festival, we were the only chorus that performed all-original songs.

Do you have to identify as trans to be a member of Phoenix?

You do not need to be trans-identified to be a part of Phoenix.

Core to our mission is to be a place where everyone touched by trans issues can be together. So, we have many folks in Phoenix who are parents, partners, friends, and allies, as well as many who are exploring their own gender and figuring out where they fit.

A space of belonging. As a non-binary trans person, it has been very challenging for me over my lifetime to find where I belonged in a binary society. What I most hope members find in Phoenix is a sense of home.

What have you personally gained by being the founder and director?

Personally, it is very fulfilling to watch your vision come to fruition in the real world—from a particular song I thought would be great for an event to the existence of Phoenix itself. Phoenix has been a space of growth for me as well, continually doing things well beyond my comfort zone. I have met some wonderful people, and we have created together a very loving and nurturing family that has become important to people. That is very special to me.

How would you say the choir has evolved over the past couple of years?

We have nearly doubled in size in the last year. When Trump launched his attack on trans people last fall, I posted on Facebook that trans people looking for a refuge and cisgender people looking to concretely show their support for trans communities should consider singing with Phoenix for a month, since we had a cluster of performances around Halloween. We had 12 new people at the next rehearsal, and most of them have stayed on.

What are some accomplishments/goals you would like Phoenix to achieve within the next year or so?

When we first started, we got a lot of what I call trans pity applause, where people gave us a standing ovation just for coming out onto the stage. As we have matured, we have begun to step more and more into a place of leadership by bringing our expansive social justice vision, as much about racial and economic justice, and gender justice more broadly, as trans/queer issues. I would like to continue growing in that role.

Do you have any other upcoming performances scheduled?

Recently, one of the Phoenix members told me that one of their favorite things about Phoenix as an organization is that they do not actually know who in Phoenix is transidentified. We are governed by a trans sensibility as an organization, but so many trans spaces leave people feeling not trans enough, and we are not one of those spaces. We are a safe space of self-exploration for everyone who feels called to be with us.

We will be singing during the opening ceremony of the Arise Music Festival on August 2, and we will be performing at Javastop in Longmont in September. Then, at the end of September, we will be embarking on our second choir tour. Last spring, we went to the Twin Cities and sang at the Trans Voices Festival, with a concert in Omaha with the River City Mixed Chorus on the way. This year, we are headed to Portland and performing our original play, Raven's True Self, at elementary schools in Salt Lake City and Boise en route.

What do you hope choir members gain by being part of this group?

For more information about Phoenix, contact Bullington at sam.bullington@colorado.edu or like and follow their Facebook page.

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// 6 3

Punk Rock Burlesque GET NAUGHTY WITH AURORA PRIDE

By Caitlin Galiz-Rowe Photo courtesy of Punk Rock Burlesque

A

little over a year ago, OUT FRONT spoke with Squeaky Springs and other members of Punk Rock Burlesque to explore who they are and what they do. Now, approaching their fifth anniversary, what are things looking like for this brash group of performers?

The first and most obvious change is the venues Punk Rock Burlesque are frequenting these days. Last year, you could find the troupe at Streets of London on a Sunday night. But now they’ve switched things up, instead performing at monthly pop-up shows all over Denver, including venues like The Larimer Lounge and the Marquis. They even have a speakeasy location.

“Going monthly has allowed us to do bigger performances,” founder and MC Squeaky Springs told OUT FRONT. The full roster of performers is currently at 81 people, and each show features between 15-20 performers. “Converting over to the pop-up shows has made it easier for us to reach bigger audiences.”

Running the troupe for five years has brought all kinds of ups and downs, and Springs has learned a lot from the experience.

“I’ve learned to be flexible and fluid,” Springs said. Considering all the change and growth Punk Rock Burlesque has gone through over the past half a decade, these are extremely necessary skills.

The main thing that has become clear, though, is how important their audience is. “I’ve learned how incredible and supportive our audience is, and how transformative this art form can be.”

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Now with these new shows, the Punk Rock Burlesque crew is able to serve their audience better and have access to more people than ever before.

Giving access to this transformative artform is a big part of what Punk Rock Burlesque does. Folks from all levels of experience perform with the troupe. For the more seasoned performers, it’s an inclusive environment that’s more than welcome. Newbies are provided with a training program to help get them started. “There’s a whole process to support them and make them feel comfortable,” Springs told us.

As of this writing, the performers for Punk Rock Burlesque’s upcoming Aurora Pride show have yet to be determined, but you can bet they will be just as diverse and interesting as ever.

The core of their performance is going to be a surprise, but Springs wanted to set expectations for their daytime slot. “It’s going to be a little more toned down, since we’re performing during the day, and it’s a smaller time slot.” Springs told us. To see a show that’s more of their usual speed, you can check out their five-year anniversary show on August 3 at the Marquis.

The troupe is doing well and continuing to grow its members and audience. But what’s next? According to Springs, “we’re really happy with where we’re at, though we obviously want to keep growing and intriguing our audiences.”

One way they plan on doing this is by beginning to incorporate live music into their performances. The first of these is on July 14, where they’ll be performing at the Larimer Lounge with a live swing band. Beyond that, Springs just hopes that they can continue to take up space, be who they are, and be Denver’s rebel burlesque troupe.

Smirnoff proudly supports Colorado's Aurora Pride Festival on August 3rd!

OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM

// 6 5

Dragutante

will make You LIVE… Happily Ever After

By Dragutante Photos by Robin Johnson

P

oor Cinderella. No gown, no jewels, no glass slippers ... until suddenly, her fairy godmother appeared, and with a flick of the wrist, she was fabulously transformed into a glamorous princess. We all know the story; little girls wishing upon a star to have their dreams come true. It’s no surprise that little boys do too.

And why shouldn’t they? Gender norms are changing, and with the help of Dragutante, all children can have a Cinderella day.

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Dragutante was created by a group of Colorado parents led by local drag mom Robin Fulton. These avant garde parents are smashing gender stereotypes by providing a stage for youngsters under 18 to express themselves through the art of drag. This event is all about celebrating children’s desire to shine while supporting and educating parents about the art of drag.

When asked about supporting his child, parent of 10-year-old Sassalina Bluchilde said, “This is their way of expressing themselves. If your options are to support them, or not to support them, I don’t see that there’s really an option.”

He added, “They have to do it; it’s part of them. It’s no different than if your child loved soccer; you’d be at the

field cheering every weekend. Drag is something that’s understandable to kids, because they’re used to playing dress up as a part of their everyday routine. We are trying to help parents understand that it’s okay, and to provide a safe place for them to feel supported.”

So, why is the new trend of drag kids becoming en vogue? You can thank RuPaul for that glass slipper. These kids grew up captivated by Ru’s fabulous queens, and now we have a generation that’s after their crowns. Less than a decade ago, they were in their carseats singing along to Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way” and have eagerly studied as Mama Ru taught them to sashay their way into the spotlight. Armed with smartphones and pop culture, these kids are redefining 90s club kid drag and adding their own post-millennial sparkle.

To them, there’s little difference between a Disney princess and a drag queen.

Indeed, the parallels between the two are positively uncanny; both wear extravagant costumes and perform signature songs. Big hair is an absolute must across the board. Both have been known to make their debut at a local ball. And, like it or not, a midnight transformation is virtually inevitable...

Quora user William Salyers posted a perfect response to the question: "What is your opinion of drag queens around children?"

"I'm against drag queens being exposed to children. A lot could go wrong.

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Nails could be broken, wigs pulled off, someone could get knocked off her heels. Children are wild, irrational, and unpredictable, and their characters are still in the formative stages. Someone fabulous could get hurt."

Fortunately the local queens who volunteer for Dragutante are up for the challenge. As the event heads into its third season, the support within the community has strengthened to help with the new growth. Dragutante’s first-year queens are reaching the age of 18 and are moving on to bigger productions.

The drag court ICRME (Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire) has graciously both volunteered and donated towards Dragutante’s nonprofit. Younger queens are being joined onstage by drag kings, “hyperqueens,” and non-binary performers. Drag kids are flourishing with the growing support for the genre as well as educating others about acceptance for the art.

Dragutante began as a way for children to safely celebrate their authentic selves, and every child who wishes to be a star has a magical drag-mother ready to make their Cinderella day a reality. It’s as easy as Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Ru. If you missed the show, you can still donate towards the program via our Gofundme, as well as meet some of the Dragutantes who will be performing at Aurora Pride on August 3.

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// 6 7

Trans People Deserve Bathing Suits

By Mar Luther

I

knew that as a trans person, my identity would have an effect on my life in a handful of ways—coming out time and time again, hopefully getting to wear clothes I actually found to be cute despite getting misgendered every day because of it, learning how to perfect my makeup and also perfectly administer a shot to myself. I didn’t know some of my biggest challenges would be remembering to subtract a size and a half for my shoe size, keeping calm when a stranger genders me correctly, or simply wanting to go for a swim.

As a girl who grew up on the East Coast with grandparents who lived on the beach, I took easy access to the ocean for granted and clearly didn’t quite think about how far away from the great big blue I’d be moving when I decided upon Denver, Colorado. I miss the water, and not only because I moved half a country away, but because even when I have the opportunity to swim, it feels like too big of a risk.

You see, when summer finally arrives, it feels necessary to go shopping for bathing suits, especially when living in a capitalist-driven, body image-obsessed society. Along with many other types of women, I found it to be a debilitating task this year, one that has left me sitting on the side of the pool, maybe feet dangling in, but still unable to get in and enjoy the water.

I hadn’t purchased my own bathing suit in years, because I misunderstood my dysphoria as believing I hated swimming, and anyway, I had some swim trunks that still fit me, right? So a month or so ago, I set out, with a supportive friend, of course, to find a bathing suit—one that would both affirm my body and my gender identity while still giving me sense of relief when swimming in pools overflowing with cisgender folk.

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As a trans women who “passes” for the most part, it had been a minute since I felt like an outsider shopping, but that feeling was quickly brought back to life when standing in the aisles of Target on Colorado Blvd.

My hands were getting clammy, my breath short, and my forehead drenched in sweat.

I was constantly moving for other shoppers who would come near me, as if I was an intruder, hoping it would keep be from getting “clocked”—a term frequently used to imply trans people are faking our identities by pulling the wool over society’s eyes. What I had hoped would be a cute bathing suit trip quickly turned into the realization that finding swimwear as a pre-op or non-op trans woman was a losing battle.

So, I now own two bathing suits, both of which I wear with shapewear underneath and sometimes multiple pairs for extra coverage. When I go to the pool, you can usually find me sitting under the umbrella in the corner of the patio away from everyone. I don’t really swim; at most I sit on the stairs in the water, which still feels like a huge step for me, pun intended.

Last week when I went, I wore a coverup for the majority of the time and even had a hard time taking that off, much less attempting to take a dip. I don’t think I realized years ago how hard it would be to do such mundane tasks like bathing suit shopping, simply because I am trans.

I definitely didn’t realize how much I took for granted when I lived near the water and wasn't drowning in society’s transphobia.

Honestly, it feels silly to go to pools and not swim, but that’s where I’m at with my body in a bathing suit. I may not touch the water, but I’m still out there, being myself under the sun, claiming space where trans bodies are often made to feel as if we don’t belong.

And, frankly, if you find a space and some friends you feel safe around, you should try it too. We deserve it.

Kimberly, 31 — Denver

Kimberly, 31 — Denver

Kimberly takes PrEP to protect the transformation she has made into the strong and empowered woman she is today. If you think you may be at risk for HIV, PrEP could be right for you. For more information and personal stories visit ProudToBePrEPPED.com.

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Billie Eilish

Photo by Veronica L. Holyfield Performing to a sold-out Red Rocks Amphitheatre on June 5 on her When We All Fall Asleep Tour, Billie Eilish may only be 17 years old, but she has taken the world by storm with her heavy, beat-driven songs paired with her finely-tuned whisper vocals.

Pop has been taken to a new level as her dark, hip-hop-pop sound and introspective lyrics provide a fresh voice combined with the wisdom of a reflective, old soul.

Kaki King Photo by Veronica L. Holyfield Composer and guitarist Kaki King performed her latest concept, The Neck is a Bridge to the Body, at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Friday, June 28. Known for her percussive tapping elements incorporated with a blending of unique, stylistic technique, she has now added an element of unparalleled multimedia production.

Using the guitar as a projection screen, King uses the instrument as a form of mapping sonic and visual narration as she travels through various stages of song and story. The luminous visuals were displayed on her signature Ovation Adamas 1581 six-string acoustic guitar, customized specifically for this show, as well as projected overhead. Sometimes in harmony, and at other times in opposition, she’s always in a congruent verse of expression.

King took audiences on an exciting journey as the guitar was awakened, thus awakening the player and emulating the connection of growth, form, and destruction.

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My name is Joseph Boyle. I’m a 27 year-old gay man with a

me) have the tendency to have just one more shot of tequila,

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when you didn’t need the two before it.

Don’t worry, I’m going to gloss over the melodramatic retelling of 50 Shades of Gay and jump straight to point.

What this crazy ordeal taught me is, you have to love the part of you that will lead you into making some of the dumbest decisions of your life. Loving yourself, even through the bad

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stuff, is what makes redemption, forgiveness, and most of all, moving on, that much more possible. We are human. We’re flawed, messy, temperamental, and (if you’re anything like

Joe Boyle, MA Denver Element Program Coordinator

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Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo Photos by Charles Broshous The Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo was held at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds on July 7. The Colorado Gay Rodeo Association has been keeping queer cowboys on their steeds for years now.

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World Pride

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Photos by Shelly Simon of See Shell Shots From the dyke and queer liberation marches to the nightlife of the big city, NYC ushered in the LGBTQ community and its allies June 28-30 as the queers took over the town to celebrate Pride and 50 years since the Stonewall Riots.

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