Denver PrideFest, a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ celebrations in the Rocky Mountain region, gears up for its golden anniversary this summer. Mark your calendars for June 22nd and 23rd, 2024, as Denver prepares to commemorate five decades of unity, inclusion, and progress for the LGBTQ+ community and allies. Denver PrideFest A Legacy of Celebrating Diversity and Equality Denver PrideFest boasts a rich history that reflects the city's evolving LGBTQ+ landscape. This journey began in 1974 with a small gathering in Cheesman Park, organized by members of the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire. This initial spark of pride ignited a movement, leading to the founding of The Center on Colfax in 1975. The Center, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, continues to provide year-round programs and services for the LGBTQ+ community. In 1975, they started organizing the parade, with a festival component added in 1990. Through dedication and tireless efforts, Denver PrideFest has blossomed into the largest celebration of LGBTQ+ pride in the Rocky Mountain region. The spirit of inclusivity and progress remains at the heart of Denver PrideFest. This year's 50th-anniversary celebration promises a vibrant and memorable experience, honoring the past while embracing the future. A Golden Anniversary Celebration Packed with Fun The 50th-anniversary festivities kick off with the Pride 5K presented by Smartwool on Saturday, June 22nd. This energetic run sets the stage for the main event – the two-day Denver PrideFest at Civic Center Park. Prepare to be dazzled by over 250 exhibitors showcasing an array of products and services. Indulge in culinary delights from 30 food vendors, and immerse yourself in captivating live performances throughout the festival. Sunday morning bursts with color and energy as the Coors Light Pride Parade commences at 9:30 am. Spectators lining the 14-block route along Colfax Avenue will be treated to a spectacular display of colorful floats, vibrant marchers, and pulsating music, culminating at Civic Center Park where the festivities continue. This year marks the exciting debut of the Gayborhood Market, a collaborative effort between Denver PrideFest and The Rainbow Market Denver. This new initiative aims to support local LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, craft-makers, and artisans by lowering the barrier to entry for PrideFest participation. The dedicated Gayborhood Market will be situated in Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park. Honoring Key Figures in Denver's LGBTQ+ History The 2024 celebration honors some of the key figures who have shaped Denver's LGBTQ+ landscape. These individuals played pivotal roles in advocating for equality, fostering inclusion, and creating a vibrant community. Christopher Sloan (he/him): Also known as the legendary Christi Layne, Sloan holds a revered position in both entertainment and activism circles. As Empress VI of the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire, Sloan secured the first permit for the Denver Pride Parade & Festival, paving the way for generations to come. Phil Nash (he/him): A Denver resident since 1976, Nash's contributions to the city's LGBTQ+ community are undeniable. He served as the first director of The Center on Colfax and played a crucial role in establishing the Colorado AIDS Project. Look for his upcoming book, "LGBTQ Denver," published by Arcadia Publishing in 2024, offering a perspective on Denver's rich LGBTQ+ history. Rex Fuller (he/him): Currently the Chief Executive Officer at The Center on Colfax, Fuller embodies unwavering dedication to promoting inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community. His leadership has empowered countless individuals across Colorado and beyond. Phil Wade (he/him): Wade stands as a symbol of courage and determination. As an openly gay Denver Public School teacher at a time of significant discrimination, his participation in the historic Denver Gay Revolt at City Council on October 23rd, 1973, symbolized a powerful stand for equality. Jameson Johnson (they/them): Known for their captivating drag persona, Ophelia Peaches, Johnson is a force for self-expression and activism within the LGBTQ+ community. Johnson empowers others through creative performance and continues to be a vibrant figure in Denver's LGBTQ+ scene.

Just remembered the time I accidentally showed up to a protest dressed as a unicorn 🦄✨🌈 The confused looks were priceless! #UnicornProblems #ProudAndColorful #LGBTQActivist

Activists: portraits in black and white - recently I've had the chance to photograph celebrity host, actor, and activist Ron B again, at MNN in NYC. (bts story: I was listening to Freddie Mercury when working on this image, and for whatever reason, decided to convert it to b&w.) #RonB #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQIA #LGBTQactivist #LGBTQactivists #actor #celebrityhost #NoBoundaries #NoBoundariesUpCloseAndPersonal #MNN #blackandwhite #bnw #bnwphotography #portraits #blackandwhiteportraits #blackandwhitephotography #nikon #nikonphotography #nikonmirrorless https://www.instagram.com/p/CZpkt9EhYoR/?utm_medium=tumblr

Happy PRIDE to everyone from Raleigh, North Carolina! The world has completely changed due to COVID-19 and that includes the lack of Pride celebrations throughout Pride month! You can still have Pride in yourself and educate others about LGBTQ history not only here in the United States, but also throughout the world! I want to take this time to encourage everyone to learn more about the Transgender community by watching the new documentary on Netflix called Disclosure! It's a fantastic film about transgender representation in TV and film up until this point in time. It's important to listen to members of that community and understand that transgender roles should not be written from the viewpoints of cis straight men or women as that representation has shown very offensive stereotypes of transgender individuals. I would also encourage everyone to watch another Netflix documentary called The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson about the transgender and LGBTQ activists that helped start the LGBTQ rights movement at the Stonewall Inn that later became known as the Stonewall Riots. Trans individuals were such an integral part in the start of the LGBTQ rights movement, but were forced to walk in the back of the parade, have been treated awful in their own community and are still murdered at higher rates than any other group of individuals because of hate. Educate yourself and always be kind to others! Life is hard so treat others with respect and dignity, just like you would like to be treated! #LoveMore #LGBTQ #LGBTQhistory #Pride #PrideMonth #LGBTQpride #Raleigh #NorthCarolina #NC #Netflix #Disclosure #TransgenderRepresentation #TransgenderCommunity #TransgenderRoles #TransgenderHistory #TheDeathAndLifeOfMarshaPJohnson #TransgenderActivists #LGBTQactivists #LGBTQRightsMovement #StonewallRiots #Stonewall #LGBTQrights #NoHate #LoveTrumpsHate #Transgender #StonewallLGBTQ #Rainbow #RaleighStrong #WarehouseDistrict #Parkside (at Parkside Restaurant) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB--rjBAWY2/?igshid=czffufutv1kw

42 years ago today, the Christopher Gay Liberation Day Parade took place in New York City. This image shows two legendary transgender activists, Marsha P. Johnson (August 24, 1945 – July 6, 1992) and Sylvia Rivera (July 2, 1951 – February 19, 2002).

In 1971, Rivera and Johnson formed Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), the first political organization dedicated to fostering and supporting the rights of trans people in the United States. STAR gave food and shelter to the homeless and transgender youth, many of whom were, like Rivera and Johnson, low-income people of color who lived out on the West Side piers in Manhattan. Living on the streets and engaged in survival sex, Johnson, a self-identified drag queen, suffered from mental illness and was arrested more than 100 times and shot once. At the time of the gay liberation movement after the Stonewall Rebellion, trans people and sex workers, especially those of color like Johnson and Rivera, were marginalized within the gay community, even while they played a key role in the movement. (summarized from Cruising the Dead Riverand Wikipedia)

“The limited visibility of this queer history of the piers reflects the persistent exclusion of this trans community from many of the predominantly gay spaces and activist groups in the West Village at the time.” (p.148)

Together, Johnson and Rivera advocated for queer and transgender youth and fought for the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act in New York. The Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, credit, and the exercise of civil rights.

New York City has announced the installation of a permanent monument to honor the legacy of Johnson and Rivera, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. (New York Times, Julia Jacob, March 29, 2019).

Image: Sylvia Rivera (holding banner) and Marsha P. Johnson (far left) at the Christopher Gay Liberation Day Parade, New York, June 24, 1973

Cruising the dead river : David Wojnarowicz and New York's ruined waterfront Anderson, Fiona, 1985- [author]   Chicago ; London : The University of Chicago Press, 2019. 195 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 24 cm English HOLLIS number: 99153843583703941

With my dear friend @appolonia_cruz At the United As One Rally in the Bronx. #tymmoss #goodfriends #funtimes #unitedasone #lifeoftym #gaymoviestar #lgbtqactivists #selfie #gay #LGBT #ubctv (at Bronx County Courthouse 851 Grand) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1oRpmCAAyt/?igshid=1cpx428f9jmvp

Encore- Post From Exactly One Year Ago THEN (Early 70s) Now (2016 & 2017) **Photos of me then and now** When I was young I would never have guessed where I’d end up all these years later. I was a nature nut back then loved the woods, and began to really like Henry David Thoreau’s philosophy, I was learning to play the trumpet and piano and a bit later the guitar. I loved stories of explorers and archeologists and spent time frequently in the Maine town’s small library. I was very confused about sexuality and gender. I discovered that the natural way of expressing myself was criticized so I tried to edit those things out of the view others had of me. I got real ill in 8th grade with a ruptured appendix and spent a week in the hospital and a month recuperating. I was not great at sports - I once hit a softball up and behind me where it knocked out a chicken in the coop near the backstop. My how my life has changed. I’ve been through so many experiences. Seen and lived in many places, became an LGBTQ & AIDS activist in the late eighties and through the nineties. Beginning in 1999, I spent a bit over 10 years working for my state’s department of health. That job took me all over New Mexico and to many other places for conferences and trainings. Now I am on disability retirement and have finally found myself and came out as Agender/Trans Femme/NonBinary/Genderqueer and found a new family with the trans community here in Santa Fe, NM. #Then #Know #1970s #2016 #2017 #me #personal #Childhood #Puberty #GrowingPains #Nature #NewMexico #Maine #The #Now #DeptOfHealth #LGBTQActivist #AIDSActivist #ComingOut #Agender #TransFemme #NonBinary #Genderqueer #Elder #Over55 #GettingOld #Disabilities #TransActivist #TheNewOldMe https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpug5VnhVB8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=oigzuyg4r9ap

🌵Just wrapped up a video introduction for a new major opportunity. As a model, actor, music artist, and human rights activist, I’m super excited to announce my artist partnership with #TrueEvolutionInc, a non profit queer organization based in Riverside, California 🌴fighting for health equity, and racial justice✊🏾 to advance the quality of life, and human dignity of #LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈people. Stand by for more details.✨#NonProfit #Model #Actor #Musician #HumanRightsActivist #LGBTQActivist (at The Gathering Place) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNOWtdOsXMo/?igshid=4zv5xbbyf1ga

#NationalComingOutDay is grounded in the spirit of the personal being political. The most basic form of activism is being your authentic self, being open and out, honest and true to yourself, and especially with family, friends, and colleagues. Homophobia, bigotry, hatred, and persecution of LGBTQ+ people thrives in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance. National Coming Out Day reminds us all that once people realize that they know, like, and love individuals who are lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer, they are far less likely to maintain homophobic or oppressive views. This photo of me is from my youth, as my career in art, entertainment, and media became greater platforms for me to explore and share myself, and to help and empower others to do the same. Throughout all the adversities and challenges I have lived through, I have learned that the more I live with pride for being who I am and how I am, the more I help others live proudly for being who they are and how they are. How do you live honestly and share your truest self with others? . . . . . . . . #YuvalDavid #lgbtq #lgbt #lgbtqia #lesbian #gay #bi #trans #queer #lgbtqactivist #lgbtqadvocate #lgbtqactor #lgbtqfilmmaker #lgbtqleader #lgbtqadvocacy #lgbtqactivism #comeout #comingout #outofthecloset #beyou #gayguy #gayman #gayactor #gayfilmmaker #queeractor #queerfilmmaker #queerman #queermen #gaymen (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGOjrafBg-0/?igshid=1clt0dbxn8f74

🌈💕Hey fabulous folks! Just adding a pop of color to this world, one fabulous outfit at a time!✨🎉 #LoveIsLove #LGBTQActivist #SpreadTheRainbow #BeYourself

Activists: portraits in black and white - recently I've had the chance to photograph celebrity host, actor, and activist Ron B again, at MNN in NYC. (bts story: I was listening to Freddie Mercury when working on this image, and for whatever reason, decided to convert it to b&w.) #RonB #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQIA #LGBTQactivist #LGBTQactivists #actor #celebrityhost #NoBoundaries #NoBoundariesUpCloseAndPersonal #MNN #blackandwhite #bnw #bnwphotography #portraits #blackandwhiteportraits #blackandwhitephotography #nikon #nikonphotography #nikonmirrorless https://www.instagram.com/p/CZpkt9EhYoR/?utm_medium=tumblr

✨SHOUTOUT & A HUGE THANK YOU TO @katiehwillcox and her team showing 𝘶𝘴 some vulgar love in the “NO WHITE MAN” T ✨ There has been nothing but endless love from influencers, artists, friends and family as the VULGARV dream continues to bloom✨ . . . . . . . . #empowerment #fashionactivism #femaleempowerment #forwardtoafeministfuture #creatingchange #lgbtq🌈 #lgbtqactivist #intersectionalfeminism #fashion #fashioninfluence #safespaces #equity #equityforall #equality #equalitycantwait #equalityact https://www.instagram.com/p/B1-TfXvlkLq/?igshid=7flxo6kimx9x

It's that easy. Just let these kids be kids.

Source • @yarniesbymikey

⚾️Let Trans Youth 🏳️‍⚧️ Play Sports 🏀 Trans youth deserve to be able to play sports and be apart of a team 💕🏈 YET we have politicians 😷in the middle of a deadly pandemic 😷 who weaponize their religious beliefs to discriminate against Trans youth. One of the worst has been the anti-LGBTQIA+ demon Betsy DeVos. It’s disgraceful and truly infuriates me 😡 To find out more follow @thechrismosier a leader in fighting for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in sports @wearehrc @aclu_nationwide to find out how to support Trans athletes right now against these harmful policies ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿! #trans #transart #transyouth #lgbtqia #lgbtqiayouth #transathlete #athlete #inclusion #queeryouth #queerathlete #queerart #queerartist #transrights #transrightsarehumanrights #sports #lgbtqrights #socialjustice #socialjusticeart #queeractivism #lgbtqactivist #procreate #typography

Some recent photos of me that I ran through a template on the Photo Lab Pro app and wha-la flashy clothes. This is what one non-binary, LGBTQ+ activist, nature loving, wildlife loving, photography appreciating and creating, friendly person looks like. My pronoun (they) is on the shirt in the third vid clip. #Me #Selfie #JeriRae #Personal #DigitalArt #NonBinary #InternationalNonBinaryDay #NonBinaryAwarenessWeek #NonBinaryPeoplesDay #NatureLover #LGBTQActivist #WildlifeLover #Photography #PhotoLabPro https://www.instagram.com/p/CCo42XzFn_Q/?igshid=188ir1efns405

Go West Young Chloe! With Guest Chloe Corcoran

LGBT Activist Who Left

Actress Pauley Perrette tweeted "Stop Asking" she won’t ever return to the hit CBS show “NCIS,” because she is “terrified” of star Mark Harmon.

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