Why I Came Out During Pride Month
RAINBOW REFLECTIONS
Why Visual Achives in Denver’s LGBTQ+ Community are Sacred Healing What it Means to be Queer
OFM Art
• Comic Strip
• Word Search From The Editor
OFM Culture
• Why Visual Archives in Denver’s LGBTQ+ Community are Sacred
Personal Reflections
• Why I Came Out During Pride Month
Photoshoot
• Denver Pridefest 2024
Personal Reflections
• One Too Many Button-Ups in the Closet
• Healing What it Means to Be Queer
• What is Drag, Anyways?
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Back in 2017, I finally landed my dream job as part-time digital content manager for OFM. This was following years of working for companies that were not queer-inclusive, as well as decades of denying who I am.
I headed to my first Pride not really even thinking much about what that meant. I had been in grind mode for so long that I was stoked about what I was doing, but in a way, I was going through the motions. Pride was a part of working at OFM, which meant that I would show up, work hard, and pull my weight.
Before starting at OFM, I still hadn’t given my own sexuality as a bisexual/pansexual person much thought, and I hadn’t even begun to explore my gender. Though I was actively dating a woman and married to a man, I still thought of myself as more of an ally in that I didn’t need to be the center of attention or celebration due to all the privilege I carry (straight-passing, cis-passing, white, etc.)
I’m a millennial, which means that back in the very early 2000s, I still took a gender-segregated health class with a lot of abstinence-only
FROM THE EDITOR
and total sobriety-only scare tactics. In early high school, they had our all-girls health class watch a video on the AIDS crisis and how a straight woman got AIDS during that time. She got it from a one-night stand that she had with a flamboyant, Fabio-looking man. Though it was delivered subtly, the message was clear: The man she slept with was bisexual, a deviant who had spread the “gay disease” from queer folks to straight folks thanks to his raging libido.
This was my first exposure to bisexuality in the media, and it was an incredibly negative one. Since then, I tried to pay as little attention to my own identity as possible, even when I did finally come out.
But when I made it to Pride that first year, I felt a difference. Walking around, I saw so much celebration beyond just gay men and lesbians. I saw flags, buttons, and slogans that I wasn’t even familiar with and witnessed so much love and support for bisexual, pansexual, queer, and trans folks.
As I signed our Pride banner that first year alongside my coworkers and people who approached the booth, I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude and belonging that I hadn’t experienced before. Suddenly, I was surrounded by positive representation, and I realized the true meaning of Pride.
Much like Christmas, the true meaning of Pride can’t be found in a store. It may be commercialized now and covered in rainbows, and sure, just like I enjoy some of the capitalist aspects of Christmas, I rely on rainbow capitalism during June to keep my business going. Sometimes I even buy into a little of it myself. But the true meaning is about inclusion, about honoring the work of those who protested and rioted so we can have a safe space. Much like the feeling you only get on Christmas morning when surrounded by family, chosen or otherwise, there’s a special feeling you get at Pride when you are surrounded by that love and support. And it’s not something that can be bought.
So, even though our modern interpretation of Pride may not be perfect, and though we all may be fighting our own battles with stress and anxiety, let’s keep the love and support alive.
Happy queer Christmas, y’all!
-Addison Herron-Wheeler
by MaryV
IN DENVER'S LGBTQ+ why visual archives
by Alex Gallegos
OFM interviewed artist/photographer MaryV about her work, which showcases documentary photography and fashion/beauty photography in her day-today life. For someone to capture beautiful and intimate moments, it’s imperative to have artists like MaryV showcasing the people and communities society often stigmatizes as being “other.”
But in her work and eye as a photographer, these communities are divine, captivating, and photo-journalistic. Here's what MaryV has to say on “why visual archives in Denver’LGBTQ+ community are scared.”
To archive is to document a legacy and history. Could you speak to the importance of archiving queer culture and what that means to you?
I 100% agree that “To archive is to doc-
ument a legacy and history.” When I think about archiving queer culture, I think of the act of preserving sacred work. Preserving can look like posting on Instagram, filming on your iPhone or camcorder, writing in a diary, displaying public art that can sustain the elements, passing down a garment, making a print on archival paper.
This is important because it increases the chances for future queer generations to witness and be inspired by these works themselves. Archiving for queer culture means celebrating, showcasing, and protecting the work. I feel grateful to be able to witness and be inspired by queer work that has been preserved, such as those beautiful black and white images of Sylvia Rivera at the pier by Valerie Shaff.
Last November, while I was in NYC, I visited The Museum of Sex and saw the exhibition “Radical Perverts: Ecstasy
Photo
Photo by Alex Gallegos
My pronouns areandshe/her, I aM a queer woman.
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
and Activism in Queer Public Spaces 1975-2000.” Some of the photographs featured queer people cruising in San Francisco. I found these images incredibly important and tender for our community. These preserved moments not only document our history but can provide a glimpse into what connection looked like.
Also, archiving goes beyond photography! Like attending a drag/burlesque
are sacred
Photo by Alex Gallegos
Photo by MaryV
show here in Denver. For the most part, those performances don't get replicated or reproduced. You have to be present in the sacred space, in real life, to either archive in your mind or actively archive through media to document. Preserving all work allows future generations to access, learn from, and be moved by it. It is an act of validation and recognition, ensuring that our stories and experiences are not forgotten but celebrated and remembered.
What does sacred mean to you?
An item, a person, a moment, a memory, a story, a space, a connection that is special and safe for not only your body but your soul.
In your eyes, how is Denver’s current LGBTQ scene being archived by you and other creatives?
I personally try to capture queer communities through my photography in my daily experiences and moments, in my interpersonal relationships, or when I go out into the world. There are so many different facets of queerness and the connection of creativity. I believe it is impossible for one single person to be able to document and then archive it all. It is a collec-
tive action for the entire community to archive. Queer creativity shows up in many different ways like visual art, activism, writing, spoken word, organizing, cooking, presentation, and performance. Denver’s queer community is participating in all of those forms to archive.
OFM is a perfect example of creating a physical archive of Denver queer culture. Here are some creatives in Denver that I see adding to the beautiful collection of Denver’s current queer community and a
list of queer creatives that are pouring love, art, and intention into the community:
Siren Sixxkiller (@sirensixxkiller), an organizer of SlutWalk Denver, burlesque performer, and producer for Good Slut Medicine Show.
Billie (@heavylight___), a film photographer and film processor at Not Another Film Lab.
Eboni Boneè (EB) (@eboni_bonee), a founder of Black Pride Colorado, photographer, and cinematographer.
And, @amayasgonzalez, @blue.birdlane, @corazonazteca.magazine, @ d3artswestwood, @emmonails, @jakiebarry, @jaskproductions, @jstariellemakeup, @kamaji_000, @mca_denver, Nadine Bridges, @ohwowkyle, @ onlydollydeluxe, @shadows.gather, @song.Tran.archive, @sonaritago, @ threesticksmafia, @tripl3_._thr33, @ unionhalldenver, @vicki.xochitl, @ wheelchairsportscamp, @wordslouderthanbombs, and so many more
Follow them; support them; pay them; adore them.
Can you speak on the greater scope of your work and how queerness weaves its way throughout your various projects?
Photo by MaryV
Photo by MaryV
Queerness weaves through my projects by keeping connection, liberation, and love at the forefront.
What do you want our audience to take away from your photos?
I desire people in general to just stay curious about the art they are taking in. To the OFM viewers, take away anything from my images. Art is a personal journey.
If your photography were a genre of music, what would it be?
I don't even know all the genres of music (laughs). Lemme do a quick genre search … R&B, soul, electronic dance, classical, pop, Cumbia, Reggaeton, rap, hip hop, hyperpop … I don’t know. If you're looking through my photographs, play any Frank Ocean album and cry.
What style of photography do you find most meaningful to you as an artist?
As an artist, I find myself deeply drawn to both documentary photog-
raphy and fashion/beauty photography. Documentary photography holds a special place in my heart because it allows me to capture and archive the world as it is. It's a powerful medium for storytelling, offering a window into moments, cultures, and lives that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Each image in a documentary series has the potential to educate, evoke empathy, and inspire change, making it a meaningful and impactful art form. On the other hand, fashion and beauty photography offer a different kind of fulfillment. There's a unique magic in creating images that are purely beautiful, celebrating aesthetics, style, and creativity.
In this realm, the focus is on the art of presentation—how light, color, and form come together to create something visually striking. This type of photography can be an escape into a world of glamor and fantasy, where beauty is celebrated for its own sake.
Both styles allow me to explore different facets of my artistic vision. Documen-
tary photography challenges me to observe and engage with the world sometimes critically, while fashion and beauty photography enable me to indulge in the joy of creating visually stunning works that captivate. Together, they provide a balance that keeps my creative practice feeling whole.
You can find Maryv on instagram @maryv to check out more of her work.
Photo by MaryV
Photography by Ivy Owens
WHY I CAME OUT DURING Pride Month
by Julie Rivers
Iessentially came out because of Pride. It was about six years ago. I had been identifying as a woman outside of work hours, but I was still too scared to come out at work. At the time, I was working at a nonprofit organization that was technically a religious organization, although religion didn’t come up that often. It’s not like Jesus was the main character in our employee manual or anything like that, but we were technically considered a church.
I had never seen any trans people in the organization, and I wasn’t sure if coming out would go well. Besides that, my job involved working directly with senior citizens, and I wasn’t sure how much they were going to accept me, especially over the phone, as I wasn’t great at disguising my voice.
Still, while the prospect of coming out at work was difficult, living two lives was even harder. I was coming home from work and immediately changing out of the male clothes that made me feel bland, ugly, and uncomfortable, switching into women’s clothing with full makeup, even if I wasn’t going anywhere, just because I wanted to see my female self in the mirror again.
If I did have somewhere to go, I usually set aside time to stop home and change from guy mode to girl mode. Or I would pack the provisions needed to change modes in
my parked car. I looked forward to threeday weekends when I could keep my nail polish on all the time without having to frantically try to wipe it off before work.
I tried going to Pride events while I was still only out part-time, but it wasn’t what I wanted it to be. Don’t get me wrong, Pride is absolutely a celebration for closeted people as well as people who are out, but it was hard to go and join in the festivities when I was scared of being seen by someone who might tell everyone at work.
While I had never seen anyone come out as trans at the organization, I knew a few older lesbians who worked upstairs, and, even though they were part of the LGBTQ+ community, I didn’t know them all that well. I didn’t know if I could trust them.
So I would spend Denver Pride looking over my shoulder the entire time, always afraid I was going to be discovered and outed in my office, which felt dangerous.
I would see my friends celebrating Pride openly, and it made me extremely jealous. I wanted to tell the whole world who I was. And, to be fair, I mostly had. I was writing articles under the name Julie River. My Facebook profile had the name Julie on it. I had even come out to my family, albeit rather clumsily.
But it still wasn’t enough. I was tired of living two lives and having to keep everything separate. I was tired of living in fear. I wanted to be Julie all the time, in every aspect of my life. I wanted to wake up in the morning, put on women’s clothing and makeup, and strike out into the world as me. I wanted to claim Pride Month as my own and celebrate it without being afraid.
So, it was in Pride Month that I vowed to make a change. I made an appointment with HR to talk to them about a private matter. My stomach was in my throat the whole day as the clock slowly wound its way towards my meeting. I had never been more terrified in my life. But I finally got up to the head of HR’s office and, after she and I had a conversation about the limits of confidentiality, I slowly recited what I had rehearsed, which was that I had been living my life as a trans woman outside of work for well over a year now, and I couldn’t live two lives anymore.
The head of HR seemed surprised, but still accepting, telling me that the organization was really trying to spearhead a diversity initiative. We made plans for me to slowly come out, little by little, first to my boss, then to the rest of my team, then to the rest of the organization. The gradual roll-out of my gender identity took long enough that I wasn’t fully out at work until the end of July, but it meant a lot to me that I had initiated the process during Pride Month. In a way, that was my Pride gift to myself.
I won’t pretend that everything was easy being an openly trans woman in an organization that was technically a church. But the initial reaction was mostly positive. It turned out my boss had already known, presumably because she found my Facebook profile. She accidentally called me Julie before I told her that was the name I was going to go by. My team had a hard time adjusting to the new name and pronouns, but they tried their best to respect the real me. One coworker who worked in another department even
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went out and bought me flowers to congratulate me. Nobody had ever bought me flowers before, and I had always wanted someone to. I cried.
The next four years of working in that organization were a series of ups and downs. Upon first coming out, some women in the office complained about the prospect of me using the women’s room before it even started happening. Thankfully, HR responded by sending out an email saying I had a right to use the restroom that aligned with my gender identity, and anyone who’s uncomfortable could go use the single-use restrooms on the third floor.
There were a number of other controversies over the years, and when they fired me four years after I came out for reasons that were clearly made up, I felt like it was really because they were partially upset at the fact that I was legally allowed to miss a lot of work for my anxiety disorder and also partially because they were tired of supporting a trans woman in their organization.
I realize that my eventually getting fired from the organization isn’t the happy ending that you were expecting from this story, but I’m still extremely proud of myself for deciding to come out. While the management of the organization was conservative and set in their ways, the staff was full of young people who were extremely supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. I met a lot of people with whom I remain friends to this day.
Getting fired also forced me to re-evaluate my career path, which ultimately led me to OFM and my career in journalism, so I’m grateful for my firing in a bizarre way. And I’m grateful that I found the courage to come out full-time. The following year, I started celebrating Pride with the same merry zeal that I had for Christmas. I was so grateful to do that openly that year and every year since.
denver prIde 2024
Photographer: Ivy Owens, @ivyjune._.jpg
by Anna Lee
Being born at Poudre Valley Hospital and growing up in Fort Collins, I will always feel love and connection to Northern Colorado. But as a child and teenager, I did struggle to find the support I needed to embrace my identity.
My family rarely talked about the LGBTQ+ community at all, and my teachers did little more than make footnotes on queer history. Gay was something brushed under the table or whispered about in words not worth putting into print.
I do not think my family and community lacked the love to nourish all the parts of me–but rather the resources, information, and capacity.
My parents were still in high school when they had me, and I watched them both struggle to make their way in a world that creates infinite barriers. My parents' relationship did not last, and they both faced financial hardships. It took many years for my parents to find financial stability, and often life was a state of meeting basic necessities rather than meeting the emotional quota.
didn’t like boys, and I really adored Winona Ryder … but I also really did not want to be gay. Being gay was always something that was talked about in terms of “otherness.”
There were obvious signs I was queer. The word “Tomboy” was thrown around a lot, and strangers often thought I was a little boy. But puberty could not wash away my obvious attraction to women and the clear gender-queer fits in the closet I did not want to let go.
I felt I was something that just did not fit into the puzzle—a piece that should fit,
out throughout and beyond high school. He was sure it was the coach’s influence, that her “lesbianism” somehow infected us. Despite many, many conversations, he never seemed to see the nuance there.
To put things into perspective, his father’s family is from rural cornfield Colorado. Many of the folks (including all of our family) in the town are very traditional and religious, and most attend a small church on the only paved street in town.
I attended services at this church throughout my childhood. When I was a teenager, my father and I both attended a sermon where the preacher compared sexual assault to homosexuality and addiction. His main talking points involved using these three examples to show how all temptation is linked and all sin is equal.
Photo by Ivy Owens
One Too Many Button-Ups in the closet
looks like it would fit, but simply does not. I was so close to fitting, but the factory miscut the cardboard.
This type of rhetoric is in big supply in that little town, but that sermon was the tipping point that even my father struggled to stomach.
In middle school, I learned who Mathew Shepard was and the tragic events that led to him passing away in the same hospital where I was born. After reading his story, I remember feeling the weight attached to being queer.
I knew that being gay wasn’t something people could change. I knew that I really hated dresses. I knew
By high school, I couldn’t hide from myself anymore. I told my family I was a lesbian, and I wish things would have been easier. But I also acknowledge that people are fallible.
My father took it especially hard. He blamed himself, our family, and anything from toys to clothing to justify my unavoidable identity. He even put the blame on my softball coach, who was an openly out lesbian.
Periodically, people from our team came
In fairness to my dad, there was some deep-seated trauma that came from those corn fields. He struggled to see my identity as anything other than something that needed to be changed.
I wish I could say he found that acceptance. He died when I was 19, and suddenly there was no longer time to sort through these differences. He was gone. He would never support the aspects of my identity that ran deeper than he could accept.
My father and I were very close. We may not have seen eye-to-eye on many
things, but I loved him dearly. After his death, I was left trying to navigate adulthood and the shame I felt in my queerness without a support system. It took years to find self-love, but much of this inward acceptance bloomed when I found a queer community around me. During the pandemic, I met my very close friend Apollo through our college’s online writing group.
Apollo was the president of the writing club and was out and proud in a way I had never experienced before. I had found queerness in the midst of my grief and the pandemic, along with a friend I now would consider a platonic life partner.
When they got top surgery, we threw a party and made a glittered pink, blue, and white poster enshrined with “Titty Titty Bye Bye” to celebrate the occasion with the theatrical flair they bring into every aspect of their life. They were, and continue to be, one of my closest friends and have taught
me so much about myself and accepting my queerness.
The local gay bar in Fort Collins also made a featured appearance in the debut of my baby-gay era of acceptance (and messiness). I was set to meet a cast of characters that opened my perspective on the vastness of queerness and the variety of people who are queer.
At R Bar, I saw my first live drag shows, learned how to take a shot, and met a crew of people I still consider family. Tequila was an added bonus, but the true value of that space was the people I met and the conversations that changed the way I view the world.
Under the ambient glow of rainbow LEDs and disco balls, I found people who were like me—people who inspired me to aim for greater heights and accept the person I am.
Leanna Valadez, the owner of R Bar, creates a haven in a town that lacks the larger LGBTQ+ community Denver boasts. She
welcomed me into the space, made me feel included in the community, and invited me to the first Pride I had ever attended. I am so thankful for the community she has fostered and deeply admire her courage to be who she is and create a space for others to do so as well.
Now, writing this for OFM, my queerness has extended into all aspects of my life. The community around me has instilled a sense of pride that I truly believe should be celebrated, shared, and embraced. OFM has given me the space to truly find my voice and openly embrace the identity that has been with me since I was a small child.
The little kid that I sometimes still struggle facing knew me in ways that I am still trying to relearn today. In facing that shame, I have found comfort and security in accepting and loving who I am with a little help from my friends.
Photo by Ivy Owens
HEALING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE QUEER
by Odalis Canchola
My story became more than a recollection that I could add to my memory box; it became an experience of the lifelong emphasis on who I am without ego. To speak of one of the most significant parts of me is to speak of the side of me that loves openly and teaches others how to love. I choose to live nobly regarding my identity. Therefore, I am courageous for my authenticity.
I always felt like I was in the middle of a tug-of-war between my culture and my sexuality. Although I am proud of my Mexican roots, I still felt ashamed because, let's face it, it tends to be a machismo culture. And although I embrace my sexuality, I never felt like I really fit in. I think I speak for many queer people of color when I say that most LGBTQ+ spaces tend to cater to a white queer community. Perhaps this test is given to me and others like myself so we can truly center ourselves. The universe never intended for us to feel marginalized and oppressed, our patriarchal society is to blame.
Celebrating Pride as a queer person of color means honoring resistance and non-conformity in different layers. We are multi-faceted beings. We usually have to decolonize our minds first to debunk many beliefs that no longer serve us or our communities. These are usually subconscious beliefs that hauntingly follow us.
For instance, by rejecting some of these beliefs, I was able to embrace sensuality. I was taught to tune in and be in the now. Not living in the present instills fear that allows us to be anxious and individualistic—segregated.
As I started to understand the profound role of being queer, I began to see that the gift passed onto me was unity within myself: to be present and to heal the repression of existential self-expression.
My sexuality isn’t synthetic. It is an authentic human experience. When I embrace my spirituality, sexuality, and sensuality, I can think through other minds, speak from
unspoken languages, and feel beyond touch. We are all able to, and we do so when we love courageously. Being one with yourself in the present moment attracts community and support.
Denouncing your sexuality would be a form of violence. And I hope my words can inspire other people on their journey of self-acceptance, and provide a deeper insight into how to decolonize beliefs from tradition. Queer or not.
what is anyways?drag,
by Kathleen Kelleher
JPhoto by Ivy Owens
anuary 2024: OFM horoscope says, “New year is off to a bang, Cancer, with personal development for you. This energy brings an openness to your thinking and understanding … try to lean into your creativity.”
Well, that definitely sounded like a mandate to me. So I jumped on it: Time for drag!
But whoa—wait a minute, I’m a girly girl—and this lesbo don’t wanna be no man. What to do? What to do? The answer?
Hell-ohh—I’ve already been foretold the answer: Lean into my creativity.
So, I decided to impersonate the very being that many a drag queen aspires to be: a High Femme. And just like that— Snap!—I leapt into “The Bravery of Drag,” and quickly landed in Professor Bryant Mehay’s “Schule of Drag.” Little did I know that one week later—would you believe: o-n-e week later—I would be high-steppin’ up onto the stage at Hamburger Mary’s.
once that decision was made, she who is that Divine Dove who swoops and dives into many a Spanish tune and aria came flying into my consciousness—La Paloma. And, after that, the next thing that came to mind was that real-life Spanish dove of an operatic diva: La Paloma San Basilio.
I exclaimed to my higher self, “Perfecto! Si! Se Puede!”
I will per-Her-form me/myself/and I: Catalina (my name in Spanish).
Si! Si! Yes, I will be: La Paloma Santa Catalina. And I will sing: “No llores por mi, Argentina.”
And, then, once the “me/not me/me-wanna-be” began to emerge, I decided to be the very essence of la persona: Paloma. When I broke down crying, for me and for Argentina, the deal was clinched.
“Let your eyes lead the way!” Professor Mehay taught us on the very first day.
Made plenty’a sense to me. Are the eyes not the windows to the soul, and is it not the very essence of the soul that I wanted to portray?
“Which part of your body are you going to lead with?” Professor Mehay now wanted to know.
“How do you feel right now?” the professor wanted to know.
“I’m scared,” I told him. No, actually, I’m terrified.
And, right on cue, the professor asserted, “Look! You gotta be brave. GIRL, this is D-R-A-G!”
Therefore, as bravely as possible, I chose to lip-sync in Spanish. And
All I could think was, well, actually, I want to lead with my mouth. But I don’t think that’s what he meant.
So I said, “With my shoulders and—like many a drag queen—with my titties.”
But, secretly, deep down, I really wanted to lead with my heart, mi corazón.
“And what is your path?”
Hunh? Wha-at? What … path??
“What is your P-A-T-H through this piece?”
Myself, I wanted to move from being sad—after all,ya’know, “Don’t cry for me, Argentina” is a sad story an’ all, but I wanted to move from sad to Busting-Out Brave!
He had just said, “You gotta be brave. Get fierce. Even ferocious!”
So, my question for my Highest Self became:
Great Goddess! How do I capture ferociously the spirit of an operatic diva? What does it mean to be this highest of femmes—this Ul-tra High Femme?? So many questions. So much to take in. So little time.
“Practice! Practice! Practice!” Professor Mehay did say.
But when? W-H-E-N?
I gotta go find a diva dress, take it apart, and then sew the top part onto another damn diva dress. Next, I gotta go find some diamond rings (a girly-girl’s best
friend.) And silver slippers?? Off to Mile High Thrift I had to race. Now, what to do with my HAIR? Ahhh … figure that out later. And then the Ul-traMost Important on the List of Things To Do: MAKE-UP!
“Hurry! You’ve only got three hours!”
And I’m tellin’ya, this Divine Make-Believe Doll-Diva did, indeed, need copious amounts of make-up.
First: Highlight your cheekbones! Second: Shadow your jaw!
“Follow a line from the bottom of your ear to the corner of your mouth.”
Huh? Now, what in the hell is that professor even talk’n’a’bout?? And plus, I’m also now supposta slap on fake eyelashes?
No, Absolutely Not! I, My-Highest-Self, I do n-o-t do anything f-a-k-e.
Did that professor not say, “Be authentic!?”
And so, I say to myself, “Now: I’m done, finished, right?”
“No!”
“No?? Now, whatthefunkelse?”
Oh Right: Glitter! Here, there, and everywhere; lots and Lottsa’Glitter.
And—Voila!—Mira!—Now you see me, all of spark-ah-lee me: La Paloma Santa Glitterati Catalina!
But do you hear me? Por favor, I beg of you, please hear my plea: “No llores por mi.”
And why not, you might ask. Because: “mi alma está contigo.”
You have only to look deeply into my eyes: “Mira a mis ojos como lloran de a-m-o-r para tí.”
Yes! Oh Yes! Si! Se Puede! Feel my soul, believe me: “Te-ne-ces-si-to!”
RAINBOW REVIEWS
From tasty edible treats before hitting a Pride or the beach, or even rainbow-themed socks for your workout, this review section has you covered with all you need to enjoy this sunny summer in style.
REVEL MOOD STATE GUMMIES
Revel is diving into the "gummy race" with a new line of gummies designed to let customers "Chews their Mood." Available in five distinct mood states—Energetic, Uplifted, Focus, Relaxed, and Sleepy.
Each of these tasty treats hits home with a honed-in affect, a level and heady high, and a delicious flavor. While edible gummies are now a dime a dozen when it comes to who is making them, these stand out in both affects and flavor.
ENERGETIC
Citrusy lemon-lime infused with 10mg THC, Ginseng, B6 and B12 per gummy offers a bright burst of energy to your day; 10 gummies per package. B6 and B12 are two common B vitamins known to support increased energy levels and improve mood. Ginseng has been known to boost energy levels, lower blood sugar and reduce stress.
UPLIFTED
Mouthwatering mango tangerine infused with 10mg THC and 5mg CBG per gummy elevates your mood to new heights. Ten gummies per package. CBG is a base cannabinoid from which many other cannabinoids are derived (it has the nickname of being the “Mother of all Cannabinoids”) and is found naturally in cannabis plants. CBG has been known to help with inflammation, stress, and improving mood.
FOCUS
Succulent grape infused with 10mg THC per gummy delivers a centered, grounding high. Ten gummies per package.
RELAXED
Sunny peach lemonade infused with 10mg THC, 10mg CBC and 10mg CBD per gummy offers a mellow, loosening high. Ten gummies per package. CBD, one of the most well known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, has been known to help with anxiety, insomnia and pain.
SLEEPY
Sweet strawberry infused with 5mg THC, 5mg CBN and 5mg CBD per gummy offers a sleepy, restful high. Twenty gummies per package. CBN has been classified as the “sleep cannabinoid” for its properties known to work as a sleep aid or sedative. Combining CBD and CBN helps induce relaxation and slumber.
MOVEACTIVE’S LOVE WINS PRIDE
SOCKS
Many companies get Pride wrong: They make something that looks like the rainbow exploded and don’t put their money where their mouth is when it comes to celebrating the community. MoveActive are avoiding that stereotype with their subtle, comfy Love Wins socks that feature a small and classy rainbow and practical grip on the soul that makes them great for sports.
They’re also donating $1 from every pair sold during Pride month to Minus18, a group that supports education and inclusivity in schools across Australia.
MUSHROOM-INSPIRED O PEN BATTERY AND CARTRIDGES
We can’t get enough of this mushroom-inspired vape cart; it’s so cute!! If you’ve been stoked on the emerging world of magic mushrooms in Denver but still love cannabis, this is the product for you. They’ve even made two special strains available in the vape carts, Mushies and Golden Teacher, which include cannabis terpenes reminiscent of their mushroom cousins.
FLORA + BAST
The beloved skincare brand now has their own line of gummies with Entourage, the first-of-its-kind collection of THC and entheogen-infused vegan gummy edibles. They are designed to bring you specific states of consciousness, including: Hypnotic, Sex, Pre-Sleep, Euphoria and Sativa. The gummies are vegan and gluten-free.
These gummies do a great job of packing the desired impact, and even those who need a higher dose will likely feel the effect from one or two. They definitely taste a bit healthier and aren’t as sugary or candy-like as most edibles, so these will be perfect for those looking more for impact or those who like a slightly less sweet and healthier flavor. Each Entourage SKU contains 10 gummies dosed with 10mg of Live Rosin and retails for $22 per pack. The products are hemp derived and available everywhere.
BOX BATTERIES
These fun vape batteries let you take your tokes on the down low. These secret box vapes will fit up to 2g carts and have 5 different intensity settings available for your ultimate smoking pleasure. With haptic feedback and a full LED screen dashboard at your fingertips, you’ll have total control over your hit. Available in six stunning designs, this is a definite must-grab for anyone who loves to vape and wants to control their settings.
GELATO SUGAR DROPS (AVAILABLE IN CALIFORNIA)
Sugar Drops are a hard candy edible confection infused with 10mg THC. The polar opposite of the FLORA + BLAST treats, these do taste like candy, and they are a bit milder but still pack a pleasant punch. I haven’t seen many edibles go for a suckabe candy instead of a gummy or chocolate, so these will likely fill a much-needed niche in the market. Sugar Drops are available in nine flavors including: Blue Mango, Blueberry Cobbler, Dragon Fruit, Fruity Cereal, Grape, Island Punch, Orange Cream, Peach Freeze, and Watermelon Punch. Each bag of Sugar Drops contains 10 units.
CALIFORNIA CORNER BLAZY SUSAN SECRET
Rainbow Road: Denver Area Businesses
Chaos Bloom Theater
chaosbloom.com | 720-432-3581
Chaos Bloom Theater offers Improv comedy and sketch shows and classes for all levels. The Friday shows are always different, from improvised Shakespeare to modern clowning. In August, catch The Agenda Theater with their six shows that include drag, clowning, and sketch.
DNB Therapy
D. Nico Baker, LCSW | 720.443.2353 www.dnbtherapy.com
Healing ourselves heals our communities. Dynamic psychotherapy can help make meaning of your past and gain insight for your future. Now located in West Wash Park, I've been working in the queer and trans community for over 20 years.
Natural
Health & Wellness
Bethany Bosworth, BSN, RN nhwdenver.com | 720-272-1802
Detox and nourish your body, mind, and spirits! Services: colonics, reiki, and life transformation coaching, animal reiki, health transformation, and nutritional coaching, laser therapy, ion foot bath, and infrared sauna.
SilverLining Insurance Advocates
Andrea Ensch | 719-432-6327
silverliningadvocates.com
We provide personalized Medicare solutions with 20-plus years' of industry experience, guiding informed decisions and offering ongoing support.
Third Eye Acupuncture & Wellness
Emily Sealy, LAc | 720-288-0305
ThirdEyeAcu.com
Third Eye Acupuncture & Wellness offers holistic care in Denver with acupuncture, cupping, Chinese herbs, and Reiki. LGTBQ+-owned and inclusive!
BAD HABITS DENVER
3014 E Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 335-9690 badhabitsdenver.com
BLUSH & BLU
1526 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 484-8548 blushbludenver.com
BOYZTOWN
117 Broadway St. Denver (303) 722-7373
boyztowndenver.com
CLUB Q
3430 N Academy Blvd. Colo Springs (719) 570-1429 clubqonline.com
CHARLIE’S NIGHTCLUB
900 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 839-8890 charliesdenver.com
DENVER EAGLE
5110 W. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 534-0500 Facebook @denvereaglebar
EL POTRERO 4501 E. Virginia Ave. Glendale (303) 388-8889
Facebook @elpotreroclub
GOOD JUDY’S
BAR & CLUB
103 N. 1st St. Grand Junction (970) 433-7115 www.good-judys.com
HAMBURGER MARY’S
1336 E. 17th Ave. Denver (303) 993-5812
hamburgermarys.com/ denver
ICONS
3 E. Bijou St. Colo. Springs (719) 300-7863
Instagram @icons_colorado
LIL' DEVILS
255 S. Broadway St. Denver (303) 733-1156
Facebook @lildevilslounge
R&R LOUNGE
4958 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 320-9337
Facebook @randrdenver
TIGHT END BAR
1501 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 861-9103
tightendbar.com
TOWN HALL COLLABORATIVE
525 Santa Fe Dr. Denver (720) 389-7502 townhallcollaborative.com
TRACKS
3500 Walnut St. Denver (303) 836-7326 tracksdenver.com
TRADE
475 Santa Fe Dr. Denver (720) 627-5905
Facebook @tradedenver
WILD CORGI PUB 1223 E. 13th Ave. Denver (303) 832-7636 wildcorgipub.com
X BAR 829 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 832-2687 xbardenver.com
#VYBE 1027 N. Broadway St. Denver (720) 573-8886 303vybe.com
DENVER SWEET
776 N. Lincoln St. Denver (720) 598-5648 denversweet.com
TUE: Solve That Puzzle 7 pm w/Taco Tuesday, $2 Tacos, $3 Modelo, $5 House Margs
WED: Trivia with Alejandro 7 pm-9 pm w/$5 U Call It At The Bar, $.75 Wings
THU: Karaoke 8 pm w/BOGO Well & Drafts 2 pm to 8 pm, 1⁄2 Price Bites
FRI: Drag Race & Star Lite Show
6 pm-10:30 pm w/Happy Hour 2 pm-8 pm, 1/2 price flatbreads
SAT: Rooftop T 5 pm-9 pm w/Happy Hour, $5 Off Burgers
SUN: Charity Beer Bust 4 pm-8 pm $12/cup Bud Light & Truly Hard Seltzer
