June 2024:: Queer Christmas

OFM Art

• Comic Strip

• Word Search From The Editor

OFM Culture

• Guide to Denver Pride

• Denver Rainbow Market Highlights DIY Artists

• Prides Across Colorado

• The Center on Colfax Celebrates Its 50th Pridefest

Photoshoot

• Queer Christmas

OFM Culture

• Rick Kitzman’s American Queer Set to Satiate Readers

Sexual, Spiritual, and Secret Needs

• LGBTQ+ Denver : Phil Nash On Our History

• Hiking in Heels: A Chat with Denver Pride Headliner, Pattie Gonia

Photo by Ivy Owens

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Pride Celebrations & Disco Burns Family Artisan Ales TapHouse

The Outside Festival

Civic Center Park

Adult-Verse Queer Bazaar

Meow Wolf

First Friday Art Walk

Santa Fe Arts District

Five Points Jazz Festival Gospel Drag Brunch

Five Points Apple Blossom

Concious Consumption

Urban Sanctuary

Y2K Live Band Queeraoke Pride Party Town Hall Collaborative

PiNK R!NO Queer and Allied Vendor Market

June 01-310 2024 picks /23 16

Queer Cookout

The Denver Central Sie FilmCenter

Denver Pride Bar Crawl

Oriental Theater

Denver PrideFest 2024

Civic Center Park

Adrianne Lenker

Mission Ballroom

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

This may seem like a pretty unremarkable year—not quite halfway through the decade, a year ending in a four—but for Denver, this year is huge. This is the 50th anniversary of Denver PrideFest!

Yep, that’s right, 50 years of Pride in Denver! That’s a huge milestone for OFM, The Center on Colfax, who throw Denver PrideFest, and the entire community. It means that for half a century, our city has been honoring the LGBTQ+ community.

Of course, it doesn’t take a queer theorist to look around and realize that despite this huge milestone and rich history, we are by no means living in a queer paradise of a country where it’s all rainbows and unicorns. In so many states, anti-LGBTQ+ laws are still being passed, leaving folks to flee their communities and look for support elsewhere. There are even lawmakers in our own state who would like to see that happen, despite the support we get from most of our politicians.

But that’s exactly why this celebration is so important. We need to be extra visible and party (sober partying is totally valid too, of course) extra hard for the folks who are still in the closet or still waiting to get to a safe space, so they can see just what that freedom looks like. And though we should absolutely celebrate this milestone and this season, we should never forget that the first Pride was a protest, and that this season is also all about visibly making a stand for our community.

If you look through the pages of this issue, we are blending the past, present, and future of our great yaaaasss queen city. We’re publishing a book by Rick Kitzman, queer author and AIDS survivor, and reflecting on the local LGBTQ+ history book by Phil Price, a book that shouts out our local history, including OFM! But we’re also talking about all the great stuff this year’s PrideFest will include, especially the entertainment and the very special Rainbow Market that will celebrate art and culture across the city.

So please come celebrate with us this year, in Civic Center Park, in the clubs and the streets, in the pages and the online comments section. This is the big 50, the year when old meets new and celebration meets protest. This is a major milestone year for our queer liberation, and we plan to celebrate every moment of it. We’re still here, still queer, and as our late, great founder Phil Price would say, “there’s no turning back” when you’re OUT FRONT.

-Addison Herron-Wheeler

GUIDE TO

E NDE V

WONDERING WHAT THERE IS TO DO THIS PRIDE MONTH?

HERE ARE ALL THE EVENTS THE CENTER ON COLFAX IS PUTTING ON FOR PRIDEFEST. WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!

Photography by Ivy Owens

ER

P IDE

Rother, with two straight days filled with plenty of events and entertainment, and several events leading up to the

Kick off Pride Month with a movie night at the Center on Colfax with Glass Lawler Mental Health on June 1st, from 1:00-3:00 pm. The event will feature complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and is available to anyone 18 and over! RSVP at the Center on Colfax website, and enjoy Moonlight, a movie that centers around the coming of age

5 0 years after Denver’s first PrideFest as a small gathering at Cheesman Park in 1974, it is now the largest Pride festival in the Rocky Mountain Region and a major fundraiser for The Center on Colfax, Colorado LGBTQ+ non profit organization dedicated to serving our local community. This year promises to be a festival like no other, with two days filled with plenty of activities and entertainment and several events leading up to the festival itself.

PRIDE MONTH MOVIE SCREENING: MOONLIGHT

Kick off Pride Month with a movie night at the Center on Colfax with Glass Lawler Mental Health on June 1, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. The event will feature complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and is available to anyone 18 and over! RSVP at the Center on Colfax website, and enjoy Moonlight, a movie that centers around the coming of age of a gay Black man.

A LEGACY OF PRIDE: WEST OF 50 ROOFTOP

PRIDE PARTY

Hosted by Steve-Anna and Cowpoke Avi, this collaborative event between the Center on Colfax and the Denver Library promises to be a fun-filled afternoon of trivia, karaoke, prizes, music, and more. The party will be held on the rooftop of the Center on Colfax from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on June 6. To celebrate the 50 years of Denver Pride, attendees are encouraged to dress in a 70's style, and the best outfit will get a prize! Popcorn and soda will be provided for all attendees.

QUEER IMMGRANT PRIDE: EMPOWERING PERFOMANCES OF

LGBTQ+ IMMIGRANTS

This community event at Motus Theatre will be a performance of several monologues from TRANSformative Stories and UndocuAmerica projects by LGBTQ+ immigrant monologists. Featured monologists will include Ruby Lopez (she/her), David Breña (he/him), and Cristian Solano-Cordova (he/they). The performance itself will start at 7:30 p.m. on June 22 at Evans School, but there will be tea and cookies for a reception of the art exhibit UndocuAmerica: Reclaiming Our Presence from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This art exhibition invites viewers to engage with art that centers around the stories of undocumented community members through a wide variety of mediums.

DENVER PRIDEFEST

This year’s Denver PrideFest will happen the weekend of June 22-23 at Civic Center Park. The festival will feature over 250 exhibitors, 30 food vendors, and captivating live performances at the three stages throughout the park. Headliners Alyssa Edwards and Shea Couleé will be supported by several smaller acts throughout the two-day festival. Come celebrate with communities from all over Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region!

DENVER PRIDE 5K

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

VIZZY PRIDE NIGHT: COLORADO ROCKIES VS.

Come see our very own Colorado Rockies play the Pittsburgh Pirates in a Pride-themed game that comes with a complementary limited edition Rockies-themed Vizzy Pride fanny pack included with each special ticket purchase. A portion of each ticket package sold will benefit the Center on Colfax and One Colorado, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ rights. The game will be on June 15and will start at 7:00 p.m. at Coors Field.

The first event of the festival itself, the 5K will take place on the morning of Saturday, June 22, and starts at 9:30 a.m. on the steps of the Capital Building. This race is a massive fundraiser for the Center on Colfax that allows supporters to help raise funds with their participation. Non-participants can donate to the racers' fundraising goals, which helps them win super cool Denver Pride-themed gifts! This event allows the Center on Colfax to continue to provide essential programs and services to Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community, and every dollar raised goes directly to the Center’s social support groups, mental health services, youth groups, and more. The 5K is co-sponsored by Smartwool, an outdoor clothing company based in Colorado that centers around ski clothing made from Merino wool.

DENVER PRIDE PARADE

Opening the second day of Denver PrideFest, the Denver Pride Parade will start at 9:30 a.m. on June 23. The parade spans 14 blocks and will head west on Colfax and end near Civic Park. Attending the parade is free, and attendees should expect to find their spots early as over 100,000 people are expected to line the streets this year as we come together to celebrate the Rocky Mountain queer community.

The Denver Rainbow Market is open for 2024 Pride. The Rainbow Market features vendors from local queer thought-proking artists. The market is open Sunday, June 9 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. with an assortment of items that celebrate artistry and queer identity.

borhoods by bridging artist, gallery, youth, and underserved communities together in an accessible and engaging space for contemporary expression and learning, "they say in an Instagram post.

DIY HIGHLIGHTS DENVER RAINBOW MARKET

The Rainbow Market, hosted by The Denver Queer Art Club and Wolf Den Tattoo is partnering with the BRDG Project Gallery (Pronounced Bridge Project) to bring “arts back to the heart of Denver’s shifting neigh-

The Rainbow Market anticipated a handful of applicants when they opened up applications for vendors. They received nearly 80 responses, showing the ample amount of queer Colorado-based artists eager to add to the magic of Pride.

Photography by Ivy Owens

The market will feature pieces from over 50 vendors including:

MEAN VALENTINE

Gender-affirming second-hand clothing

SAM SCHARRER TOIL + TRBL

Denver’s only Nano-soapy witch themes soaps based on the cycles of the moon.

PEPPERJACK ART

Queer-Latino Denver-based business. Jack creates food-themed stickers that incorporate flamboyant themes to uplift gender nonconformity.

LITA CLAY

Queer-owned pottery business that focuses on glaze chemistry, prismatic effects, and pushing the boundaries of language.

SOPHIA ELIANA

Floral arrangements that mimic the craft of storytelling through songwriting.

GUILLERMO HOLGUIN KNOT OF THREE

Digital artwork focusing on homoerotic minimalism that emphasizes the power of storytelling through simplicity.

RADIANCE BUKARI

RADICAL CREATIONS

Colorado-based apparel centered around self-expression as the pinnacle to embrace our most vibrant selves.

KREE MADE IN ORBIT

Metalsmith primarily in sterling silver with the incorporation of semi precious gemstones.

CURIODDITIES

Creative rendings of insects, such as na bug pole dancing or DJing.

MAGGIE Colorado Astrophotography connects people with nature by teaching them how to photograph the sky, hosting date nights, and providing photoshoots.

ADAM RAIOLA

Artist, graphic designer, and product designer who emphasizes vibrancy.

AUDRA AND RYAN YUCCA SUPPLY CO.

Latina and trans-owned company

focusing on mixed media artistry with a speciality in handmade, functional decor including resin goods, sculptures, original art, and up-cycled vintage goods.

AMIRASERENE TERRENE CANDLE CO.

Candlemakers dedicated to creating products that inspire peace of mind.

JESS VOSSETEIG JESS VOSS ART

Queer illustrator and writer focusing on promoting inclusivity and empowerment through illustration.

SHAYLA

Queer artist who combines her love for basketball and plants to create unique art pieces that combine the natural world with the human.

These are only some of the 50-plus vendors featured at The Rainbow Market. The market is over 8,000 square feet and hosts a vibrant creative hub, including three gallery spaces, artist studios, and a performance stage.

The Rainbow Market found its origins in 2021 when Elle Billman and Sophie Gilbert formed the Denver Queer Art Club as a way for queer people to create a community through artwork and creation. With only 12 people at their initial meeting, it has since grown into one of the largest queer artist markets in Denver.

Elle Billman creates fine line drawings often featuring queer themes. Billman says on Instagram, “What I love is getting to bear witness to artists reaching their dreams. It makes me weep. Every purchase or follow makes a monumental difference for a local queer creator, and it’s a privilege

to help create space for those moments.”

Gilbert, another co-host of The Rainbow Market, creates handmade embroidery, under the handle @honeypot.stitchery. Gilbert says:

“I’m regularly immersed in the queer art community, but there is NO magical community feeling like Rainbow Market day.”

The Denver Queer Art Club is teaming up with Wolf Den, a queer women-owned tattoo shop, to form the 2024 Rainbow Market. Wolf Den transformed its studio into a fine art gallery this fall and enjoys the first-hand joy that comes with giving a platform to artists who may otherwise not have a chance to display their work. Jess Rose, a partner to the owner of Wolf Den and a co-host to the Rainbow Market, is an

artist herself. She creates specialized, large-scale leather bags that will be available to purchase at the Rainbow Market.

On Instagram, Jess Rose shares about the markets she hosts: “During the market, I’m blown away by how many people show up. It reminds me that I’m helping provide a space where people feel welcomed and perhaps are just coming out. It’s an absolute necessity to have events like ours for people to live authentically.”

The expansive Queer Denver Art scene has items of all varieties from Artists from many walks of life. Check out the Rainbow Market on June 9 at BRDG Project (located at 3300 Tejon Street) to see and support local queer artwork.

Pride month is upon us, and Colorado is buzzing with celebrations all month long!

Steamboat Springs

Yampa Valley Pride is hosting a plethora of events in Steamboat Springs all month long. Pints for Pride will be organized on June 8 with specifics to come. Yampa Valley’s 4th annual pride festival will be held on the Routt County Courthouse lawn (from 12-4 p.m.), followed by Pride on the Divide on June 2 (from 2-5 p.m.). The June 2 event will be held at Mountain Tap Brewery and will offer food, drinks, and giveaways. Pride on the Divide is also hosting two free community hikes, one to Harvard Lake (June 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) and the other to Berthoud Pass (June 29, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.). For all my fellow outdoorsy queers, make a reservation online to reserve a spot for the hikes.

P E R acrosS ID S

Colorado

Photography by Ivy Owens

Longmont

Longmont Pride will be celebrated on June 7 from 3:30 - 8 p.m. at Roosevelt Park. The celebration promises a day filled with live music, community partnerships, and a parade in the evening which will wind through the heart of the city. There will be an abundance of booths and stalls providing useful resources and information for LGBTQ+ folks. And of course, there will be plenty of mouthwatering food vendors to satisfy all appetites.

Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak Pride kicks off at Alamo Square on June 8-9. The festival will be running both days from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. The mainstage entertainment is jam-packed with exciting performances, including special headliners Belzin Whistlez, Yan Yez, Amy Martin, Marti Cummings, Laurie Dameron, Spur, and many more. In addition, there will be a parade on that Sunday, June 9, beginning at 11 a.m.

A Packed June 15

June 15 is loaded with festivities. Check out Lafayette Youth Pride at Courtney Way (12-4 p.m.). This will be a resource fair for youth and families, and, of course, will be filled with vendors, activities, and entertainment.

The same night, the Colorado Rockies are hosting a Pride Night as they play the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7 p.m. Upon purchasing a ticket, you will receive a limited-edition Rockies-themed Vizzy Pride fanny pack. A portion of the ticket proceeds will be given to The Center on Colfax, Colorado’s largest LGBTQ+ resource and community center, as well as One Colorado, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ rights.

It doesn’t stop there! If that wasn’t enough, Ouray Country Pride will be hosted the same day at Ridgeway’s Hartwell Park from 2-10 p.m. You can expect a family-friendly celebration of diversity and community.

Craig Pride sets off June 15 in Craig, from 12-3 p.m.

Leadville is alive and merry, too. From 12-2 p.m., Lake Country Public Health is having a Health Carnival, followed by a Pride Parade from 5-6 p.m.

Denver’s Big Pride Party

Denver’s highly anticipated PrideFest will be held June 22 (11 a.m. - 7 p.m.) and June 23 (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.). Last year, an estimated 550,000 people

were in attendance, and this year, commencing Denver Pride’s 50th anniversary, the numbers are expected to rise.

The weekend begins with a 5k on Saturday. The next two days, Denver’s iconic PrideFest will boast over 250 exhibitors, 30 food vendors, and a diverse selection of live performances. Sunday will initiate the infamous Coors Light PrideFest parade–stretching the course of 14 blocks that starts at Colfax Avenue and reaches Civic Center Park. This will be quite the memorable event, so be sure to come celebrate inclusivity in the Mile High City.

June 29 Gaytivites

June 29 is also a lively day. NoCo Pride will be held in Loveland at The Ranch Events Complex (11 a.m. - 5 p.m.).

In addition, Palisade’s Paddle With Pride returns for its fourth year. A Pride Parade on the Colorado River, the event starts at Palisade Rim Launch, where participants will float for a few hours to Corn Lake in Clifton. The event is a collaboration with Paddleboard Adventure Company, so RSVP your floats from them or bring your own to the launch area by 10:30 a.m. to fill out forms and put on sunscreen. There will be an after-party at The Sneak Line as well. Check out Paddle With Pride’s Facebook page for more information.

Boulder

Boulder Pride is to commence on June 30 at Boulder Central Park from 11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.. Out BoulderCounty is packing a day full of fun—from a diverse array of performers, vendors, activities, giveaways, and even a motorcade. Keep an eye on

their Pride Page for more events, parties, mixers, parades, and everything in between as the dates near!

Pride After June

Just because June ends doesn’t mean Pride does!

Aurora will host an awesome Pride August 3 on the Aurora Reservoir from 12-7 p.m. Come enjoy a beachfront celebration with vendors, music, activities, and everything in between. The event aims to raise money for local LGBTQ+ students. Get your tickets online for free or at the door for $10.

On August 4, Douglas County kicks off its PrideFest at Salisbury Park from 11 am to 6 p.m.

You can also expect Pueblo Pride on August 18. The location and specifics are TBA, so keep an eye out.

San Luis Valley’s Pride will be held August 24-25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cole Park, with additional information coming soon.

Finally, Colorado West Pride: Pride Through The Ages will be hosted in Grand Junction from September 3-8.

Whether you make it to the festivities or not, June (and beyond) is a time to celebrate unity, understanding, and love for the creative and vibrant LGBTQ+ community–and allies are always welcomed. Check out some of these amazing events and celebrate our beautiful, diverse, and resilient LGBTQ+ community all month long!

by Micah Howell

The CenTer on Colfax CelebraTes ITs 50

their 50th PrideFest. The Center had their first Pride in 1974. On June 22 and 23, The Center will host its 50th Pridefest at Civic Center Park. We

by police. Specifically gay men, same-sex relationships, and dancing in public, that sort of thing was illegal. Police regularly went into gay bars, raided them, and arof entrapment at times. They went before the City Council 15 years ago last October and staged a big protest where a couple hundred people spoke

before city council and got the laws changed. This really sparked a lot of activism.

Basically, after that victory, there were a lot of organizations saying we need a community center where we can address the needs of the community, and they found it. Community Center of Colorado, as it was then known; it later changed names until we just be-

came The Center on Colfax, but that was the start of The Center.

What are some milestones or achievements The Center has accomplished over the past 50 years?

There's been a lot. This year is the 50th anniversary of the first Pride event in Colorado, so I think growing Pride into what it has become is a really big accomplishment. The very first Pride event, I believe,

was a gathering at Cheesman Park with a couple hundred people. It became very popular and became a larger event, and then it turned into a parade and a festival, and then it turned into a two-day festival, and now there's a 5k, and half a million people probably attended last year.

I think that's a really big accomplishment. The Center has been very re-

Photography by Ivy Owens

prIde fesT

sponsive to community needs over the years. In the early days, volunteers really contributed to the founding of what was then known as The Anti-Violence Project to try and collect data on assault and harassment of LGBT individuals.

The Center had a role in the founding of the Gender Identity Center, which started off as a support group here and then moved into its own organization. The Center had a role in responding to the AIDS crisis of the 80s and the founding of the Colorado AIDS Project, which grew into Colorado Health Network.

In 1992, The Center was very involved with fighting Amendment Two and then fighting when it did pass to have it overturned at the Supreme Court. I think we're all very proud now. We used to rent space all over town; There was a point for a couple of years where we were homeless, and now we actually have our own buildings. PrideFest has always been

a major part of that. The parade, the festival, the 5k, everything that goes on around that—and it is to benefit our year-round programs here at The Center.

How has The Center evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of the queer community over the decades? When we were first founded, we were The Gay Community Center of Colorado; then we became The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Colorado. Then we were The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Community Center in Colorado. After that we became The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender Community Center.

We are continuing to try and serve folks from the asexual community. We have support for friends and families of trans folks. That's why we ended up with The Center on Colfax, because our home is on Colfax, and as we continue to serve new communities, we don't have to rename ourselves every time.

Can you describe some of the key programs and services The Center offers to support the queer community? I think the development of our transgender program, we've just seen amazing growth in that. We were pioneers in terms of serving youth through Rainbow Alley. Rainbow Alley serves youth 11 to 17.

We have a new program called Saga, which serves young adults ages 18 to 24.

We've established our new mental health program and a very active history program. West of 50 is our program for older adults. We have community enrichment events that happen as one-offs as well. We also have RANGE, which is our training program for workplaces.

Can you share any memorable stories or moments from The Center's history that highlight its importance and impact?

Some of them I wasn't here for, but I

think the fact that we've been able to grow so much and to establish our own permanent home, I think is really the biggest one.

We had a volunteer at our front desk who was very dedicated. His name was Roy Wood. And he was not able to be out anywhere else. He was not out to his family. He wasn't out in his workplace. When he passed away, he left a major donation to The Center, which was $1.2 million. And that was the beginning of our capital campaign to buy this building and move in. So I think that's the biggest one.

Looking ahead, what are The Center's aspirations and goals for the future, particularly as it enters its next chapter beyond the 50th anniversary milestone? We've just launched a new strategic plan that we are working to accomplish. There's a page on our website that will talk about it that has some details on some of the goals outlined on it. But I think, really, it's about just trying to expand our service to the community through our existing programs and create new programs, as well as making sure that we continue to be a fiscally responsible organization.

As we wrap up, Is there anything else that you'd like to share or mention?

Phil Nash, who was actually the very first employee of the center back in 1976, just wrote this book that just came out. It's just called LGBTQ Denver, and it's a wonderful book. And it really has some wonderful images from the last five decades. And I just keep thinking about how many lives The Center and Denver Pride have touched over the years.

I think one of the things that's really important to me, and that I feel like we have to always remind ourselves (of), is that we are the largest Pride in the Rocky Mountain Region; People travel from other states to come to our event.

And for many, many people, it's their very first experience with the LGBTQ community. And I think we can get caught up in the drama dealing with Park Permits or Parade Permits and all that sort of thing, but it's very gratifying to know that at the end of the day, what a major impact that has on the community.

DENVER • LAKEWOOD • COLORADO SPRINGS

QUEER CHRISTMAS

Photographer: Ivy Owens, @ivyjune._.jpg

Photography Assistant: Alex Gallegos, @thatgrlwhodoestuff Models: Christopher La Fleur @christopher.lafleur.arts , Tab Gleason @ta_b3ast

Location: Cheesman Park

American Queer RICK KITZMAN'S SET

TO SATIATE

READERS' SEXUAL, SPIRITUAL, & SECRET

NEEDS

by Anna Lee

Rick Kitzman, author of the upcoming novel American Queer, out this June via OFM’s own Q Publishing House imprint, talks about the beauty of disco and the challenges he faced as a gay man who lived through the AIDS epidemic.

According to his bio, he is a “Colorado

native and AIDS survivor in New York City during the 80s, he has been a corporate trainer, human resources director, and a club DJ.” Kitzman's unique life inherently translates in his delightfully unorthodox and lyrical writing style.

American Queer explores a reality that is both gruesome and beautiful, kinky and intimate, bizarre and innately human–and a reality that society has, and often continues, to try to hide in the shadows.

Photo by John Johnston

While you were putting together American Queer, what was your main goal whenorganizing a collection that spans your lifetime? These stories were written over 50 years; they were always a reflection of where I was at that particular time, for the most part. And I've wanted to write since a very early age.

all these stories, particularly in the mids 90s, late 80s, when AIDS was going on, it was definitely a way for me to express what was going on in my world. And it was a very dark world. But there was also hope, light, expression, and life.

The story "Lady in the Hatbox,” I wrote that in the mid 90s … and the story behind that is the movie called The Mechan-

Queer

But I wasn’t necessarily reading the stories I wanted to—There were gay novels … I can think of The Front Runner, City Of Night, and those classics. And they painted a world I wanted to be a part of— the sex in particular because I'll admit it, I was a horny dude. And that was just such a driving force.

I was a pretty wholesome kind of guy. I come from a small town. I was naive. And, you know, I wasn't really butch or sports-minded or built or anything like that. I was just sort of sweet and innocent. But I loved going to these dark places. I wanted to experience them. I wanted to be in that environment … There was something so romantic about it. And I don’t even know how to explain it … There was just something in the nitty gritty that was real.

I think when I was writing

ic, starring Charles Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent … the original was made in 1972 … and they wanted to make it more of a gay story between a mentor hitman; it's about a hitman and his trainee, and when I heard about it and saw the movie, that storyline was so subtle, you reallllly had to use your imagination … It was so disappointing.

So that was the reason for “Lady in the Hatbox,” because I wanted to see that story. And I chose the second-person perspective because I wanted there to be an immediacy to this very outwardly violent scene, but really it's about two consenting adults, and they're just kinky.”

Living in New York City and surviving the AIDS Epidemic in the 80s and 90s, you have a very inherent connection to the hardships and societal shift at the time. How would you describe this time in your life?

In the 70s, the city to be if you

wanted to be where it was happening was New York. And so I felt really fortunate that, due to timing, I was able to live there in the middle of this cultural upheaval.

So I moved there in 76 … and New York was coming off almost becoming bankrupt. Crime was terrible … It was very dangerous. People were leaving, (but) there was always culture; there was always art and movies; there was always that.

But it was when John Lindsay was mayor, and he asked the Feds for help because the city was going to collapse … and that was when Ford was president, and he basically told New York to go to hell, and so there was even more of this nitty gritty. I moved there with four other friends, two women and two other guys. There were five of us, and we lived in a two-bedroom apartment … (and) when we moved there, the city was just coming back. So we were there right, probably, at its lowest point.

But we were also part of, and a large part of that was the gay scene, becoming much more viable, visible, culturally significant. And I was very fortunate to be present when that transition happened.

I basically came back to Denver to die. I thought I was going to die because all of my friends in New York were dying. And I still had very close ties with friends in Denver; they would come out to New York to party; when my parents were still alive, I would go home to Denver for the holidays, and I would always see them, and I would always go to The Ballpark and just have a great time.

But then, AIDS hit, and people started dying right and left. And it was a struggle to get through every day; I mean, there's no doubt about it. Obviously I survived, but looking back at those times, I know I was extremely depressed, but I have a naturally cheerful disposition, so most people would never have guessed.

Much of your early work in the book explores the intimacy, glamor, and rough

edges of disco in the 1970s and 1980s. How did your connection to the disco scene in Denver and New York and your work as a DJ impact your life? I was thrilled with the danger aspect of it. My DJ name is Rick Danger, and there's a reason for that … My friends, I can still see them sitting there, going, “We should call you Rick Dangerous ‘cuz you love dangerous situations.”

So I said, “What about Rick Danger?” And so it was just sort of a nickname that kind of stuck with me. And then when I became a DJ, I adopted it.

Most of my experience was really in Denver. I flew back to New York in 85 to do New Years Eve at Studio 54, and that was an experience; it was fun.

In 85/86, I was kind of going back and forth (between New York and Denver). And good friends of mine built and owned The Ballpark, which was a gay bathhouse (and discotheque in Denver) … and so the owners of The Ballpark asked me if I would like to learn

how to DJ and work at The Ballpark. And so I did. I became the head DJ and did a lot of the big parties … I look back on it now, and it was a privilege. It was fun. It was wonderful. And I have recordings from a few of them.

But music really saved my life; in no uncertain terms it did. I don't care what people say about disco: It's wonderful; it's trippy; it's fun; it's energetic; it's ridiculous; it's creative.

I still have a few of my favorite (records); they really are like olds friends, and they evoke such wonderful memories. They don't evoke horrible times or horrible memories. They evoke, “Oh my god, I was dancing with this guy,” or we were at this party, or I

love this remix. They’re those bits and pieces of life that evoke memories and, after all, because they are good memories, that's a great thing.

I remember being criticized for it once, when I was talking about the “good ole days" of when we could go dancing and not worry about disease and dying.

And, you know, what's wrong with being sentimental about those days? They were wonderful days. There were wonderful guys, (and there was) wonderful music.

American Queer will be available for purchase at OFM’s website this summer and at upcoming events including Denver PrideFest

Sharing a table and chatting over a cup of joe, Phil Nash shares about the making and inspiration of his new pictorial history LGBTQ+ Denver and his experiences as a gay elder and life-long LGBTQ+ advocate.

The moment Phil sat down across from me, I felt more than admiration I had originally anticipated—I felt a connection to my history and my sense of reflection bloomed more after I read LGBTQ+ Denver.

& LGBTQ+ DENVER:

Phil Nash on Our History

His Life of Advocacy

Nash's roots dive deep into Denver’s LGBTQ+ civil rights movement—His hands-on role uplifted a community that was under scrutiny, criminalized, and ostracized during a health epidemic.

He was the first paid staff member at Denver's historic LGBTQ+ Center. He was a journalist for our very own OFM. He advised and connected with Mayor Federico Peña. He was a founding member of the Colorado AIDS Project. His accolades and contributions to Denver’s LGBTQ+ community continue to go on and on.

While working on this mostly pictorial historical book, Nash wanted to “share the sense of how the community evolved and what were the big points of inflection when things really

began to change around many different issues … There are nine chapters in the book and they are sort of based on what I perceived to be those inflection points.”

LGBTQ+ Denver begins prior to the city’s birth, and explores indigenous people’s concept of queerness and the term “Two-Spirit.” "RE:SEARCHING FOR

DENVER:

LGBTQ2S+ HEALTH" defines the term as referring “to a person who identifies as having both a masculine and a feminine spirit and is used by some Indigenous people to describe their sexual, gender and/or spiritual identity.”

Among the tribes local to the area, each group had their own connection and words for queer indigenous folks who were celebrated in their societies. Arapaho Two-Spirit people were called hoxuxuno; Cheyenne were he’eman, and Southern Ute were tuwasawits.

But as the 19th century reached its end, the state’s aim to create societies deemed as “civilized” rapidly escalated discrimination against LGBTQ+ folks. Perspectives on same-gender relationships, and LGBTQ+ folks in general, were socially quite negative, and laws against sodomy, cross-dress-

Once settelers started moving westward, the large population of men (drawn to the state to pursue life as a cowboy or enter the mining camps) made intimate connections and partnerships amongst themselves. The modern idea of homosexuality had not entered the lexicon, and these men often engaged in partnerships with other men (whether that be to offer support emotionally, physically, and, perhaps, sexually).

ing, and same-sex relationships pushed queer people to shadows. But the 1970s finally began to propel a shift that would lead to inclusivity on a national level.

With the logical challenges of finding photos and Nash’s personal relationship with this era in history, the 1970s and upward make up the majority of this pictorial history. Given Nash's role in the LGBTQ+ history in Denver, he not only holds the torch of the past, but is the perfect oracle to lay out this history.

With the Center On Colfax celebrating its 50-year anniversary this year, reflecting on the past, creating change in our pent, and working towards our future can ensure that history does not repeat itself.

Phil Nash knows very well how important it is to preserve the work he and others did throughout Denver’s LGBTQ+ rights movement. And he cannot be separated from The Cen-

ter’s earliest days—He was the first paid employee and aided in elevating the space to what it is today.

“We could not have known how successful the center would become back then … The Center was developed on paper, through community meetings and so forth. Beginning in about 1975, it finally opened its doors in 1977. I was chosen to be the first paid employee, the title that I had was called coordinator, and it was a time where there was no foundation funding; there was no corporate funding, this was all the community raising money for itself … For the first 15 or 20 years that the center existed it was just getting by on a shoestring.”

The Center has come a very long way in spite of the challenges the space has faced since opening its doors. But despite financial insecurity, societal discrimination, and a health epidemic, the Center on Colfax has been on the forefront of aiding LGBTQ+ folks in need of safety, healthcare, and love since its conception in the early 1970s. In 2010, the Center moved to its

current location on Capitol Hill and has continued to prosper.

Given his connection to The Center, Nash met people across the queer community and worked with many organizations, including OFM, known at the time as OUT FRONT Magazine.

As a journalist for OFM, Nash reported and recorded a span of LGBTQ+ history that would have otherwise likely fallen to the wayside given the hardships from police brutality, social discrimination, and the AIDS Epidemic.

On the magazine's origins, he says, “It was very exciting. OUT FRONT came out at the right time and the right place. Phil Price, the founder and publisher, started the publication in April of 1976 … (He) brought a much more polished and professional approach to journalism in the gay community— covering politics and the emerging of gay sports groups, the business that were developing, like clothing stores, neighborhoods, gayborhoods, (cover-

ing) what was happening. So it brought a much more diverse and professional perspective. So it was kind of exciting because, well into the 1980s, we were still having a lot of trouble with police oppression of the community.

“From the early 1980s on, working with OUT FRONT, I met lots of people who were involved in politics, involved in the business community, involved in the social realm, pretty soon, people who were involved in health care … One of the things I did at OUT FRONT was (that I) wrote the first story in Colorado about the AIDs epidemic in 1981.”

“A key inflection point was when AIDS came along and the role of the community newspaper in gay community newspapers all over the country … was to inform and educate readership about this enormous, alarming health crisis.”

“So OUT FRONT, like local gay publications all over the country, was instrumental in really mobilizing people to get involved and to really take what we had already begun to build as a community and transform it into real services and action on behalf of people who were beginning to get sick and die.”

The role that Nash has played in our community, from working at the Center to hard-hitting journalism through OFM, has created and preserved a history that folks young and old can look to in a world that is not always supportive of queer people.

Nash says, “I want people to understand that you can make history in your own time; we are faced with a lot of pushback right now from our society … (and) part of the job of the younger generation is to preserve the freedom and the rights that we’ve had to earn over the years. But there's also a lot of new territory that needs to be explored.”

He also dedicates the book “to volunteers because this movement was built on volunteers using the tools of democracy to create a more fair and just society and to create resources for the LGBT community.”

Given his lifelong commitment to the community and the realm of his work, Nash’s qualifications ensure the LGBTQ+ Denver reflects an accurate and insightful reflection of queer history in Denver.

If you would like to purchase this pictorial history, you can find LGBTQ+ Denver on Arcadia Publishing’s website and wherever books are sold.

You can also meet Nash at a reading and signing event at the Tattered Cover/East Colfax on Friday, June 7 at 6:00 p.m. (you can purchase the book in advance and register for the event on the Tattered Cover’s website).

Hiking in Heels: A Chat with Denver Pride Headliner

Photo by Evan Benally Atwood

Pattie Gonia, Mother Nature’s favorite drag queen, will be one of the headliners at this year’s Denver PrideFest.

Pattie Gonia (they/she/he) is a critically acclaimed drag queen, artist, and environmentalist. Their goal is to diversify the outdoor and environmental movements and inspire the queer population to go outside. She has been named Outside Magazine’s Person of the Year, National Geographic Traveler of the Year, and Next Gen Leader for 2023 by TIME Magazine.

With their community and supporters, Pattie Gonia has raised over $2 million for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and environmental nonprofits, completed thousands of miles of hiking, and raised awareness of the ongoing environmental crisis with multiple film projects. It’s safe to say that we are so excited to have Pattie Gonia with us for this year’s Denver PrideFest, so we had a quick conversation with her about her set, her Pride plans, and her music.

What can we expect from your set (without spoiling too much)?

Very gay things, a lot of sweat, and to learn about sustainability and just how gay nature is.

Why is Pride important to you? Pride is important to me because love and being proud of who you are can change the world, and because everyone deserves the right to get sunburned and dehydrated around thousands of other queer people.

Pattie Gonia

Photos courtesy of Phil Nash

What do you hope people walk away with after witnessing your set? Celebrating themselves, celebrating sustainability, and celebrating nature.

What advice would you give any young queer people struggling this Pride?

You are stronger than you know, and me and Mother Nature love you.

What are your personal plans for this Pride?

To spend as much time outside with my queers as possible!

You just released a song last month! What was the process of creating that like? What future plans do you have music-wise?

The song was about my deconstruction of a faith that almost killed me and my reconstruction of faith

around nature and queerness. The process of creating the song was to spend a lot of time outside reflecting on my life and how far I’ve come to get to a place of self. There are a lot of plans in the works with my music. I am full sending music.

How did you get into drag?

I hiked a section of the Continental Divide Trail in high heels, and the rest is history (of ankle pain and a community of more than a million queers getting outdoors).

What are your thoughts on the importance of drag, Pride, and celebration in this time of more and more anti-LGBTQ+ laws/policies? Pride is more important than ever. Let’s make Denver Pride the most inclusive, sustainable, and queer Pride yet.

Health and Wellness Resources

Alex Osias, MSW, LCSW, MFTC 720-310-0714 | alexosias.com

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Artfully You Therapy

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Birch Psychology

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DNB Therapy - D. Nico Baker, LCSW 720-443-2353 | dnbtherapy.com

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Ease Electrolysis

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Facilitated Movement

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Healing with Feelings

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Healing with Feelings is a therapy practice for those who are struggling with identity, mood, anxiety, or past trauma. I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ communities, providing inclusive care and access to gender affirming procedures (i.e. letters for insurance). Please reach out if this sounds like something you would benefit from!

Healthy Minds of Colorado

Info@HealthyMindsofColorado.com

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Proudly supporting the psychiatric medication needs of our Colorado LGBTQ+ community. Accept most insurance plans, including Medicaid.

Inclusive Care

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Infinite Wheel

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Queer-owned counseling and art therapy services provided via telehealth for Colorado and New Mexico residents.

Jade Cooley Therapy

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Jade Wellness

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Dr. Savannah is a Chiropractor & Holistic Health Expert who owns Jade Wellness, a space centered on the queer & trans community.

Jesse Proia M.A., L.M.F.T. Colorado - LMFT .0001839 213-538-8714 | Jesseproia.com jesseproia@jesseproia.com

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Liminality Counseling

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Liminality Counseling is a therapy practice focusing on healing sexuality, intimacy, and relationship challenges. I specialize in working with women, LGBTQIA+, and poly folx from a somatic and pleasure-focused lens. Please connect with me to learn more and how we can best support you.

Moving Body Chiropractic

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Natural Embodiment Somatic & Dance/Movement Therapy

Lauren Pass Erickson MA, LPC, R-DMT 401-307-3449 | naturalembodiment.org

Lauren (she/her) provides an embodied and creative approach to mental health care, helping you live your truth in joy and confidence. Specialized focus on reconnecting with the body after trauma, healing CPTSD, exploring queer sexuality, and embracing the adult comingout process. Individual and group therapy available.

New Foundations Counseling 720-996-1340 | newfoundationcounseling.com info@newfoundationcounseling.com

New Foundation Counseling is a mental health practice that works with all ages and populations,

specializing in working with teens, young adults, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Omni Counseling and Nutrition

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Queer Asterisk

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Queer Relationship Institute

Tom Bruett | 720-248-8359

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individual and relationship therapy for queer folx in Denver, CO. We also provide training for other therapists to improve their work with the community. We believe strong relationships build strong communities.

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Real You Electrolysis 360-217-4205

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RiNo Dental

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Modern dental oasis in RiNo, welcoming all under the queer umbrella. State-of-the-art tech meets inclusive care for a comfortable experience.

SilverLining Insurance Advocates

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We provide personalized Medicare solutions with 20+ years' of industry experience, guiding informed decisions & offering ongoing support.

Softening Stone Psychotherapy

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STRIDE Community Health Center

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diabetes counseling, dental care, onsite pharmacy, substance use services, and more! Behavioral health services offer counseling and therapy in conjunction with medical or dental appointments, too! STRIDE uses a sliding fee scale based on family size and income only.

Spectrum: The Other Clinic

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Transgender HRT specialty clinic. WPATH board certified providers. Private virtual visits via phone app. $38/month covers your appt costs.

Third Eye Acupuncture & Wellness

Emily Sealy, LAc | 720-288-0305

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True Essence Therapy

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Unraveling Recovery, LLC

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Wander Haven Psychology

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You:Flourish information@you-flourish.com you-flourish.com

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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

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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

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ICONS

3 E. Bijou St. Colo. Springs (719) 300-7863

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LIL' DEVILS

255 S. Broadway St. Denver (303) 733-1156

Facebook @lildevilslounge

R&R LOUNGE

4958 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 320-9337

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TIGHT END BAR

1501 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 861-9103

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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

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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: Taco Tuesday! w/$2 Tacos, $3 Modelo, $5 House Margs

WED: Trivia with Alejandro 7p-9p w/$5 U Call It At The Bar, $.75 Wings

THU: Solve That Puzzle 7p, Karaoke 8p w/BOGO Well & Drafts 2p to 8p, $5 Sliders

FRI: Drag Race & Star Lite Show 6p-10:30p w/Happy Hour 2p-8p, 1/2 price flatbreads

SAT: Rooftop T 5p-9p w/Happy Hour, $10 Beer & Burger Special

SUN: Charity Beer Bust 4p-8p$12/cup Coors Light & Truly Hard Seltzers to 7p