09.02.2020 :: Healing Aurora with Pride

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

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HEALING AURORA: HOW TO HELP A COMMUNITY IN SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL DISTRESS 1906 WANTS YOU TO SHOP LOCAL: AN INTERVIEW WITH JIM FREELEND WHAT ISN’T KNOWN ABOUT TERWANDA MCMOORE

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FROM THE FOUNDER: REFLECTIONS IN SONG AURORA KEEPS THE SPIRIT OF PRIDE ALIVE: ONE-ON-ONE WITH ZANDER OKLAR ‘WE ARE AMERICAN’: WE STAN JESUS CASTRO AND DACA OUT IN AURORA IS SUPPORTING THE LOCAL SCENE ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME

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FROM THE EDITOR

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HEALING AURORA WITH

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t this point, it’s a cliché to say that 2020 has been a year. We all know it; we all feel it. Everyone who has tried to address current issues or throw events dealt with issues they’ve never dealt with before, and Aurora Pride was no exception. First of all, of course, we had a lot of debate about whether or not an in-person event was appropriate for 2020. The more events started to unfold, the less sure we were, and we eventually landed on not doing a full event. More announcements on some kind of gathering may still roll out, but there’s no big party to announce at this time. Then, there’s the elephant in the room: less than a month after last year’s Aurora Pride, Elijah McClain died at the hands of Aurora police. The Aurora PD has always been a part of Aurora Pride, since events in Aurora cannot legally happen without a police presence. That event made us rethink

our connection to Aurora, their police department, and our event. There was talk of not doing an Aurora issue at all. After all, there’s no official event to speak of thanks to COVID19, and police reform is putting the city in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. But, I would argue, all these reasons are exactly why we need an Aurora-specific issue. This issue is all about healing Aurora. The city is undergoing reform, and activists are speaking out about police reform, the ICE detention center in Aurora, and all the problems that need to be addressed. We are also celebrating the local businesses in Aurora that have been impacted by the COVID pandemic. During this trying time, our neighbors to the east need our love and support even more. This is not the time to stay silent; this is the time to write our future. -Addison Herron-Wheeler

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Healing Aurora HOW TO HELP A COMMUNITY IN SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL DISTRESS by Addison Herron-Wheeler

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nless you’re living under a rock, you know Aurora has been in the headlines lately, and not for a good reason. The tragic death of Elijah McClain just passed its one-year anniversary, and the community is still reeling, trying to figure out how to move forward with a police force making headlines for being murderers. And unless you’re seriously living under a rock, you know all about COVID19 ripping through communities, destroying lives, medical resources, and the economy. Of course, the entire country is dealing with social upheaval, reevaluation of police forces, and a major economic downturn. But many communities, including Denver, have more resources

to fall back on when things like this happen. Developing areas like Aurora don’t always have the means to make everything OK for their citizens, but based on what we learned about reform plans in the city, they are doing a damn good job of trying.

FOOD AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT During a recession, some of the first major issues to pop up are local businesses going under and lack of food and resources for the poorest members of the community. Aurora is actively combatting those two things with their small business recovery plan and local food pantry program. “Our small business recovery has come in the form of two separate grants programs,” explains Ward V Aurora O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 9


City Council member Alison Coombs. “One was business relief, so immediate cash for the businesses at the beginning of the pandemic. And then the recovery program, which is grants to businesses specifically for the purpose of helping them change their operations in light of the pandemic. It helps with cleaning and sanitizing, PPE, as well as updates to ventilation systems and increasing outdoor spaces.” While this funding, combined with help on the federal level, is something the community is extremely grateful for, Coombs makes no bones about the fact that what is really needed is more federal help, something that is scarce during the Trump administration. “I think businesses here are grateful for what we’ve done and the way that we've leveraged some of our federal dollars to support them, but I've heard a lot of concern about being able to survive the pandemic,” she says. “As a city, our resources only stretch so far, so we really do need federal support, particularly for smaller businesses that have ten or fewer employees that did not tend to get some federal funding. The federal programs haven’t done much to help them.” And, in some cases, Aurora has to go beyond business funding to help the most in need. For those who have lost shelter or income, the city’s pantry program is essential to meet basic needs. “We've heard from the community that food access has been an issue, so we have a weekly, mobile food pantry program,” Coombs adds. “We have a pick-up program, and then we’ve partnered with Stanley Marketplace to give out prepared meals.” In an effort to address increasing need for food, the city is banding together to come up with creative solutions. Still, there is another serious issue that threatens the city: the discord between police and citizens.

ADDRESSING LACK OF FAITH IN LAW ENFORCEMENT Vanessa Wilson, Aurora Chief of Police, has her dream job. She’s been striving for the position within the force for a while now, but she couldn’t have taken on the job at a more difficult time. “Right now, obviously, we have trust issues with the community,” she says. “My goal is to give the community a voice again and be able to talk about the issues they see, and also utilize the community and help move things forward, make the change that we work for the community. We work with people. And it's not an us-versus-them mentality; it's got to be a two-way communication.” 1 0 \\ S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 2 0

As an out lesbian on the force, Wilson wants to foster inclusivity both within the team and with the community. But, she understands that the trust from the community will be hard to win and is willing to speak directly on what is being done to ensure that more innocent lives, especially Black lives, aren’t taken. That starts with policing that isn’t based on stereotyping. “We are going to change how we respond to suspicious person calls,” Wilson says. “This will give the officers discretion to look at what’s really going on with a call instead of just responding to all calls for service. For years and years, we just sent officers out on all calls, and we need to change that because, obviously, we know there's implicit bias throughout the community and throughout the world.” In the scenario Wilson is explaining, police in unmarked cars would simply drive by for suspicious person calls to see what’s going on. If they see a Black man walking in a hoodie or a group of Latinx teens walking and talking, they drive on. If they see a person trying door handles, accosting people on the street, or in any other way acting suspicious, they will call in backup to intervene. Wilson also plans to back up the Colorado-wide bans on chokeholds and look into what, if any, drugs should be allowed to be carried by activeduty officers.

BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW It’s not yet clear how many businesses will survive the pandemic or when things will go back to “normal,” nor if Wilson will keep her promises to the force and the city. However, one thing is certain; there is talk of action to further support the city. “We have a pretty comprehensive recovery plan in terms of our own operations,” Coombs adds, in reference to how Aurora can rebuild following the COVID financial impact. “We’re going to continue to roll out additional business support programs and offer any other economic relief that we can.” “We're doing the pop-up food drives across different sections of the community where the officers help distributing food, some protein or a couple of cartons of milk depending on the size of their family,” says Wilson of the officers’ efforts to win community trust. “If they have babies, we get diapers. We’re really trying to work with the community, to say we’re here for you. We want to have interactions that humanize the badge and the uniform, so they can see we actually really do care about this community and want to be a part of it.”


1906 Wants You to Shop Local

an Interview with Jim Freelend by Addison Herron-Wheeler

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Photo provided by 1906

ocal edible company 1906 have been a part of the Colorado and Aurora communities for years now, and they’ve given back more than most. Even in times of financial uncertainty, they hold their community partnerships close and look for new ways to reach the community when they have the chance. We spoke with Jim Freelend, director of retail development, about supporting local business and keeping the Pride spirit alive.

How has 1906 been a partner to the community?

Why is having partner relationships in Aurora important to 1906?

What have you been doing this year to stay in the Pride spirit?

We have some great partners in Aurora, Terrapin Care Station, Native Roots, Lightshade, and these partners have been not only great to us, but also to the LGBTQ community. Aurora is definitely a vital partnership.

Why should we be supporting local and small business right now, and how can we show support? I think one of the biggest challenges we’ve seen is having experiencebased products. In the past, people would have tourists coming through their stores in Colorado, and that has really changed based on how travel has changed this year and how far people are traveling from home. But, we’ve also seen more support from the local customer, and some of that comes from working from home. Our new Genius formula has been kind of a lifesaver for a lot of people who need help focusing; it’s a lowdose option that is really designed around cognitive focus. We’re really grateful for the support we’ve seen from the community.

The community is an integral part of what we do; we have queer people represented at all levels within our company, from executive management to sales and marketing and the people who work in production. So, we’re really focused on having an inclusive environment and creating a brand identity that is welcoming to all. It’s been so gratifying to partner with the community, and we always put our whole heart into it.

We did a collaboration to give back to The Center earlier this summer; people were invited to tag us in their social posts. It was a great way to encourage personal celebrations and also give back to an organization that is really vital to the Colorado community. Personally, I have had the opportunity to think about giving to nonprofits that have supported the community; I’ve kind of traded my spending, since I obviously haven’t been going out to dinner, shows, or bars, and really made a conscious effort to devote some of that money to give back to the community. I think right now, it’s important that we support one another and make sure that there are resources for people within our community that need help.

How have you been celebrating the season? I’ve just been really strengthening relationships with the people that are close to me, the people within my bubble. We’re careful and respectful of each other’s space and want to make sure that we're treating each other with the utmost care to keep everyone safe and healthy. Learn more at 1906newhighs.com. O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 1 1


WHAT ISN’T KNOWN

ABOUT

TERWANDA

MCMOORE Photo and words by Justine Johnson

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Taylor. Proceeds went to the McClain family and 10for10, a Black youth organization. In June, McMoore and their organization, We Are One Denver, organized the Amplify the Voice concert with music guests Brothers of Brass, Spirit of Grace, Wesley Watkins, and more.

“IT WAS JUST AROUND AUGUST. I WROTE A LETTER TO MY PARENTS IN LOUISVILLE, KY, AND MY PARTNER AND I PACKED UP THE CATS AND EVERYTHING WE COULD FIT IN THE TINY VOLVO. WE WERE LIVING OFFGRID FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS, CAMPING FOR MOST OF THE TIME IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. MOST OF THE EXPERIENCE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE GOING NEXT.”

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riving along, Terwanda McMoore and their partner passed this Burger King in Pueblo, CO. There wasn't much else in the small town.

"I'd seen this Burger King before, just in a dream 10 years ago," they say. We stopped for a bite, and got back on the road. “Then, we blew a head gasket," McMoore says. In Pueblo, it would have cost more to replace the head gasket than to purchase the vehicle. McMoore saw it as a sign to stop for a minute. McMoore works as the Community Engagement Specialist for The Green Solution. They do not have preferred pronouns and are a Black, gay activist in Denver. During the Black Lives Matter marches, they handed out water bottles to people with the help of her moped. They recently co-hosted a vigil and protest for Vanessa Guillen, Elijah McClain, and Breonna

So, how did they get from broken down in Pueblo to a major Denver activist? Before moving to Colorado, McMoore and their previous partner bought old, foreclosed houses and fixed them up in the poor areas of Louisville. One night, they decided to stay in one of their abandoned houses for the night to wake up early and start work the next morning. "We hear the door busting in and yelling: ‘Police! Police!’" McMoore explains. Though they showed the officers the paperwork for the house, the officers detained them and searched for warrants. "They had nothing on us, but they could still act like they had something on us; they took one of our crowbars, a hammer, and one of our book bags." McMoore says officers then told one of their own to keep quiet during the situation, even if they did not agree. McMoore was then charged with criminal robbery, which was dropped down to criminal trespassing. They reflect, "After I had gotten off house arrest, I thought, ‘I gotta go; I gotta go.’ It was right around August when I decided living in Louisville wasn't for me." After McMoore's charges were off their record, they left Kentucky with their partner and cats to escape the segregation in Louisville. "My path is to help people see that there's more to life than what we're already living," McMoore says. "The majority of the world sees and respects you with action. If I can work to show people that hey, you don't have to succumb to always depending on the government to live off of, but, at the same time, you have to put something back into the universe." Before working at The Green Solution, McMoore went to a school of metaphysics and

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During the BLM protests, many groups within the Black community were working separately. As an activist, McMoore doesn’t want that to be the case. "Cis, heterosexual men were trying to take over the movement when it’s all Black lives that are affected," McMoore says. "Black women, trans, Black lives, Brown lives—we have people locked up in cages [who] should not be locked up, whether they're in prison

"Some people just cause drama and chaos because that's all they know. People on the police side of things just beat the sh*t out of some people because they have mental issues they're going through. They use it as their coping mechanism," McMoore says.

worked as a nurse's assistant in Kentucky. They believe in meditation and the importance of mental health awareness and conversations. McMoore loves to sing and is a member of Denver Women's Choir. When they they aren't working or focusing on activism, they love to play with their dog, Abby.

McMoore closes by expanding on how properly addressing mental health issues as a separate problem would also lower crime, "I guarantee a lot of the criminal activity that happens is because of mental health. Mentally, if someone is not there, or checked out, they aren't stable, and their issues aren't addressed. Why is it that someone thinks putting on a badge means they’re above people? That needs to be addressed. But, that's a TED Talk conversation for the future. And eventually, we'll get there."

McMoore started at The Green Solution as a trimmer, then in the kitchen making edibles, and now currently oversees business outreach to the community. They came to this position in just two-and-a-half years. A goal of theirs’ is to help the community understand federal laws regarding cannabis commerce. "I want to show other gay, Black women that you can be successful in anything that you do; you can work right next to those men that are taking over everything. I'm not going to stop ‘til I get up there. I want to show the LGBTQ community we can get in there," says McMoore. The LGBTQ community continues the struggle to have their voices heard and their rights uncompromised.

cages, or ICE cages. Someone walking home should not be afraid if they will be stopped by police." "I think collectively, communities could use more and better mental health services for people," McMoore adds. “If it’s being in and out of prison, suicide, sexuality, gender, or dealing with abuse, it would reduce the need for police. People could then address the issues they are having ahead of time. "Half the time, that's all someone needs is another person to sit down with and talk about what's going on" McMoore

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continues. "I believe a lack of education and mental healthcare is a source of police problems on both sides. People say ‘defund the police,’ and I agree; they should not have this much funding. How will you implement that? How are you going to educate people?


NOW OPEN !

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Photo by Veronica L. Holyfield 1 6 \\ S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 2 0


us arles Brosho hoto by Ch

FROM THE FOUNDER

Reflections in Song by Christopher La Fleur

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our years ago over drinks, my coworkers and I watched the snow fall beyond the window of a local bar. I was, at that time, the director of special events and the director of sales and marketing at OUT FRONT. We’d just wrapped up weeks of laying out the 2017 editorial and marketing program. Though it was chilly outside; I was daydreaming about the summer Pride season half a year away. Suddenly, I sat up in my seat. “What if we had our own Pride event? What if we did an Aurora Pride event next year?” Someone at the table said, “Aurora? Really? Aurora Pride?” Having spent much of my youth in Aurora, I knew the reputation of the city better than most. For the proud Denverites amongst us, the city is the no-man’s land anywhere east of Colorado Boulevard and west of the Kansas border. However, having joined the Aurora Diversity Council just months before, I also knew the city was making moves. I did a few hasty, back-of-the-envelope calculations, then laid out my case as

coherently as possible. I stopped midsentence, “You know what, let me put together a presentation, and I’ll show you. It can be done.” I went home that evening exhilarated, mind alight with possibilities, never once considering how much work was to come. Over the next eight months, my team and I worked harder than we’d ever thought possible, with total secrecy surrounding the project. Contractors and consultants signed NDAs. Nothing was to be announced before spring, especially if the endeavor turned out to be an impossible pipedream to animate in just eight months. Shortly thereafter, we submitted the paperwork establishing the OUT FRONT Foundation. Its mission? To use Aurora Pride as a vehicle for a scholarship program benefiting students in minority-majority communities like Aurora. The more I learned about the city and how much it had changed since my childhood, the more I fell in love. Aurora consistently ranks in the top 10 most diverse communities in O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 1 7


America. The students of Aurora Public Schools speak nearly 150 different languages. The city has no LGBTQ bars, unlike Denver, and the city had never held a Pride event. As a kid who grew up near the poverty line, I knew how unattainable college could be. Having survived a turbulent adolescence, I also knew that self-expression, and access to it, empowers future changemakers in our communities. In spite of the long days and endless tasks required to bring such an event to life, I was constantly reminded that OUT FRONT was one such product of a pipedream. I’m confident Phil Price, the founder of OUT FRONT Magazine, had no idea his baby would serve the queer community for decades, not years, to come. Long before Aurora Pride, I’d wonder privately where the next Phil Price might be hiding. Were they trapped in high school, desperately awaiting graduation day? Could they be hiding in a school restroom, bullied because their skin was the wrong color or because they couldn’t afford tuition at the best school? Certainly, that isn’t the justice our students or communities need.

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The spirit of justice and the nature of service is the real origin story of Aurora Pride. With the innumerable hours spent by dozens, maybe hundreds, of stakeholders and city officials, we laid the foundations for an event which I hope long outlasts me. Aurora Pride remains the crowning achievement of my professional life to date. I will never forget giving then-Mayor of Aurora Steve Hogan a tour of the site. We walked through the commons at the foot of the Aurora Municipal Center. Drag performers were doing a number on stage. Music filled the air; tents ringed the quad, and rainbow flags billowed in the wind. For the first time in the history of Aurora, hundreds of queers of all stripes gathered together at an event no one believed possible at the time. Old and young, people of all races and genders, from cultures as different as they are the same. Under the scorching-hot summer sun, Steve and I took it all in together. We looked at each other and said, “Good job.” Without his help, and the help of hundreds of others, we wouldn’t be standing together that day. While Aurora Pride may look a little different this year, the heart and soul of this organization and the hardworking

Photos by Veronica L. Holyfield volunteer board members remains the same. We are united in the belief that if we all give just a little bit more, tomorrow will be better than today. Though it may not feel like it, given the tidal wave of current events, we are on the threshold of a bold, diverse minority-majority America. The ascendancy of Latinx queers; young, Black kings and queens; the children of immigrants from the world over; and LGBTQ students, is upon us. They are our future business leaders and elected officials. They are our national wealth. They do not belong in cages at the border; they belong in the best schools and positions of influence at every level of every government. Aurora Pride is our love song to you. We wrote it for every young person waiting for their chance to shine. We believe in you. You are loved. Most importantly, you are not alone. This one’s for you.

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Aurora Keeps the Spirit of Pride Alive

ONE-ON-ONE WITH ZANDER OKLAR by Denny Patterson

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hanks to the unfortunate COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be able to party together this year at Aurora Pride. However, even though we can’t hit the beach and soak up some sun, event organizers are doing whatever they can to ensure that the spirit of Pride stays alive for Aurora’s diverse community. OUT FRONT had the opportunity to chat with Zander Oklar, Aurora Pride’s executive director. No stranger to coordinating and hosting events, he talked with us about what Aurora Pride has in store for the future, the challenges of organizing an event during these times, how Aurora Pride is responding to troubling allegations against the police, and more on their Out in Aurora initiative that will be held throughout September.

Hi, Zander! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me. How are you coping during these unprecedented times? It has definitely been a struggle trying to adapt to these situations. I have always worked from home, so that hasn’t been a big change, but just kind of dealing with the circumstances around the crisis has been a challenge. From having to forego our normal, festival-style event into trying to plan new, smaller events that fit into the whole health department regulations so that we can ensure that we have safe events for people, that has been challenging, especially because the information that we are receiving from the city and health department is changing constantly. 2 2 \\ S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 2 0

I think we are on the ninth revised edition of the Safer at Home order here in Colorado, and that order didn’t even come out until near the end of May. So, it’s like every week or two. The second we think we found safe solutions, we have to adapt to another change. Just figuring out how to adapt to new situations constantly has been our biggest struggle, but also, because we are event organizers, we’re used to kind of rolling with the punches. So, I think we are a little bit better equipped to deal with this than maybe some other industries.

Even though this year’s Aurora Pride has been canceled due to the COVID pandemic, how can we still celebrate? We like to say that Aurora Pride didn’t get canceled, just our festival did. We are still staying proud. We are still trying to support the LGBTQ community in whatever ways that we can. We know that our community especially has additional challenges that other communities may not deal with, so we are still actively brainstorming ways that we can involve the community. One of our ideas, and something that has come to fruition: we are going to be hosting an initiative throughout the month of September called the Out in Aurora program. Basically, we are partnering with a bunch of inclusive and accepting local businesses in Aurora, and we are working on a social mediainspired scavenger hunt of sorts. We are giving you a list of different businesses

that you can visit. Then, you pick the business you want to visit, and the business offers some sort of deal. Buy one, get one drink 20 percent off, something like that. When you visit the business, you take a picture of the business, tag the business and our Aurora Pride Colorado hashtagand social media channels ; then you will be entered to win all sorts of different prizes. There will be prizes for people who visit the most businesses, the people who have the best Pride gear on in their photos, the best Prideful kids; we are working on doing a bunch of really creative prizes and competitions so that we can not only engage the LGBTQ community of Aurora and get them out and about socializing in a safe manner, but also to show these people in the Aurora community that there are businesses out there that are open, supportive, and accepting. We think it’s those kinds of businesses that really need some extra support right now during COVID, so this is our way to support queer- or ally-owned businesses and also to help all the people all throughout Aurora who are feeling cooped up at home. This is a way for them to get out and support a good cause.

I know other future plans aren’t set in stone, but what other hints can you give us? We are working alongside the drag community in Denver, and we are working on a way to bring their beauty and glory to a larger audience, hopefully


in person. We are finalizing the last details. There might also be some LGBTQ movie fun coming up in the near future and potentially even some water- and sun-related events coming.

Several Pride festivals this year went virtual because of the pandemic. Do you think we will see more of that in the future? I think that we will, but I think it’s going to be important for event organizers to think of a way to make that more successful to engage people more and to bring those things that normal Pride brought to our community. More engagement from nonprofits, bringing messaging, access to healthcare like mental health, sexual health—whatever that might be. I think it’s important that those virtual Prides remember that Pride is about more than just entertainment. It’s about bringing people together, and it’s about giving these people access to resources they don’t normally have access to.

What do you enjoy the most about Aurora Pride and being involved with this organization? I love the City of Aurora. I think it is a wonderful, unique place that is so diverse in so many different ways. It’s just a great mixing pot of so many different people. Because there’s such a diverse population of people religiously, ethnically, politically, it is an important place where were need to recognize the LGBTQ community. When we are in areas that have a higher conservative population or first- generation immigrant population, it is really important that we share these messages and bring light to the LGBTQ community because there’s a lot of people in our community struggling. We need to provide an outlet for them to see other people like them. They need to know that they are accepted; they belong to something, and they have a community who has their back.

How would you say Aurora Pride is unique and stands out from other Denver-area Prides? I think the things that make our Pride unique is that we go about hosting a

Pride event in a way that is very different than a lot of other Prides around. You know, we are the only beachfront Pride in the Rocky Mountain area. Pride isn’t just an avenue for people to get together, but it’s also a way for Coloradans to enjoy our natural environment. Bringing in the LGBTQ community and this gorgeous body of water and beach setting makes it for a really unique event unlike any of the other Prides in probably the surrounding states, even.

Besides the obvious, what are some other major challenges in putting together an event in times of COVID? The obvious ones are keeping people separate and the number of people we can have in a certain space, but some other things that people don’t always think about are having isolation areas to treat someone who might be showing symptoms or ensuring that we have extra medical staff on site providing the medical equipment that’s important in these times like face masks, hand sanitizer stations, and temperaturereading stations. The city’s regulations get pretty specific, so it is very important for us to keep all of our attendees safe. Going through all of these regulations line-by-line, there’s always unusual little things popping up like that.

How is Aurora Pride responding to the allegations against the police, and what future actions will be taken? That can always be a challenging question because we have had some pretty amazing experiences with the Aurora police and their LGBTQ group, but at the same time, in a community as diverse as this, we deal with a lot of racism issues, not only from the police and from the city, but from other people in the community. So, racism has long been an issue in the area, and that has moved into our police force. We are working not necessarily to condemn the police department but working to push for them to have the proper training and education that these police officers need to know in order to properly interact with such a diverse community.

Some Pride festivals have pushed to not have the police be involved at all. What is your opinion on that? I think something that is important about Pride is that it’s inclusive. I think there should not be a person that we don’t allow in. So many people in our community have felt a lack of inclusivity in their lives, and I think the last thing we want to do as a community is to make any group of people feel like they are not welcome. I think that it is important to us that when we do work with the police, we are working with people within the police department that have their ears open. When we hire off-duty police officers for an event, that just boils down to the law. We have to include them in order to get our liquor permit. So, we ensure that when we are required to have those off-duty police officers there, we are working with officers who volunteered to be at our event and are inclusive of our community. I would say that a lot of the police officers that work at our events are often members of our community, or they have a kid, sibling, or someone who is a part of the LGBTQ community. So, we have actually had really good luck with the officers who work directly with Aurora Pride.

Is there anything else you would like to mention before we wrap up? Our Pride has been thinking about all of our community members. Not only across Aurora, but people who come from a lot further to visit our events. We are struggling with not being able to provide our usual meeting space for this community, but we are working as hard as we can to provide new opportunities for our community to come together and provide resources for people who need them. We are working as hard as we can to get something on the calendar so that we can all come together in a safe way. Safety for our community comes first. To stay up-to-date, follow Aurora Pride on Facebook at facebook. com/AuroraPrideColorado, or visit aurorapride.com and sign up for their newsletter. O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 2 3


‘WE ARE AMERICAN’

We Stan Jesus Castro and DACA by Arianna Balderamma

“W

e grew up with you. We grew up with your kids. We’re your neighbors. You're working with us. We are American. It's really important for us to stay here because this is what we know; it’s our home.” Since the Trump administration took office, a large target has been the immigrant community. Trump has made countless efforts to stop DACA and other services that benefit immigrants. Earlier this year, Trump defied the Supreme Court by rolling back the program and not accepting new applicants. DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, began under the Obama administration. It allows for temporary protections from deportation for people who migrated into the U.S. at a young age. It provides a green card for those children, and the program has helped over 700,000 total. Applying for the program costs about $500, and in order to renew an application, one must apply five or six months before the expiration. The process seems straightforward and simple. However, under the United States’ current administration, the fight to keep DACA is something of a struggle. The July 2020 Memorandum rolled out by the new administration changed the original format of DACA. According to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the program is now only allowing 2 4 \\ S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 2 0

for people who have had DACA to be granted the protections, and new applications are being denied. Recipients are also being denied advanced parole, which is a permit that allows for people to travel internationally. Instead of the protections expiring every two years, it has now been changed to one year. With such high expenses related to applying for and renewing DACA, in addition to legal fees, it has become even more costly. “We have been fighting for the DREAM Act for around 20 years. The DREAM Act would give citizenship to children that came from other countries when they were really young and would provide a green card and eventually citizenship. But, what DACA did was to provide temporary protection for two years. You will be protected from getting deported, and you will get a work permit. But, the goal of DACA was to have temporary protection, and the next step is the DREAM Act, but we have not seen that yet. And I don't think we're gonna see it anytime soon, to be honest,” Jesus Castro expresses. Castro moved to the United States from Sinaloa, Mexico when he was 13 years old. He now works as a community organizer in Conservation Colorado as well as volunteering with multiple nonprofit organizations. The reason for his decision to move to another country lies within his safety

and comfort, as is the case for a lot of migrants. Castro stated because of his sexuality, he felt safer in the U.S. than in Mexico. However, he didn’t come out to his family until he was 24. “I always knew that I was different. I always think back to the way that I express myself, the way I walk, the way I talk. Everything. By the time I was 24, I was like, ‘I can't hide it anymore. I'm so sick of not being able to be myself.’ I was too afraid that after I told my parents, that they would look at me differently.” Coming out is difficult as it is. However, among the Latinx community, machismo culture is prevalent and can amplify negative feelings toward the LGBTQ community. Machismo culture is “aggressive, masculine pride” that suppresses femininity among men. In other words, it is similar to toxic masculinity. The concept of a strong man ruling all is present throughout many cultures, creating unsafe environments and ideas surrounding the queer community and women. “Some people act differently because of who you are, and that makes me sad. But that doesn't stop me from doing my job because my priority is still to support my community.” DACA has opened up a multitude of opportunities for Castro. He received DACA when he was in his early 20s. Before that, Castro couldn’t drive or attain a decent job. On top of


that, he had to pay for out-of-state tuition. DACA is truly one of the few resources available to the immigrant community. In addition to the 700,000 people benefitting from DACA, another 1,000 to 1,000,000 people were either too young or too old to apply for the program when it closed.

is a limit to jobs available. The Journal of Public Economics found that DACA increased the participation in the labor force and pulled many families from the bottom of the income distribution. DACA raised demand and production for U.S. products and services where recipients of the program reside.

Trump's attacks on immigrants continue: There have been restrictions to asylum seekers and pregnant women, banning people from countries with a predominant Muslim community from entering the states, reducing admissions of refugees, attempting to end the Diversity Visa Program, implementing a wealth test on for immigrants, pushing deportation, attempting to strip the citizenship of children of immigrants who were born in the U.S., and more.

“I have been hurt a lot with everything that's going on with immigration, and when they keep join with above, but I can't just be sad and not do anything. So I, no matter what, I always keep going, even at the hardest moments. Being a part of the Latino and LGBTQ community, people throw so many things at us every single day just for existing, and all we can do to get up, and brace, and keep working. I think that's the reason I'm strong. I'm aware of others because of my identities because I see so much and have suffered so much that I just keep working and get up in the morning.”

One of the countless claims made by people against immigrants is that the community is taking jobs away from non-immigrants. This has proven to be untrue. This statement is called the lump of labor fallacy. In economics, this explains the false idea that there

Castro works for multiple nonprofit organizations in Northern Colorado. His advice for people is to look into organizations that assist immigrants

in their community. There are also organizations that assist people financially when applying for DACA. Another simple way people can support the community is through educating themselves on these issues. One cannot always rely on members of a certain community to keep informing you and eliminating your ignorance to issues. Take initiative yourselves, as well. Google is free. “As much as I love talking about this, it gets really tiring to tell people why DACA is important every single day of my life. I love talking about it, but it's not my job to explain to every, single person around me. People should go online and get educated because that's really important.” Castro is also working on Fuerza Latina, which will help DACA individuals financially and through information. The organization will also provide legal help. “I would like to say that I am really proud of my different identities. I am proud to be a gay, Latino man, and I am proud to be a Dreamer.”

O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 2 5


Out in Aurora is Supporting the Local Scene One Business at a Time From big-name craft breweries to smaller markets and bakeries, businesses in Aurora are used to thriving, but everyone is being impacted by the COVID pandemic. The team behind Aurora Pride put their heads together to come up with a new initiative to get customers flocking to some of Aurora's most inclusive spaces. Here are a few of the city's beloved businesses.

Dry Dock Brings the Flavor of Pride to Aurora

Photos by Justine Johnson

by Veronica L. Holyfield

C

raft brews are a dime a dozen in Colorado, but there are a select few who stand out from the saturated market and have truly become Rocky Mountain staples. With two locations chosen specifically to be housed in Aurora, Dry Dock Brewing Co. is proud to stem from the diverse, unique, and robust community. Beginning as The Brew Hut in 2005, Colorado’s first home-brewery supply store, the experimental taproom has grown into the award-winning microbrewery we all know and love. While the brewery, like all businesses, has gone through a lot of changes during COVID, the support of the loyal customer base, in Aurora and beyond, has kept the local hotspot hopping. This is why Dry Dock feels it is important to support organizations like OUT FRONT and events like Aurora Pride, to keep the thriving community flourishing during these difficult times. “We’re happy to be part of such a proud, diverse, and eclectic community that is Aurora,” says Cara Fasciana, Dry Dock’s communication and media coordinator. “Dry Dock is committed to supporting and welcoming everybody, whether someone is a military veteran, an inspiring artist, someone of the LGBT community, or even an alien from outer space—we just hope that they see Dry Dock as a place of inclusion.” With the North and South Dock locations reopened, as well as the original Brew Hut spot, Dry Dock wants everyone to feel welcome as they walk in the doors. With the company approaching it’s 15-year anniversary in October, they are excited to work with the community in hosting what they hope will be a big celebration. With all the COVID protocols in place, the brewery is finalizing some fresh, brand-new releases and even, dare they say, throwing a socially distanced birthday party. Whether a crisp, apricot blonde is your style or you prefer to lean into the hazy IPA realm, Dry Dock has 16 flavor profiles on tap. To dive in deeper to the many drinks of Dry Dock (and if you are over 21), check out their website drydockbrewing.com.

2 6 \\ S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 2 0


Harmony W Brought to Aurora by Neighborhood Music

hile the focus is teaching music, Neighborhood Music creates so much more than a space to take lessons and perform on stage for class attendees. By providing an outlet of expression for their students from ages 1 to 100, this music lesson school and full-production theater program truly encapsulates human growth and connection, especially for individuals who identify as LGBTQ. “Because we are an open space for creation, I think that we also end up being, to some extent, the waters where kids test out saying ‘I’m gay’ for the first time,” say Skye Barker Maa, owner of Neighborhood Music. “They have this opportunity to be one-on-one with someone and explore who they are in a creative way, and I think a lot of times, there’s a pathway there for them to also talk about some of the things they might be thinking about.”

by Veronica L. Holyfield

With roughly half of the staff identifying as LGBTQ, Neighborhood Music also creates a safe space for those who are looking for creative employment opportunities. From teaching lessons that encompass the 17 musical instruments (which they provide instruction for), to being a part of the youth summer camps, to getting involved in the production and management of the 12 staged shows they put on each year, the school that is nestled in Stanley Marketplace truly is a sanctuary for inclusion. “I think diversity of perspective is number-one. We want our students to walk through this door, and we want them to have a wealth of perspective to be able to relate to,” Maa says. Having specifically chosen Aurora to house the business due to her love of the Art District and the thriving community, Maa says that as a business owner, the City of Aurora has been very supportive of the small, local business. Additionally, she continues to receive support and advice from the other businesses owners within Stanley Marketplace, and being a part of that community is very important to her. While 2020 has been a difficult year, committed clients have stepped up and continue to pay for lessons and programs while we are all getting used to the new normal of virtual and streaming life. Maa knows that many kids have been struggling with the extreme challenges that have been presented during COVID, and she feels that Neighborhood Music has been able to provide continuity to their lives in a way that not much else has been able to provide. Through providing a safe space for all, focusing on providing a much-needed service to the community, and being a rock for many during this time of need, Neighborhood Music is truly creating harmony within the Aurora community. Find out more at neighborhoodmusicstanley.com. O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 2 7


Aurora’s Third Culture Bakery Delights Folks of All Kinds by Veronica L. Holyfield

E

ast Colfax has had a sweet tooth for the queer oasis known as Third Culture Bakery since February of this year. Business partners as well as reallife partners Sam Butarbutar and Wenter Shyu broke into the business of baking in 2016 when they opened their first location in Berkeley, and after growing to more than 60 distribution points by 2018, they had hit their stride and were ready to thoughtfully expand into new markets.

was a lack of cool, interesting baked goods,” Shyu tells OUT FRONT. “Our baked goods use mostly rice flour, and so everything just happens to be gluten-free. Mochi, our signature product, is very chewy; it’s a different texture. We’ve always wanted to test out new markets that maybe haven’t been exposed to mochi or some of the stuff we’re doing. And, we also wanted to open a safe space where people could hang out and gather.”

Building recipes which were intended to be reflections of their childhood in Taiwan and Indonesia, the pair developed a recipe full of vibrant representation and appeal to a pallet which desires tastes outside of the mundane.

Deriving the name Third Culture Bakery from a reference which is common in Asian culture, meaning a culture that develops from immigrants which is not quite American and not quite that of their traditional ancestors, Shyu and Butarbutar have brought the notion of that essence to the space and flavors they created within their pastries.

“Being out here in Denver, whenever we visited, we definitely noticed that there

Mondo Market has you

Covered

with a Full Spread

“I really like to have our business just be unapologetically gay but also bring a new, Asian flair to expose Denver to more of the Asian Pacific LGBTQ scene. I just feel like it’s such a different scene, and we have something so special,” Shyu explains. With Aurora being a diverse mecca of cultures, background, and opinions, one thing is certain; Third Culture Bakery is sure to deliver kindness, acceptance, and tasty treats to every patron who walks through their doors. To learn more and see the menu, visit thirdculturebakery.com.

M

ondo Market is a deli restaurant whose menu is focused on fresh pasta, unique sandwiches, and salads, while the deli side consists of cheese, charcuterie, and gourmet groceries.

Founded by Nicholas Farrell and Michael Davis, Mondo Market originally started as a gourmet food website. The duo opened their first location six years ago primarily focused on cheese and charcuterie. Since then, they have added a full kitchen and a fresh-made pasta program complimenting the neighborhoods they currently reside in. Mondo market has been made an available resource for fine food from around the world with an emphasis on local and house-made ingredients. There are currently two locations: Mondo Market at Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St. in Aurora, and Mondo Mini at Broadway Market, 950. N. Broadway in Denver. Mondo Mini is temporarily closed due to the COVID pandemic. According to Farrell, part of Mondo Market’s mission is to continue the tradition of quality ingredients and warm hospitality that Denver is known for. He and Davis do this by focusing on authentic flavors, kind customer service, and knowing that they are doing what the world needs more of—approachable and accessible businesses for all. One of their core values is that everybody deserves to be treated with respect and equality. Although pasta is not a new thing, Mondo Market is one of the few businesses in Colorado that makes pasta in-house. The menu even has a build-your-own pasta section where guests can choose their own adventure. Their cheese boards are a beautiful and delicious addition to every meal.

by Denny Patterson 2 8 \\ S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 2 0

Make sure to visit mondomarketcolorado.com to stay up-to-date on their upcoming Thanksgiving meal offerings, new local grocery and produce offerings, and possibly new locations.


Photo courtesy of Lady Justince

Lady Justice Brewing Company Makes the World a Better Place by Denny Patterson

T

he Lady Justice Brewing Company is an inclusive company focused on brewing great beer for a better world. Woman-, queer-, and Latina-founded; the company is proud to have been the world’s first fully female-owned and philanthropic brewery when it opened. Founded in 2010 by Betsy Lay, Kate Power, and Jen Cuesta, who went out for beers after a long day of work, they took stock of the room and the way people were showing up for beer. The three pondered, “Why can’t we just brew beer and drink it to make the world a better place?” From there, the Lady Justice Brewing Company was born. After being a production-only facility for several years, the company found a new home in a taproom space located at 9735 E. Colfax Ave in Aurora. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the

taproom had to shut down, but it has since reopened with strict protocols, along with the option for to-go beer. The owners are currently seeking out how to sell online to fans around the country.

donating to LGBTQ nonprofits as well

Lady Justice Brewing has operated on a platform of social enterprise. All of the beer’s focus is to make the world a better place, and the company does so through grants to women and girls in the state of Colorado. To date, more than $15,000 has been given to local organizations and nonprofits that promote the status of women and girls. For the rest of 2020, Lady Justice Brewing is committed to donating to Black-owned and -operated organizations.

the three look forward to a post-COVID

Beyond being a lesbian-owned brewery with a queer staff, the company has also worked to create a safe space for Colorado’s LGBTQ population by

as brewing beer that the community wants to drink. Lady Justice Brewing loved creating a Pride beer with rainbow glitter that benefitted the Transformative Freedom Fund, and world when LGBTQ events can once again be held. Lady Justice Brewing is always looking for a way to have people safely in its space, and the owners are looking to host some fun movie nights, specialty beer releases, and collaborations with fellow service-industry folks looking to keep their businesses afloat. Once it is safe to do so, you can expect Lady Justice Brewing to go all out. To stay up-to-date, visit ladyjusticebrewing.com and sign up for their email list. O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 2 9


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