Denver PrideFest’s return to Civic Center park last year was a success story by any standard. More than 535,000 people lined the streets for a jubilant morning parade, which led into the central celebration featuring all-day DJ sets, live drag performances and other weekend fun.
Less than six months later, however, a gunman opened fire at Colorado Springs gay nightclub Club Q, killing five people, injuring 18, and reminding everyone that hate can strike at any time — even in a relatively safe haven like Colorado.
“I think we were all affected by it,” said Rex Fuller, CEO of the Center on Colfax, Colorado’s largest LGBTQ organization. “(This) place was seen as a refuge in a hostile world, and then to have that kind of attack was just horrifying.”
Seven months later, Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community is still dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy. Fortunately, Fuller and other organizers at the Center see this year’s Pride parade, planned for Sunday, June 25, as a chance to bring the Club Q community closer together. Forty-two survivors from the shooting have been invited to lead it as Grand Marshals — in this case, groups and individuals chosen by the Center for the annual honorific.
One of those survivors is Michael Anderson, a Club Q bartender who was on shift when the shooting occurred. He believes that participating in the parade strengthens the message of solidarity that survivors have been sending since November.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Anderson said. “I think that’s what this pride is about; something horrific happened to this Club Q community, but we’re still out there, we’re still going, we’re still strong.”
Anderson said he’s found peace and strength in action, such as advocating for stricter gun regulation and LGBTQ+ equality. He also takes heart in watching people rebuild and persevere, despite considerable cultural and emotional obstacles.
“I looked around after the shooting, and I saw a community that was so shaken up and traumatized, and rightfully so,” Anderson said. “[Advocacy] has given me a purpose, rather than sit back and say, ‘Why did this happen? How could this happen?’”
For the Center on Colfax, the selection of the Grand Marshals is the opportunity to celebrate the Colorado organizations leading the advocacy charge. One of these is the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire, which represents Colorado’s drag performers and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Volunteers from the Imperial Court organized the first Denver PrideFest in 1975, which led to the establishment of the Center on Colfax in 1977.
“The Center really would not be here without the leadership and the support of the Imperial Court,” said Fuller. “So we absolutely wanted to honor them for this important anniversary.”
Among the other grand marshals for the event:
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), whose Colorado chapter is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year
Inside Out Youth Services’ Transparenting Group, which provides resources to parents of non-binary and transgender youth in Colorado Springs
Denver City Councilwoman Robin Kniech, the first openly gay city councilwoman in Denver, who is now serving her 12th year on the city council
Fuller says the Center won’t be dispirited by recent anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. He says they are proud to be highlighting the Colorado organizations responsible for furthering the protection of the state’s LGBTQ+ population.
“School boards [and] other types of government entities [are] really going on the attack towards many members of the LGBTQ community, especially in the trans community, especially drag queens,” said Fuller. “We feel like now’s the time to speak up and say that we’re here and we’re proud of who we are.”
For Anderson, who’s never attended Denver PrideFest before, the opportunity to participate as a Grand Marshal is a chance to celebrate the resiliency of LGBTQ culture, from both Colorado Springs and around the state.
“I hope that we can honor those we’ve lost and also show our state and Denver, we’re still here, and we’re still standing,” Anderson said.
Go to denverpride.org for more information on PrideFest or the parade.
