Thousands of people gathered in downtown Denver on Sunday morning to watch the Denver Pride Parade that marched from Cheesman Park down Colfax Avenue to the steps of the rainbow-flag-emblazoned capitol building.
This year’s parade was in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, when patrons at the Stonewall Inn gay bar in New York City, tired of being harassed, fought back against police trying to arrest them. The event sparked the beginning of the modern gay civil rights movement and inspired activism all across the country, including in Denver.
The first pride parade occurred a few years after Stonewall in New York City, and spread to become a national movement. John Orlando, 70, used to live in NYC and said he remembered going to the Stonewall Inn and marching in the first pride parades.
After coming to Denver, he joined the Mile High Freedom Band, and said in early pride parades the police would only block one side of Colfax Avenue. They’d play their instruments and march down the street with traffic looking like it was coming right at them.
“We’ve come a long way but there’s still a long way to go,” Orlando said. “People are still trying to strip our pride and dignity away.”
More than 250 groups marched in this year’s parade, a record. Organizers also expect this year’s attendance from the weekend PrideFest events to break records, exceeding last year’s estimated 425,000.
Donaciano is here! pic.twitter.com/Rc8jtlKm1b
— Carina Julig (@CarinaJulig) June 16, 2019
The parade had five grand marshals: Gov. Jared Polis and his partner, Marlon Reis; Mardi Moore, executive director of Out Boulder; drag performer Peppermint, and Brianna Titone, the first transgender state legislator elected in Colorado.
A diverse range of floats followed the marshals, with national and local organizations
represented. Plenty of Colorado institutions were there to show their support, including the Denver Nuggets and the Stanley Hotel.
Lindsay Ellenberger marched in pride with a group from her company. She had been to the festival before but never marched, and said it was an incredible experience.
“It was amazing to see so many people come out in support,” she said.
The political organizations that marched included a contingent of Coloradans supporting Pete Buttigieg, the South Bend, Ind., mayor who is running for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020; newly re-elected Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, and a number of politicians running to unseat Cory Gardner in the U.S. Senate.
“Cory Gardner: Sashay Away” read signs carried by supporters of Dan Baer, referencing a popular slogan from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Religious organizations came out to support the LGBTQ community as well, including a large contingent from the United Methodist Church. This spring, the UMC voted against allowing the church to ordain gay clergy or perform same-sex weddings, a verdict that has fractured the denomination.
Nathan Adams, reverend at Park Hill Methodist Church Denver, said that in the wake of the vote, his church is “kind of doing its own thing.”
“We believe that Jesus loves all people and we take that message seriously,” Adams said.
“We’re going to continue to be who God has called us to be.”
Festivities will continue until 6 p.m. with PrideFest, which features performances, food and drink vendors and an art exhibit commemorating Stonewall.
