Soon after, Denver hosted its first gay rodeo.ġ983: Denver's gay and lesbian community mobilizes to elect Federico Peña, Denver's first Latino mayor and executive ally to the community.ġ990: Denver becomes one of the first municipalities in the nation to adopt an anti-discrimination policy including gay and lesbians.ġ991: Denver voters supported the anti-discrimination policy despite opponents trying to overturn it at the ballot.ġ994: The Gill Foundation is organized to advance LGBTQ+ rights through charity and education.Ģ010: The Center on Colfax, the producer of PrideFest, adds a second day of festivities.Ģ013: Colorado adopts the Colorado Civil Union Act establishing relationship recognition for same-sex couples.Ģ014: Colorado legalizes same-sex marriage on October 7.Ģ015: U.S. Here are some moments of notice in LGBTQ+ history in Denver:ġ973: Gay Coalition of Denver works with Denver's City Council to abolish anti-gay laws.ġ974: Denver's first Pride celebration, a picnic, is held in Cheesman Park.ġ975: Denver's holds its first official Pride Parade.ġ982: The Colorado Gay Rodeo Association is formed. Today, Denver is a city of many colors and cultures, a rich tapestry of diverse and fascinating people. By the 1980s, Denver was dubbed the gay oasis of the west. When prospectors discovered gold in 1858, thousands of people crossed the Great Plains and settled in and around Denver.
First were the high plains American Indians who followed the buffalo herds and lived throughout the Front Range. Learn more about what Denver's queer scene has to offer. Check out a detailed itinerary for the perfect LGBTQ+ weekend, written by gay travel expert Andrew Collins.ĭenver has long been a gathering place for people of all cultures. Produced by The Center on Colfax, Denver PrideFest is recognized as one of the top 10 Pride events in the country and features world-class performers, a Pride 5K and, of course, a colorful parade.Ĭolorado Rides With Pride! The annual Rocky Mountain Regional Gay Rodeo packs in cowboys from around the world.ĬinemaQ Film Festival is the leading Colorado brand in LGBTQ+ film and cultivates the gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans community through the exhibition of the best in recent and important LGBTQ+ film. In the last few years, Denver has jumped in popularity as a travel destination for LGBTQ+ visitors. For more on LGBTQ+ life in Colorado, see Out Front.ĭownload the VISIT DENVER LGBTQ+ Visitor Brochure LGBTQ+ EVENTS For more resources, go to the websites of the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce and The Center on Colfax. You may also want to plan your trip during the nation's largest PrideFests or the Colorado Gay Rodeo. In fact, RiNo (River North) Art District was selected as one of the Top 5 Emerging Gay Neighborhoods in America by Passport Magazine!
Denver's laid-back, welcoming nature of the locals and a vibrant nightlife makes Denver the true queer center of the West, with many hotels and restaurants catering to LGBTQ+ visitors. As the largest city in a 600-mile radius, Denver attracts members of the LGBTQ+ community from all over the West and the world, resulting in a well-established LGBTQ+ nightlife, welcoming queer neighborhoods, queer-friendly hotels, and numerous annual events that draw huge crowds.įor shopping and nightlife, check out the Cherry Creek, Capitol Hilland RiNoneighborhoods.