Now More Than Ever, We Must Stand Together at Pride

As we approach Denver Pride, let’s get some fast facts out there. Your safety and comfort matter to us, and we want you to be informed and aware of our decision-making processes around aspects of the Pride festival weekend.

Starting with the basics, yes, there will be a police presence. That’s not something we decide lightly. Denver Parks & Recreation requires uniformed officers at events serving alcohol or needing traffic control. Our permits for the event depend on it. Before I joined The Center on Colfax as the CEO, I was a community member — one who has been in conversation for years with fellow community members about the police presence at Denver Pride. I had the commonly held belief that The Center decided on police presence, and that is simply not true. The Center dedicates a significant portion of our Denver Pride budget to hiring non-police security in an effort to keep our community members safe, while also meeting the minimum requirement for police presence. There is no denying that this is a deeply complex and sensitive issue — especially for those in our community who have had painful and dangerous experiences with law enforcement.

This is a nuanced conversation, and together – The Center, Denver Parks & Recreation and our community – we must understand and acknowledge the power dynamics at play and work together to get where we want to go. It’s always worth remembering that some of our LGBTQ+ community members are officers. They, too, deserve the opportunity to participate in Pride, and they will show up with the same care and accountability we expect from any and all community members.

In terms of safety, hydration is key. We live in the Mile High City. And more than likely, it is going to be hot. Yes, you can bring water. Please bring factory-sealed bottles or jugs to stay hydrated throughout the day. Just note — here we go with permits again — at any festival of this size, an integral part of obtaining and maintaining our permits is ensuring that your water bottles must be sealed when you enter the festival. We’ve also set up four water stations with six spouts each across the event, utilizing the only four hydrants in the park to the best of our ability. Until or unless Denver Pride moves locations, we work within the same permit restrictions that apply to any large-scale event at Civic Center Park. So again, bring your sealed water and please stay hydrated throughout the day.

Let’s also talk about Pride itself. Denver Pride is large, with more than 500,000 attendees over the course of two days. Yes, it is a fundraiser for The Center on Colfax. And here’s what that means: 83 percent of every dollar raised is directly poured back into services run by and for our community. These include free mental-health counseling, support groups for transgender and gender diverse people, youth programming, events for older adults, and so much more. If the festival isn’t for you, we get that. But please know that The Center is here 365 days a year, offering free programming to anyone who needs it.
Now, let’s address sponsorships — because this, too, is complicated. Corporate sponsors allow us to keep Denver Pride free for everyone. The funds allow us to keep those other programs I mentioned offered year-round by The Center free, too. Unlike many major Pride events across the country, Denver Pride doesn’t have ticket gates or paywalls. Access to performances, booths, stages, family and youth areas, the Gayborhood Market that showcases our community's small businesses and artists — all of it is free and open to the public. That’s intentional, and it’s largely made possible with sponsor support. Can we work toward a better future? Of course. We are here to work with you. But please know, keeping The Center free to anyone who needs services is our highest priority.

Transparently, you can visit our website to see the list of our sponsors. It’s all there for you to see and evaluate. Did we lose some sponsors? Yes. A few months ago, it was reported that sponsors were returning at lower levels or not returning at all – a 62 percent decrease on average, when compared to 2024. Truth is, we lost some support, and we have been fortunate to have gained new engagement in their place. Due to the tireless work of our staff, we are now within $10,000 of our goal. So thank you for the work of our staff, and to the new and existing sponsors that have stood with our community. My heart is filled with love and compassion for the ERG groups whose companies had to pull funding. We understand you are still with us, and we are with you. 

Finally, I want to say this: Our community is vast, diverse and beautifully complex. There are many Pride events outside of what The Center organizes — Black Pride Colorado, One Colorado’s Pink Party, Envision You Garden Party, so many community-led Pride events — that are especially important. And of course, I support all of the spaces and events listed in your article. I attend these events, too. In fact, if we haven’t met yet, you will see me at these events. Please come up and say 'hi.' I support Pride events beyond what The Center provides. We all should.  

Change is part of who we all are. We are on this road to change together. That means the doors at The Center are open to all of you, even if that means you want change — I welcome your thoughts, feelings and ideas to bring us together. I am a member of this community, and I walk with you, using the power I have to help you feel seen and heard. Our dedicated and hard-working staff is our community, and they are also here to support you. Their commitment to our community is at the heart of everything we do.

Let’s close on the real. Because here’s what we can’t afford: division. Not now. Not when LGBTQ+ people — especially our trans youth — are under direct attack across the country. Disagreement is part of community. Debate is part of growth. But we cannot allow division to become a tool used against us. The powers that work to separate us, profit from our separation. If we are too busy fighting with each other, we are not fighting for each other.  And guess who wins?

If Denver Pride isn’t your thing, that’s okay. Show up where your heart feels called. But show up. Support small, community-led initiatives. Show up for trans lives. Show up for each other.

Now more than ever, we need each other.

Kim Salvaggio is the CEO of The Center on Colfax, which is producing Denver Pride on June 28-29.

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