From Stonewall to Civic Center Park

Stonewall Inn. Greenwich Village, NYC. June 28, 1969. 1:20am

Eight police officers march into one of NYC’s only gay bars and announce they’re taking the place. Police intervention in these sorts of establishments is nothing new (“cash transactions” usually clear the air), but this time, the cops are taking a little longer than usual rounding up patrons and contraband liquor. In the tense atmosphere, a crowd gathers outside. Escorting a female patron from the bar, cops find trouble on their hands; she refuses to go silently. A ten-minute scuffle ensues between the woman and no less than four cops. Frantic, she screams to onlookers: “Why don’t you do something?” (Legend has it the woman was a drag queen; others insist she was a transwoman.) Regardless, our heroine sets off the most pivotal of events for the LGBT community. The crowd mobilizes, their patience now at an end and anger so intense, it scares the officers back inside the Stonewall Inn, where they will camp out until rescued by a tactical police force at 4am. The mob of Stonewall rioters remains in the streets for days, creating the ruckus deserving of the event. They simmer down eventually, but keep the momentum just beneath the surface. 

The call to arms has its answer and the our revolution is underway.

Outraged by the police raid of the Stonewall Inn, a group of gays, bisexuals, lesbians, and transgender people gather on Christopher Street to protest the discrimination and injustice under which they live on a daily basis. Several days of demonstrating pass, and the crew decides that an event to commemorate the protests should be held every last Saturday in June. Thus is born the first unofficial Pride, then called the Christopher Street Liberation Day, on June 28, 1970.

In solidarity, LGBT citizens and allies in Los Angeles and San Francisco march on the very same day. Boston, Milwaukee, Dallas, London, Paris, West Berlin, and Stockholm crank up their own parade the next year. By 1972, Atlanta, Buffalo, Detroit, Miami, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia are also waving flags in the streets.

Fast forward to the 1980s: The cultural imprint of the gay movement is undeniable. The fast and loose, grassroots-style organization of marches and protests is replaced by a more organized, socially temperate approach to LGBT presence. The more conservative members attach words like “freedom” and “liberation” to signage at the marches, but by the 90s, “pride” is the central theme. The pink triangle and the Greek lambda symbol emerge as the new iconography of gay pride. 

For most cities, Pride is held in June to commemorate the month of the Stonewall riots. Denver is no exception. Dubbed PrideFest, Denver hosts the biggest LGBT event in the entire state. 

So who puts on PrideFest here?

THE CENTER OF LGBT DENVER

In a gorgeous four-story building set amid the hubbub of uptown Denver, Heather Camerer lugs box after box through the front door, still taking time to hold it open for curious visitors. The crazy-busy events manager is cordial, in spite of the heat and relentless PrideFest tasks that pile into her workload. She laughs confidently at the logistical monster before her, chatting quickly and shifting the weight of the boxes around. “You should see my desk!” she offers. And indeed, it’s a thing of both beauty and terror, in equal parts. The whiteboards are so full of graphs and initials and headspinning planner’s jargon that there doesn’t appear to be a right-side-up to it all. Rex Fuller, the soft-spoken public relations manager of The Center takes over, letting Heather get back to the insanity. He shows me around the place and, considering the long hours and many flights of stairs he maneuvers, he’s also in great spirits. This time of year takes a lot of work, but it’s something he and Heather and the rest of the wily gang at The Center love — lucky for the 40,000 people who frequent the place annually.

“[The Center] is a safe space for people who need one. We have a rooftop patio, a computer lab, a library, services for the elderly, a resource center for youth, a research and support area for the trans community, meetups for the bi community, help with legal services …” he trails.

“This is where we help the advancement of civil rights in any way we can.”

And indeed The Center has our back. Year round, their doors are open for all, regardless of orientation. From yoga sessions for seniors to HIV/STD testing, the staff and volunteers work hard to create a nurturing environment for the community. Perhaps the biggest undertaking of the year, they even put together PrideFest for Denver.

“It’s unusual for a community center to put on Pride,” he says. “We’re one of the last free Pride festivals in the country.” The Center is able to leave the ticket sellers out of the mix by paying for PrideFest through sponsors and food and beverage sales.

So don’t grumble too bad when your cooler is turned away — it’s either that or pricey tickets. Besides, all the money raised at PrideFest goes right back into the LGBT community via The Center.

“The economic impact PrideFest has on Denver is an estimated $25 million,” he tells Out Front. “That’s revenue for the bars, hotels, restaurants, you name it.”

The Center has been around for decades and has been home to many interesting faces, but the story of the late Roy G. Wood stands out. A closeted gay man, Roy quietly volunteered at The Center back when it was located off Broadway. It was Roy’s safe space, as he couldn’t be out at work or to family. Upon his passing, The Center was named a beneficiary to an enormous bestowment from his estate — $1.2 million. These funds, along with money raised through various events and sponsors, helped establish the wonderful space on Colfax we see today.

It should be noted that you don’t have to be a member of the LGBT community to drop by The Center and take advantage of all it has to offer.  And when you’re at the park, be sure to say hello and thanks to the good folks who make PrideFest — and so many more LGBT events and services — possible for our Denver community.

THE CENTER

1301 E. Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80218

(303) 733-PRIDE  lbtcolorado.org