Colorado Springs PrideFest Big Gay 5K

In partnership with Colorado Springs PrideFest, The Big Gay 5K will take place at 10am on Sunday, July 20, one hour before the Pride Parade. The race will follow the parade route, starting and ending in America the Beautiful Park. Participants will run east on Colorado Avenue, go north on Tejon Street, turn around just before Cache La Poudre St and head back to American the Beautiful Park to watch the Pride Parade and join the PrideFest activities.

This race is for everyone; walkers, runners, really fast runners, kids, adults, families, gay, and straight. Come to run. Come to have fun. Come to support. Come to PRIDE! The Big Gay 5K helps support Colorado Springs Pride in their efforts to connect, support and empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of Colorado Springs to achieve civil and social equality.

Colorado Springs Pride Announces New Location for 23rd Annual PrideFest

In a decision that is tied heavily to the recently refocused direction of the organization, the board of directors of the Colorado Springs Pride Center announced the dates and new location of the 23rd Annual Colorado Springs PrideFest. On the weekend of July 20-21, Colorado Springs' America the Beautiful Park will be the site of the event. In response to its increasing popularity throughout the years, the 23rd annual PrideFest will be the biggest one yet-the largest festival in downtown Colorado Springs, as well as the largest PrideFest ever in Southern Colorado. Last year, over 25,000 people attended.
 

According to Executive Director Charles Irwin, the move to a different site for PrideFest is just one way that people will begin to know the new face of Colorado Springs Pride. "We have spent the past year working with our board and our partners to reposition, re-brand and redirect Colorado Springs Pride," he says. "We are The Voice for the LGBT community in the Pikes Peak region. This means we will be intently focusing on our mission to connect, support and empower LGBT individuals while creating community. And cosPRIDE-FEST is certainly one way we create community."

This year's PrideFest theme, "The Summer of Love," is in recognition of recent legislation that allows civil unions and the current deliberation of the Defense of Marriage Act at the Supreme Court level. However, the festival is rooted in a tradition that goes back over 40 years and commemorates the Stonewall Riots of 1969, an event that catalyzed the gay community to become more cohesive and active on its own behalf.

The 23rd Colorado Springs PrideFest (cosPRIDE-FEST 23) will feature a Family Day on Saturday, July 20. Included in the festivities will be bounce houses, face painters and family-focused entertainment. Sunday, July 21 will showcase a new Big Gay 5K run, a longer parade through downtown ending near the park, a beer garden, a VIP area and the Shoutocracy.com Main Stage featuring emcee Mustang Monroe with the best in entertainment, including rising star Porsha DeMarco, who will open for PrideFest headliner Matthew Hosey and His Fuegos, discovered by Bruno Mars. Close to 200 food, beverage, merchandise and nonprofit vendors will be at the event.

For more information about sponsorship and vending opportunities, contact Charles Irwin at 719-471-4429.

Stand With Us Against Homophobia

From Charles Irwin, Executive Director, Colorado Springs Pride:

We are not at all pleased with the Colorado Springs Home Builders Association and their recent endorsement of an extremely homophobic candidate for City Council.

The HBA publically endorsed Al Loma who is the Senior Pastor of Victory Outreach of Colorado Springs.  In the church’s “Beliefs Documents” there are numerous derogatory statements regarding the LGBT community, HIV / AIDS and more.  You can read those details at http://victoryoutreach.org/docs/documents/victory-outreach-beliefs-document.pdf?sfvrsn=2

As a show of solidarity against homophobia and for equality, we are asking you to stand with us, the LGBT and Allied community by sending the below text (eMail) to HBA’s CEO Renee Zentz Renee@cshba.com. 

We sent the below eMail last Friday:

 

Subject: Rescind Your Endorsement of Albert Loma

To the Home Builders Association of Colorado Springs,

Colorado Springs Pride respectfully requests you rescind your endorsement of Albert Loma, candidate for City Council district 5.

Al Loma is currently a pastor at Victory Outreach church.  The belief statement regarding the LGBT community is based on debunked pseudo-science, is homophobic and hateful to say the least, and has no place in the political sphere of Colorado Springs.

Based on the previous 20 years of fighting the stigma of hate and being the birth place of Amendment 2, we feel our city cannot afford to elect candidates that perpetuate myth and fear of the LGBT community and thereby continues the intolerant and hateful image of our town. We also will not stand idly by as an endorsement is given to any candidate that cannot represent equally the LGBT citizens of Colorado Springs.

Again, we respectfully request that you rescind your endorsement.

Thank you for supporting LGBT citizens in Colorado Springs!

Voting Is Open for the 2013 Colorado Springs Pride Awards (and MileHighGayGuy is Nominated!)

MileHighGayGuy's Drew Wilson is honored and delighted to be nominee in the 2013 Colorado Springs Pride Awards in the Media Champion category.

The 12th Annual Colorado Springs LGBT Pride Awards celebrates individuals, organizations & groups in which the local community feels deserve special recognition for their support, efforts and actions toward connecting, supporting and empowering the local LGBT community.

Nominations for each of the nine specific awards (click here for full list) have been accepted by the community at large and then are voted upon again by the local LGBT & Ally community. 2013 Pride Awards will be presented by Colorado Springs Pride on Saturday evening, February 16, 2013 during the Pride Awards Black Tie event held at the Antlers Hilton. The results are kept secret and will NOT be revealed to the nominees until the night of the Awards Ball.

Click here to cast your votes (only once per day, please!). Voting ends on January 15, 2013.

Colorado Springs Pride presents The Scoop!

The Weekly Scoop is a new video project from the fine folks at Colorado Springs Pride. Check it out to keep up on all the great gay stuff going on in Colorado Springs. This week's episode gives you the scoop on the Pride Center's recent robbery , hot details about voting and the upcoming Haunted 1st Friday event next Friday. 

Colorado Springs PrideFest 2010: 20 Years of Gay Pride

The date has been announced for the 20th anniversary celebration of Colorado Springs PrideFest. Colorado Springs will celebrate 20 years of gay pride on Sunday, July 18, 2010.

2009 Colorado Springs PrideFest Parade

Some great footage courtesy of the Pride Center.

Colorado Springs PrideFest is this Sunday!

One of my favorite events of the year, Colorado Springs PrideFest, is coming up this Sunday, July 19.

Check out PPGLCC.org for a full schedule of events.

Happy Pride!

March with CQSA for Colorado Springs Pride

CQSA members will be showing their pride once again on Sunday, July 19 at Colorado Springs PrideFest. Interested in marching with them or helping to staff their booth? Email them at teamcqsa@gmail.com for info on carpooling or meeting up.

Colorado Springs PrideFest 2009

Get into the spirit of Pride at these exciting events leading up to Colorado Springs 19th Annual PrideFest & Parade, Sunday, July 19th.

Wednesday, July 8th | 9:00p | Lube Wrestling!
2nd Annual Lube Wrestling Contest at Club Q
A FUNdraiser for Colorado Springs PrideFest presented by the crew at Club Q and sponsored by the 2009 PrideFest Committee. Come on out for a slippery fun time!

Friday, July 10th | 7:00p | Pride Season Kick-Off
PrideFest Committee Kicks off Pride Season 09!
Join the 2009 PrideFest Committee at the Underground Patio for a toast to Colorado Springs 19th Annual PrideFest & Parade. Plus, don't miss the very special 30th Anniversary Reception with Pikes Peak MCC, featuring special guest Troy Perry.

Saturday, July 11th | 6:30p | PPMCC's 30th!
PPMCC's 30th Anniversary Celebration Banquet at Venue 515. Join Pikes Peak Metropolitan Community Church for a very special dinner, celebrating their 30th Anniversary in Colorado Springs.

Sunday, July 12th | 9:00p | Gay CS Pageant
Mr. & Miss Gay Colorado Springs Pageant at Club Q
Join Kyree Myst for the annual Mr. & Miss Gay Colorado Springs Pageant!

Get ready for Colorado Springs Pride 2009

Ok, so here's the plan for Colorado Springs Pride 2009:

Parade - Join the historic Pride March! Colorado Springs' fabulously flaming parade is still making a bold statement after 19 years! Click here to sign up, and email Parade@YourPrideCenter.org for questions or details.

Vendors - Take advantage of the extended early bird special of $175.00 through April 30th! Nonprofits just $100.00. Sign up here! *Food vendors have special pricing

Entertainers - Show off your amazing talents at Colorado Springs PrideFest 2009, now with two stages! Deadline for registration is Saturday, May 9. Plus, you have the opportunity to join in our inagural PrideFest Entertainment Showcase! Email Entertainment@YourPrideCenter.org to sign up today.

Pride Weddings - Ready to tie the knot, celebrate your anniversary, or share your committment with everyone at Pride? Email Weddings@YourPrideCenter.org to find out how you can register today!

Volunteers - Join up for the super special pre-Pride volunteer tie-dye party, and of course, the after-Pride volunteer appreciation event! Email PrideFest@YourPrideCenter.org today for details!

Sponsors! Join Pikes Peak Gay & Lesbian Community Center and thousands of GLBT individuals and families as we celebrate Colorado's 2nd largest LGBT Pride Event! Details here!

Colorado Springs PrideFest 2009

There's lots in store for Colorado Springs Pride 2009:

Beer Garden - Enjoy your favorite Miller and Miller Lite brews, or add a little adventure with our all-new Vodka Mixers! More excitement? Check out the all-new Beer Garden Casino!
Entertainment - This year, enjoy your favorite music on 2, that's right, 2 stages! From hip-hop and rock, to country and folk, and from drag queens and kings to the hottest dance, Colorado Springs PrideFest has something for you! Plus, save the date for our Inagural PrideFest Entertainment Showcase on Saturday, May 9th! Be part of PrideFest in the making!

Pride Weddings - Check out Colorado's mass lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied wedding, anniversary and commitment ceremony. Plus, don't miss our all-new wedding packages for the newly weds!

Theme - 1969 Stonewall Revival!
Celebrating 40 Years of Progress since the Stonewall Rebellion! Time to dig out your peace signs, rainbow tie-dye and all of your favorite hippy gear.

HealthFest - You're out having a good time with community, might as well get checked out!

Family Fun Day - Of course, Colorado Springs PrideFest has something for all ages, and remains one of the region's most family-friendly events. But, if you'd like something just for the family and the kids, be sure to check out the games and ice cream for Pride Family Fun Day on Saturday, July 18th. Details to follow!

And So Much More!
Stay tuned to find out what else is poppin' at Springs Pride 2009!

Colorado Springs PrideFest is calling all vendors and parade marchers

Colorado Springs PrideFest 2009 will be here before you know it. If you want to march in the parade or be a vendor, be sure to enter before March 31st to receive awesome discounts. Get forms online at www.yourpridecenter.org/springspride.htm.

Above is video I took at last year's Colorado Springs PrideFest with Dykes on Bikes kicking off the whole shebang.

It was a great time.