The Center says, "Thanks for making PrideFest 2009 a huge success!"

It's hard to believe it's already been a week since Denver PrideFest 2009 was upon us. I don't know about you but I had an amazing time working the MileHighGayGuy booth and enjoying everything PrideFest has to offer.

The folks at The Center have sent the following message to everybody who was a part of making PrideFest 2009 so special:

Wow.

PrideFest 2009 was quite a party!

Thank you for joining us -- and more than 250,000 of your GLBT friends, family and allies -- at Civic Center Park last weekend for our annual celebration of GLBT culture and heritage.

And a big thanks to all of our sponsors, volunteers and supporters who helped make PrideFest a reality this year. We couldn't do it without you!

PrideFest grew again this year, with larger crowds, expanded hours and more diverse entertainment. If you were there Saturday evening, you experienced the rocking Three Olives dance stage with DJ Dan De Leon, and witnessed the amazing Denver Dyke march with more than 1,000 women participating.

Sunday was even bigger this year with 3,000 participants in the Coors Light PrideFest Parade, including the Center's first float highlighting PrideFest 2009's theme: "Worldwide Pride...Connect the dots." Thanks to Courtney Gray for design and construction of the float, and DJ Shannon Stone for donating her services.

Our recycling program also grew this year, as you could see from the 200 blue bins throughout Civic Center Park. The volunteer program welcomed 200-plus people, donating thousands of dollars of in-kind support.

We hope you had as much fun at PrideFest as we had putting it together and celebrating with you. But don't stop the Pride there -- visit The Center's Web site and connect with the LGBT community year-round at www.glbtcolorado.org.

See you in 2010!

You pick the theme for Denver PrideFest 2009!

Denver PrideFest is selecting their theme for 2009, and they want your input!

There are many reasons for our Pride this year:

1. 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

2. Colorado has become one of the most GLBT friendly states in the country (through
the passage of statutes such as second-parent adoption, trans-inclusive ENDA,
public accomodation and more).

3. The United States has elected a President openly supportive of GLBT rights.

And so much more. So what's the most important to you? What should the theme of Denver PrideFest 2009 be?

Please email your suggestions to adrayer@glbtcolorado.org. The official theme for PrideFest 2009 will be announced in mid-March.

My suggestion is in honor of both Stonewall and Harvey Milk so I say let's go with a 'San Francisco 1969'.

The possibilities are endless.

Denver PrideFest 2009 goes green

From The Center:

For the second year in a row, PrideFest will take steps to reduce the environtmental impact of our festival. In 2009, PrideFest will again have over 200 single stream recycling bins available to participants in a wide variety of areas at the festival.

BikeDenver will be providing bike parking for both Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th of PrideFest. Bike parking will come at no cost to PrideFest participants, and we encourage all attendees of PrideFest to choose more eco-friendly modes of transportation when considering how to get to the festival.

Food vendors this year are encouraged to bring recyclable products to accompany their food. PrideFest will be adding "back of the house" recycling programs for the vendors as well as accessible bins to the public for their food waste, and will be doing additional education to our vendors as to the need for and use of recyclable products at our festival.

Year three goals are to continue on our commitment to increasing our recycling capacity and research compostable options for the festival in the future.

2009's additional goals are to include consistent recycling messages throughout the festival, provide environmentally friendly transportation options and to work with food vendors to provide more eco-conscious products onsite.

* photo doesn't have anything to do with going green, it just tickles me

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!

Denver PrideFest: $23 million in economic impact

Marking its 35th anniversary this year, Denver PrideFest will be held on June 19 and 20 in Civic Center Park.

The annual celebration of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender heritage, community and culture has grown dramatically in 35 years and is now ranked as the sixth-largest Pride celebration in the country.

An estimated 275,000 people attended the two-day festival in 2009 -- which means big business for the metro area.

A study by Birchhill Enterprises in 2009 found that PrideFest created an estimated $23.4 million in direct and indirect economic impact for the Denver metro area. Total sales tax dollars generated for the Denver area, based on a 3.62% tax rate, came to $563,189.

The festival created an estimated $1.2 million in total sales tax revenue for the state of Colorado, according to the Birchhill study.

"PrideFest doesn't just symbolize the pride and solidarity of LGBT people in Colorado, it also shows the economic might of our community," said Carlos Martinez, executive director of the GLBT Community Center of Colorado, which produces PrideFest every year.

About 83 percent of PrideFest attendees in 2009 were locals; 17 percent were visitors. Approximately 43,660 of the local attendees said if the festival had not been held, they would have left the Denver area that weekend to find other recreational opportunities. The estimated amount of money that would have left the Denver area had PrideFest not been held was $14.32 million, the survey found.

Many corporations have discovered the economic strength of the LGBT community, with sponsorship of PrideFest growing each year.

Sponsors of Denver PrideFest 2010 include MileHighGayGuy.com, Coors Light, Comcast, Westword, Three Olives, At the Beach, Channel 2, Fox 31, Occasions by Sandy, Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo, Petco, Walgreens, Element, Eldorado Spring Water, CH2MHill, City of Denver, Public Service Credit Union, Progressive Insurance, US Bank, Lara Bar, Fuze, Northglenn Ambulance, Unidos N Orgullo (UNO), Sirius Radio, Magnolia Hotels, Hotel Teatro, Residence Inn-Marriott, Cascadian Farm Organic, Erico Motorsports, Babes Around Denver, Element, Cafe Vivid, Hot 107.1 FM, AM760, KGNU, DJ Tatiana and Grindr.

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!

DJ Brent Does Denver PrideFest 2012

One of Colorado’s most sought after DJs, DJ Brent is taking Denver PrideFest 2012 by storm with two appearances at the largest GLBT event in Colorado and one of the biggest GLBT Pride festivals in the nation. DJ Brent burst onto the Denver music scene last year at SWEET and since then, he’s gone on to book some of the most high-profile gigs in Denver – including PORNSTAR and Black Eye Ball. But Denver PrideFest 2012, June 16-17, marks his biggest and best gig yet, one that attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees over the course of the weekend and will expose him to the largest and most diverse crowd Colorado has to offer.

“I’m very excited to be a part of Denver PrideFest 2012,” says DJ Brent. “It brings the entire community together. Music always has been, and always will be, a big part of Pride and it’s quite meaningful for me to be a part of that.”

On Saturday, June 16, DJ Brent takes the Smirnoff Dance World Stage at 4pm. Dance World is where Denver PrideFesters go when they are ready to party and dance and that’s just how DJ Brent likes it.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what the crowd has to bring in terms of energy and excitement,” says DJ Brent. “I think people will really be ready to get their groove on at that point and I’m just the guy to give it to them. I’ve been working very hard on my set and I like to think that I have come up with something that really represents the sonic embodiment of a Saturday afternoon at Pride.”

Billed as “The Party of the Year” Climax is The Official PrideFest 2012 After Party and takes place on Sunday, June 17. It is presented by DJ Tatiana and CafeVivid.com, sponsored by MileHighGayGuy.com and held on the rooftop of Club Vinyl on Broadway, perfectly positioned within walking distance of Civic Center Park where PrideFest is held.

“I’m really looking forward to this one,” says DJ Brent. “Everybody who comes to the after-party at Climax is really ready to cap things off and go out with a bang. They’re hyped up because they’ve just come from the festival - or a nap - and they are always more than ready and raring to go again.”

Presented by The GLBT Community Center of Colorado, Denver PrideFest takes place annually in June – LGBT Pride Month as designated by President Obama – in downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park. One of the oldest and largest Pride events in the country, Denver PrideFest provides a $25 million dollar economic impact to the City of Denver, as reported in a 2009 survey conducted by Birchill Enterprises. For more information about PrideFest visit www.denverpridefest.org. For more information about DJ Brent visit www.dj-brent.tumblr.com.

Denver PrideFest 2009 has a theme!

And that theme is ... "Worldwide Pride - Connect the Dots."

The Center offers a hearty 'thank you' to everyone who submitted ideas for a theme for PrideFest 2009.

There were many suggestions, ranging from celebratory to political and everything in between.

The committee felt "Worldwide Pride - Connect the Dots" best reflected not only a political motive reminding us that we are part of a larger community, but also celebrates The GLBT Community Center's new logo - which can be seen at www.glbtcolorado.org. Additionally, this theme offers a great many possibilities for execution from merchandise to the parade.

Don't forget to check back at www.denverpridefest.org throughout the spring for the latest news and event information about PrideFest.

Hopefully I'll be the official blogger again this year. I had a great time doing blogging for Denver PrideFest 2008.

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!

Debbie Gibson to headline Denver PrideFest 2009

Denver PrideFest 2009 takes place June 27 and 28 at Civic Center Park and will be headlined by none other than 1980s teen queen pop sensation Deborah Gibson.

Feel the power, you see the energy.

More than 250,000 people from all over the country are expected to take part in this year's PrideFest so stay tuned for more news and information as it comes.

Matthew Rush to co-emcee Denver PrideFest 2009

Just got an email from Mr. DeMarcio Slaughter, Main Stage Entertainment Director of Denver PrideFest.

He tells me that adult film superstar Matthew Rush will be at Denver PrideFest all day Sunday and will be serving as co-emcee along with Mr. Slaughter himself.

PrideFest just keeps better and better!

I interviewed Matthew recently and he was looking forward to the possibility of coming out for PrideFest so it really should be an awesome event.

And Matthew won't even have to worry about getting a hotel room or anything because he can just stay at my house with me.

It'll be fun, Matthew, I promise!

Denver PrideFest 2009: Family Field Day

Just got in from a very full day at Denver PrideFest's Family Field Day. What an amazing time.

I'm ready to hit the sack but check out the following photos (plenty more to come!)and make sure to check out the PrideFest Parade tomorrow which starts at 9:30 at Cheesman Park, and makes its way down Colfax to Civic Center Park where the PrideFest festival will be in full swing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.


The fabulous Shelvis!


The adorable Brodin!


The brightly colored Deb Pollack!


The super-cute Super Altar Boy!

We entered Interactive Male's Big Gay Kiss Contest together. He's a good kisser.


The hardest working man at PrideFest, Fred Sainz!

Be sure to find out all about The Rights 5!

Check out 9News' coverage of Denver PrideFest 2009

Channel 9's TaRhonda Thomas does a great job covering Denver PrideFest 2009 and my good friend Matt Kailey is featured heavily saying smart and important things!

Denver PrideFest 2012 - June 16 & 17

Denver PrideFest 2012 will be held June 16th and 17th at Civic Center Park.

PrideFest features the CoorsLight PrideFest Parade, a Dance Stage with DJs, a Country Stage with line-dancing lessons, a Latin Stage with cultural programming, and the Main Stage with live entertainment, and plenty of celebrating both days.

The festival also features more than 250 vendor booths with arts, crafts, food and more. There's a VIP area with food and drinks for sponsors and contributors to enjoy, and there's also a family area, youth alley, and a transgender resource area.

PrideFest also provides a $25 million dollar economic impact to the City of Denver annually, as reported in a 2009 survey conducted by Birchill Enterprises.

The mission of Denver PrideFest is to create a fun, safe and empowering space to celebrate and promote the heritage and culture of the LGBT and allied community in Colorado.

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.

Denver PrideFest 2009: Senator Pat Steadman and partner Dave

Colorado's newest Senator, Pat Steadman and his adorable hubby Dave made the rounds yesterday at PrideFest.

Aren't they cute?

I've known Pat for years but, given his new position, wasn't sure it was appropriate to give him a big sweaty PrideFest hug and kiss.

He assured me it was ok.

2009: The Year of The Gay Kiss

Check out Passport Magazine's awesome Kiss-In Against Homophobia footage from a recent event in Paris.



You know, it seems like kissing has been a really big theme for 2009, what with the Great Nationwide Kiss-In (above - Denver's 16th Street Mall on August 15) and Interactive Male's Big Gay Kiss promotion (below at Denver's PrideFest 2009).


I like it!

Denver PrideFest 2009: Interactive Male's Big Gay Kiss Contest

Interactive Male brought their fabulous Big Gay Kiss Contest - Grand Prize $10,000 - to Denver PrideFest this past weekend and they've got pages and pages of photos of sexy Denver gays locking lips.

I got in on the act myself and kissed up on AM 760's Super Altar Boy. In the photo it looks like he's trying to get away from me but he wasn't. He was totally into it.

Click here and give us a good "hotness" rating if you please.

Here's Nuclia Waste planting one on some lucky lady.


And these guys are pretty sexy.


But these guys are just doing it wrong. Why is he staring directly into the camera? And why does his friend look so pained?

Denver PrideFest 2009: MileHighGayGuy and Matthew Rush

Whoo-hoo! Best PrideFest ever! I got to meet my dream man Matthew Rush. Man, he's a big boy. Mmm-mm-mm.

I guess I could have cropped out the Port-O-Potty in the background but I'm way too exhausted from Pride to work that hard.

Denver PrideFest 2009: 250,000 strong!

Just got word from The Center's Communications and Marketing Manager Heather Draper that they're estimating around 250,000 people attending Denver PrideFest over the weekend (Saturday being Family Field Day and Sunday the parade and festival).

Personally, I would have guessed the number even higher. Population density in Civic Center Park yesterday was unreal!

Enjoy some photos below:

Ladies love MileHighGayGuy!


Sexy mens! Is it just me or is that redhead in the black trunks something special? Mmm-mm-mm.


Sweet young things in their undercrackers!

More photos and posts to come as my hangover wears off.