By Drew Wilson
Colorado Springs PrideFest celebrated their 23 anniversary year this past weekend with two days of fun and festivities (the appropriately named) America the Beautiful Park.
Colorado Springs PrideFest is one of my favorite LGBT events and something I look forward attending every year. So I was absolutely delighted to be asked serve as one of the emcees of this year's Pride Parade along with Sarada Connors, Host of the Our Town radio show, and Travis Ruiz, Social Media Manager for FOX 21
News.
The Gazette reports that the enjoyed its largest turnout ever and I'm here to report that a delightful time was had by all of them! So without further ado, here are my pictures from the parade portion of the weekend.
Left to right, Parade Organizer Valdamar Archuleta, yours truly, Sarada Connors, and Travis Ruiz putting in work!
Parade organizer Valdamar Archuleta makes some adjustments to the sound system.
The Coy Mathis Family. Aren't they just adorable in their rainbow dresses and suspender/bowtie combo? Earlier this year the Colorado Civil Rights Division ruled in favor of Coy and her family after Coy's school barred her from using the girls bathroom because she is transgender. The Mathis family served as judges of the Colorado Springs PrideFest Parade along with MMA fighter, model, and husband to my fellow emcee Sarada, Travis Connors.
Too cute for words, basically!
The Colorado LGBT Color Guard is sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of AVER (I sent 'em a little extra emcee love from my buddy John J. Kelly like he asked!) and is the first and only regulation quality LGBT color guard in the nation.
OutServe-SLDN supports, defends, and empowers LGBT service members, veterans, and their families.
Stoli turned up the heat with a flashy Jeep and a sexy guy in teeny tiny underwears. I enjoyed one or two delicious Stoli cocktails later that day in the Stoli VIP Garden!
The United Court of the Pikes Peak Empire is the oldest LGBT organization in Southern Colorado.
Colorado Springs PFLAG and Inside/Out Youth Services stuck together closely, as could be expected.
ARC Thrift Stores had a festive float ...
.. as did Tony's Bar & Grill! I have no idea where one finds pink gorilla suits. Pink gorilla suits, y'all!
The Colorado Springs Leather Contingent with members of Celebration of Power, Voodoo Leatherworks, Pikes Peak Summit Masters, the League of Extraordinary Ladies and other Front Range Leather/Kink organizations.
And here goes Club Q - celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. You go, Club Q!
And bringing up the rear (ha!) was the All Fours Jeep Group. I think there's a double entendre there somewhere if you think about it real hard (ha!).
