We here at Queerty are big fans of the United States, the nation that bore us, Celebrity Jeopardy, the hamburger and that whole representative democracy thing. It's a nation rich in natural resources, can-do attitude and homosexuals, and each week, we're visiting a new state to find out just what makes it so uniquely fabulous.
Colorado
Home of Haggard
While Colorado Springs' New Life Church remains embroiled in sex abuse scandals and cover-ups, The Centennial State is the frontier of the new liberal West, having switched from red to blue in the 2008 election. It's the home of gay philanthropist Tim Gill, whose foundation has poured $110 million into targeted gay causes and races over the past decade, and Denver, which draws over 200,000 people each year for it's annual Pride Parade. Denver mayor (and one of our favorite politicians) John Hickenlooper makes it a point to attend Pride annually. New blue state, here we come.
The Fight For Your Rights
In 2006, Amendment 43 defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman in the state constitution, but 23-year-old straight golf club salesman Stuart Allen is hoping to change all that and is working to get his initiative, which would define marriage as between two consenting adults on the ballot in 2010. Says Allen, "I don't think there should be gender-specific laws when it comes to marriage in Colorado – or anywhere. It seems like a civil rights issue."- A bill sponsored by Ferrandino and Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, would make domestic partners of state employees eligible for group benefits.
- Another bill, sponsored by Rep. Mark Ferrandino would simplify the process that allows unwed couples to designate rights to their partners. According to the Denver Post, "Couples can already designate each other as emergency decision makers, ensure that property goes to their partners if they die and list each other as health insurance beneficiaries. But the process for sharing these and other benefits is a costly and complicated series of contracts…" Ferrandino's bill "would give couples the option of dropping by their local county clerk's office and filling out a check-off form stating which rights they want their partners to have."
Local Hotspot
J.R.'s Bar & Grill
77 East 17th Avenue, Denver
303/ 831-0459
If you're looking for a place to saddle-up and meet the Denver locals, you can't go wrong with J.R.'s, the Mile High City's gay equivalent of Cheers. It's a two-story saloon, complete with brass rails, wide-porch, pool tables and bingo, and while the decor might remind you of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the Denver locals are less slutty than friendly and easy to make conversation with.
Model Citizen
28-year-old Christopher Chavez has lived in North Denver with his partner Larry for the last five years, after relocating from New Mexico. He says he hopes to live in Denver "for the rest of my life, maybe."
What's the best part about living in Colorado?
You get the four seasons. That's one of my favorite things—you get them to the truest extent. You get 100 degrees in the summer and blizzards. I like skiing in the winter and playing in the sun in the summer.
What's the biggest problem facing gays and lesbians in Colorado?
For living somewhere that's pretty liberal minded, it's also pretty conservative. We just recently went from a red state to a blue state, so I think gays and lesbian issues have surfaced quite a bit recently. We had gay marriage on the ballot two or three years ago and it didn't pass—and it didn't pass by a landslide. I know it's being considered for the [next] ballot, and it'll be interesting to see how the political climate has changed.
Describe your average Colorado gay.
The average Colorado gay has a pretty active lifestyle not only in their physical activity, but in their social activity. It's kind of Mid-meets-West. That's the best way to describe it.
Are the latest stories coming out about the New Life Church a big topic?
I guess I have to say not really, at least in my social circle. We see it on the news a lot, but we don't really talk about it. That said, I'm not surprised—not surprised that it's on the news and not surprised that it happened.
If there's one thing a gay visiting Colorado should do, what is it?
You caught me off guard. I want to say, "Go to the bar!" I'm really cultured. To be honest with you, I'd say go to the brand new art museum here. It looks like a ship out of Battlestar Galactica.
What's one misconception about the state you'd like to clear up?
It's not as Western as you think. People have this idea of Denver being this western cowboy hick town and it's not that at all. The people who live here don't fit into that genre type at all. We don't all own a pair of Wranglers.
Each week until we're done, Queerty will be traveling to a new state; next up is Massachusetts. If you're from the Bay State and would like to be a "Model Citizen," shoot us an email at holla@queerty.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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Being a former(native)Coloradoan(I now live I Washington State[Seattle to be excat])I must agree with Mr Chavez that people have this idea that Denver(especially)is till in the Old West, Denver has always been a cosmopolitan city, vibrant, and more liberal minded that most of her other city counterparts(read Colo Spgs)it has always had a very active Gay community(at one time there were at least 14 different types of bars along Colfax Ave)Denver has a lot to offer visitors bothe gya & straight. It can be a very exciting city to live in(although I never did)it is made up of many different neighborhoods, and suburbs. Downtown Denver is an amazing place. It is probably one of if not the most gay friendly city in the state. Most Denverites have a tendency to look down on those who are not from Denver, but onceyou get past that it can be quite an experience, there is the Museum of Natural History, a planetarium, plus there is always Cheesman Park by the Capitol for those who are looking a little something extra(shall we say)overall Colorado in and of itself is avery beautiful state, mountains, rolling hills, prairie they have it all.
You completely forgot to mention one of the most fun activities in all of Colorado for gays; making out with your boyfriend/girlfriend/complete stranger at Focus on the Family after hours. While not necessarily the cultural undertaking that can be provide by the amazing musuem here. It does have a certain je ne sais quois of saying "F*ck you" to the Christian Conservative Right. One might say that it feels dirty in all the right ways.
If gay marriage was the law of the land, would the term liberal still apply?
Go CO! Born and raised next to the beautiful Rocky Mountains here, and can vouch for JRs as a very legitimate place to be. Used to sneak in there before I was actually twenty one! And for all you guys who have never seen a REAL gentleman cowboy head over to Charlie's for square dancing under a boot-shaped mirror ball. But, as the interviewee stated, Denver is not generally filled with Wranglers; it is probably the most moderate place in the West. Also famous as one of Kerouac and Ginsberg's favorite cities. Oh yea, and the Dems came to town awhile back if you remember that.
Not to mention Boulder is a mecca for gay hippies like myself.
Yup. 14 different types of bars along Colfax Ave)does make for an active Gay community. No doubt about it. ;-)
This sort of articles is always fun to read
Um, okay, where did all of these people grow up? The Denver I grew up in was rife with skinheads who jumped me once at a party and exacted even worse violence on queers hanging out on Capitol Hill. Then there are the countless gang affiliations, one in particular decided (for fun!) to jump and rape a friend of mine who was skateboarding with two of her friends downtown. I attended a march for MLK in '92 which turned into a huge riot. Riots seem to erupt over any occasion, mostly sport-related when they do, it wasn't all that infrequent to breathe in tear gas living downtown.
Teachers are paid squat in Colorado. When it came time to support schools, voters chose to support construction for sports teams' facilities. And did everyone forget about the ill-conceived edification of an aquarium in a land-locked state?
Ask gays & lesbians of color in Colorado about Midwestern values and subsequent sexual racism.
If you're a gay white male into sports, enjoy Colorado. Everyone else should take up martial arts. Oh, and buy a car since public transportation is more suited for poor people.
@Jhames:
That's not at all the Colorado I grew up in. Maybe that was Colfax and Five Points ten years ago. Maybe Five Points is still that way (I was robbed two years ago in the middle of the day at gun point). Colfax, however, is no longer that way. The rest of Downtown Denver is even better. There are still gangs, still conservatives, maybe still skinheads. For the most part, though, walking hand-in-hand with your partner is nothing to be afraid of. Denver has a very active gay community.
I will agree that it's probably best to avoid downtown after one of the local teams wins or loses something big. It's not exclusive to Denver.
You gays make me sick coming to colorado thinking you're going to turn it into a liberal rainbow state. Do us all a favor and do you butt slamming in some cosmo place and leave the west to the real men without the mental disorder.
@Anti Gay: Real men don't waste their time fantasizing about what other men are doing with their sex lives. Gay people live in the united states and have just as much right to live here as anyone else if you don't like it move to another country we won't miss you we have enough bigots.
@getreal:
…well SOME real men do.
But I understand what you mean and agree.
@strumpetwindsock: LOL! I stand corrected some real men do and some women as well.
Is it just me or does, @Anti Gay sound like he might be the self-loathing pastor himself, Tim Haggard.
Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone new a link to a local organization that is in favor of the "equal rights marriage bill". I would like to get involved but I cannot seem to find any good resources. Thanks, Craig
I was born and grew up here in Denver (a rarity). There is an open accepting atmosphere in Denver that doesn't go with what AntiGay expresses. Gay Pride in Denver is one of the biggest in the country and the huge numbers of gay bars and social outlets for us makes being gay in Denver wonderful. Plus we have all these great Gayborhoods mixed with the straight people.