Longmont Pride extends to six days of…
Longmont Pride extends to six days of LGBTQ-centered events
Matthew Jonas / Staff Photographer
From left: Development and Special Events Coordinator Juan Moreno and Executive Director Mardi Moore discuss banner placement for Friday s dance party at Out Boulder County, 463 Main St., Longmont.
From left: Development and Special Events Coordinator Juan Moreno and Executive Director Mardi Moore check out a disco ball for Friday s dance party.
Longmont Pride Week
Monday: Rainbow Storytime LGBTQ stories for children and families at the Longmont Public Library, 409 Fourth Ave., from 6 to 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Ninth Annual Out Youth Film Premiere featuring films written, directed, edited and produced by LGBTQ youth at the Firehouse Art Center, 667 Fourth Ave., from 1 to 3 p.m.
Wednesday: Rainbow Elders Mixer for LGBTQ folks (and allies) 50 years old and up at the Out Boulder County Office, 462 Main St., from 5 to 7 p.m.
Thursday: Happy Hour at Longs Peak Pub for LGBTQ folks and allies 21 years old and up, 600 Longs Peak Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m.
Friday: Business in the Front Party in the Back dance party for LGBTQ people and allies at the space behind Out Boulder County, 463 Main St., from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets are $5 cash at the door and only available to people 21 years old and up.
June 24: Longmont Pride Visibility March for all LGBTQ+ people and allies, gather at Out Boulder County, 463 Main St., at 1:30 p.m.
Longmont Pride on Fourth Avenue between Emery and Main Streets from 2 to 6 p.m.
Longmont Pride After Party at 364 Main St. from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
More info: outboulder.org/longmontpride
The first Longmont Pride with a week of activities starts on Monday.
Mardi Moore, executive director of Out Boulder County, said the upcoming Longmont Pride Week is chock-full of events partly to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Out Boulder County opening an office on Main Street.
Moore said there are more sponsors and vendors than ever, as a result of Out Boulder County's increased visibility in Longmont.
"Last year, we had 50 vendor booths and this year we're at 78," she said as volunteers unboxed decorations for the Friday dance party. "Our corporate sponsors have doubled. Walgreens has offered us great support and Celestial Seasonings, which of course has been in the community for years, has stepped up. Comcast is sponsoring us as well as local businesses."
The Times-Call is also a Longmont Pride Week sponsor.
Armene Piper, owner of Left Hand Laser Studio, said the studio is sponsoring the dance and she also is offering half-price laser hair removal to members of the trans community in perpetuity.
"I have a lot of transgender clients and over time, I've come to see how difficult that transition is and how costly it is," she said. "It really impressed on my heart that they were born in the wrong body and I can't even imagine that struggle … this is just one teeny tiny piece of their transition."
Piper said she is also trying to start a pay-it-forward program where people can donate gift cards that she could then surprise trans clients with when they go to pay.
Moore said she thinks national politics and the election of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence has bolstered local support for Out Boulder County as well.
This year's Longmont Pride T-shirt that Out Boulder County will sell says in big block rainbow letters: #RESIST. They are $15, Moore said, and last year's T-shirt sold out.
She said Longmont leaders offered to be dunked in a dunk tank at the main Longmont Pride event on June 24.
Moore herself, Longmont City Councilman Brian Bagley, Councilwoman Polly Christensen, Colorado state Rep. Jonathan Singer, Randy Porter — who helped found Longmont Pride — and others all volunteered to be dunked.
Former Times-Call business reporter and editor Tony Kindelspire will emcee Longmont Pride.
Moore said Longmont Pride will be free, fun and family friendly with activities for children.
"It's open to everybody and we hope people come out and help celebrate our one-year anniversary in Longmont," she said.
Moore added that Out Boulder County is seeking volunteers to help with the events, specifically set up and tear down at the dance and TIPS-trained volunteers to help with alcohol service at the events for people 21 years old and up.
Karen Antonacci: 303-684-5226, antonaccik@times-call.com or twitter.com/ktonacci