Pride has come a long way in the past 50 years, and Grand Junction got to celebrate that progress with four days of events celebrating LGBTQ+ belonging and empowerment.
The array of festivities included a parade, a festival at Las Colonias Park, an exhibition of photos and artifacts detailing the history of LGBTQ+ communities in Colorado and much more; the days of celebration were concluded with an unveiling of Grand Junction’s first, public-facing Pride mural.
Heidi Hess, founding board member of Colorado West Pride and Western Slope field organizer for One Colorado, said it means the world to see a thriving LGBTQ+ community, because for much of her life, that was rarely the case.
“I actually planned the first Pride parade in my hometown in Nebraska,” Hess said. “It was nine people walking down the sidewalk, and half of them had bags or masks over their faces because, at the time, it was legal to fire someone from their job for being gay in Nebraska.
“Fast forward all these years, and the whole community is able to live their authentic lives. Seeing people my age and older holding hands with their spouse and young people able to wear a Pride flag around their shoulders and dance down Main Street is so fulfilling. It’s a world that I personally have always dreamed of.”
PRIDE IN SEPTEMBER
The observant reader may recall that June is Pride Month and wonder why Colorado West Pride is celebrated in September.
According to Hess, the unique timing was originally because of post-COVID permitting delays that prevented organizers from scheduling the celebration during its traditional time slot of the weekend between Denver and Salt Lake’s events.
That traditional time slot also happened to take place near Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the abolition of slavery which was just federally recognized in 2021. Hess said it made sense to continue hosting the local Pride in September to avoid competing for venues, resources and people.
At the same time, she added, there have been several, coincidental advantages to the new timeline, such as cooler weather and the opportunity for Colorado Mesa University students to attend.
“As a board, we sat down, talked long and hard about (the timing near Juneteenth) and said we don’t need to be in competition,” Hess said. “And really, every day is Pride Day when people can live as their authentic selves.”
THE MAKING OF A MURAL
This year’s West Colorado Pride culminated in a final event where the city’s first public-facing Pride mural was unveiled.
According to Hess, the mural marks a collaboration between local organizations and youth to empower the next generation to live as their authentic selves. The mural was created through the Business Art Mentorship, a program that not only teaches the arts but instructs youth on the business and practical knowledge necessary to make a career out of their passion.
“We have lots of artists and industry professionals, as well as mentors, who come in that are really passionate about working with underserved and LGBTQ youth,” BAM Executive Director and founder Tauma Lee said. “We’re open to all youth in the valley, but we are 80% LGBTQ.
“We want them to make their own connections to gain life skills, work skills, connect with others and make healthy peer groups.”
The mural, which was completed over six months by 12 young people, is a semi-mobile installment that will spend its first year affixed to The Center, an LGBTQ-centric community and resource center.
The Center opened in December of 2023 and is operated by the nonprofit Loving Beyond Understanding, which offers spaces, resources and programs to empower and support the local LGBTQ+ community.
“I never thought this would happen, but we created a space here for the people that don’t feel like they have space anywhere,” Loving Beyond Understanding Deputy Director Emmanuel Cisneros said. “After the pandemic and all this legislation that’s coming down, people just need to feel like they belong.
“It is such an honor to be able to provide that and to create a space for people to feel welcome. This is the culmination, in my eyes, of that belonging.”
MORE THAN A MURAL
According to one of the BAM muralists, Alex Eikenberry, the artwork is centered around a sentiment that everyone can relate to, LGBTQ+ or not: “Be the person you needed when you were young.”
Eikenberry said it’s been a privilege to see that growth in herself and her peers while working on the mural.
“This project has brought so many different people together, and it made me meet some of my best friends,” Eikenberry said. “To me, the meaning of this piece shows change and how to be there for your younger self, or your now-self … we found through our research that we have all grown in some sort of way over the past six months.”
“Even now, within that short amount of time, that quote can apply here. Anyway, the mural is gorgeous, no doubt.”
Another contributing artist with BAM, Lily Elford, designed the mural by compiling and combining several ideas from the group of young artists. Elford said the massive project was initially daunting, but their teamwork allowed them to both complete the art and learn several lessons from it.
“When we first started putting all the panels up, it was really intimidating,” Elford said. “However, after all the painting and all the teamwork, now our panels are covered in imagination, creativity and representation.”
Lee said that once the traveling mural has been at LBU for a year, it will be contracted out to welcoming and affirming businesses. She said BAM will cover the cost of installation, as the intention is primarily to “get the word out to the community about unity, pride and the youth’s message.”
Those interested in more information or referring to a potentially interested business can contact [email protected].
