Pride Month 2024

by Sawyer First, MA Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling ’25

The Intrinsic Juxtaposition of Pride Month 

I open each morning with a series of prayers entrenched in gratitude. While the traditional canon of Jewish liturgy they germinate from hosts many beautiful fragments, my favorite blessing “שֶׁעָשַֽׂנִי כִּרְצוֹנוֹ” bears a wonderfully idiosyncratic significance. This prayer celebrates being created as intended – being exactly as we are wanted to be. 

I invite you to pause here and sit with this affirmation: you are as you were intended to be. You are as you are wanted to be. 

This intricate web of human experiencing can contain a myriad of complexities in conjunction with the undeniable enchantment of living. So much so that accepting who we are – and all that constellates us – can be its own onerous journey. Wholeheartedly loving ourselves, appreciating the miraculously unique Selves we are, and sharing who we are with the external requests a bravery and vulnerability unparalleled in the encompassing Kosmos. 

For people whose living is destined to be expansive and queer, expressing the Self is not always safe. It can be dangerous and alarmingly violent. Marginalization continues to oppress, silence, and harm queer people and bodies all over this extensive planet – and very much so in this country’s legislature and cultural fabric. While a lot has changed since the Stonewall Riots and the courageous advocacy of our queer ancestors, a plethora remains.

As we reflect on the roots of Pride month and appreciate the determination and resilience of the Stonewall Riots and the tangential branches of revolutionary queer advocacy, I invite you to utilize this chapter of time to contemplate this intrinsic juxtaposition of Pride Month: a moment of commemoration for all of the queer bodies, spirits, and people harmed for Being who they are as well as a reminder that Living as you are intended is celebrated. 

If it is your practice to write, journal, or reflect, I offer you these prompts for this potent Time: 

The last time I felt free was: 

My fears in expressing my Self are: 

My desires for expressing my Self are: 

Queer Joy is: 

The last time I knew Belonging was: 

I feel community when: 

I admire these qualities in my Self: 

I love these Selves within Me: 

I know I can share myself when: 

In solidarity & queer joy,

Sawyer

Chair of the Naropa Queer Collective  

Naropa Bike Shack Manager

MA Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling ’25

 

 

“Pride Month: a moment of commemoration for all of the queer bodies, spirits, and people harmed for Being who they are as well as a reminder that Living as you are intended is celebrated.”

Naropa is proud to celebrate Pride Month 2024 by honoring the resilience and courage of those who paved the way for our rights and visibility. This month, we commemorate the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a pivotal moment that ignited the modern LGBTQAI+ rights movement. Here in Boulder, we have a vibrant and supportive Queer positive community with various events and resources for all to enjoy. As we celebrate Pride Month, let us honor the trailblazers who fought for our rights and continue to advocate for equality, acceptance, and inclusivity for all members of the LGBTQAI+ community.

Boulder Pride Events

• Boulder Pridefest: June 30, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Boulder Central Park & Bandshell. This annual festival features live entertainment, vendors, and a celebration of LGBTQAI+ pride.
• Queer Circus: June 29, 7 – 10 p.m. at Junkyard Social Club. A unique event showcasing LGBTQAI+ performers, co-sponsored by Queer Asterisk.
   

Denver Pride Events

• Denver PrideFest: June 24-25 at Denver Civic Center Park. One of the largest Pride celebrations in the region, featuring a parade, 5K run, and festival.

QTPOC Pride Summer Solstice OTA Vogue Night

• A low-stakes, all-ages Vogue Night on the summer solstice in collaboration with The Kiki House of Majik and Mi Chantli Dance and Movement Sanctuary.
• Features runway, face, vogue performances, and unique grand prizes. Transitions to 18+ after 9pm.

Longmont Pride Festival

• A Pride celebration in Longmont on June 7th at Roosevelt Park, with local artists, vendors, games, performances, and food trucks.

Other Out Boulder Events

• LGBTQ+ Concepts & Skills for Perinatal Practitioners training.
• Funny & Fruity Comedy Pride Variety Show on June 7th
• Pride Pool Party on June 9th at Boulder Swim Club with DJs and drag queens
• Lafayette Youth Pride Block Party on June 15th with entertainment and activities.

Local LGBTQAI+ Resources:

Naropa’s Queer Collective is a student-led group at Naropa that strives to create spaces for queer individuals and transform dialogues around gender-based violence, restorative justice, queer liberation, and BIPOC reparations/excellence. The collective aims to decenter whiteness and decolonize the history, current affairs, and future ambitions of the queer community.

History Colorado LGBTQ+ Coloradans Project: An initiative to collect and preserve the stories and experiences of LGBTQAI+ individuals in Colorado. You can contribute by sharing your story, donating objects, or volunteering.

Queer Asterisk

Sorin Thomas is the founding and executive director of Queer Asterisk, a mental health organization devoted to compassionate counseling and education for the LGBTQAI+ community. Sorin envisioned Queer Asterisk while studying at Naropa University, with the goal of creating a queer and transgender-friendly mental health resource. Their idea was to create a different kind of mental health organization; rooted in social justice advocacy, devoted to compassionate counseling and education, and run by queer and transgender friendly professionals.

Queer Asterisk services include:

• Storytelling Events

• Community Outreach

• Counseling and Mental Health Support

Out Boulder County

Out Boulder County is at the forefront of organizing and promoting a diverse array of Pride events throughout June, catering to different interests and age groups, while fostering a sense of community, visibility, and celebration for the LGBTQAI+ community in Boulder County.