Denver’s PrideFest – a community celebration of gay and lesbian rights – reached a record crowd of about 180,000 Sunday, according to organizers.
The event, which marks a 1969 clash between New York City police and gay activists, also drew a record 125 entries in the Gay Pride Parade, which wound from Cheesman Park to Civic Center.
Celebrations also were held in other cities across the country, including New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco.
“This is a day that explains where we are from and where we are going,” said Michael Brewer, an festival organizer and director of public policy at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado.
Last year’s celebration drew between 150,000 and 170,000, organizers said. The Denver Police Department estimated the crowd at Civic Center at 125,000 to 150,000, according to spokesman Sonny Jackson.
PrideFest organizers said their estimates were based on ticket sales and the participation of people at Cheesman Park, who may not have joined the Civic Center throng.
This year’s celebration, with the theme “Equal Rights – No More, No Less,” comes at time when the gay-rights movement has faced legislative and legal setbacks.
In May, Gov. Bill Owens vetoed a bill that would have added sexual orientation to a list of protections from workplace discrimination.
“Owens’ veto is one of the reasons why we chose our theme,” said Brewer. “Owens had an opportunity to bring Colorado in line with other states.”
In Oregon, Kansas, California and several other states, efforts to push for same-sex marriages were rebuffed by the courts and voters. Some states have passed or are pursuing constitutional amendments outlawing gay marriage.
Parade grand marshal Jennifer Veiga, a state senator who is openly gay, urged those in the crowd to contact their elected representatives to support equal-rights legislation. “We’re sending a message in 2006,” she told the gathering.
Stands selling snow cones, hot dogs and beer, and others housing message therapists, lined Civic Center.
“It’s a huge party, tons of people,” Tasha Hill, 33. of Colorado Springs said.
Mayor John Hickenlooper was one of the parade judges and, in a brief statement at the rally, said that strength comes for diversity and called the crowd “the greatest people in the world.”
Although the temperature was in the mid-80s, Denver NeVaar, 42, was in full costume as a nun, with fake eyelashes and makeup.
“It’s absolutely wonderful” NeVaar said. “Everything is going smoothly.” Then, looking at the Capitol’s golden dome, he said, “It’s a radical contrast to what’s going on there.”
Staff writer Christopher Ortiz can be reached at 303-820-1201 or cortiz@denverpost.com.
