LGBTQ+ Pride Fest, events in Lyons
This has been updated on 6/12/22 with specific information on speakers, booths, and more
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month around the United States and Lyons is gearing up for its biggest celebration ever on Saturday, June 18. We have an exciting day planned and EVERYONE is welcome! There will be activities for people of all ages, so come down and enjoy the fun.
A group of volunteers with Wide Spaces Community Initiative have been planning for several months and are excited about this year’s events. The planning group includes two teenagers and several adults, and we have been busy. Check out the painted Pride Flag on the crosswalk at 4th Street and High Street, near the Old Stone Church.
The schedule is as follows:
9-11 a.m. = Join us on the patio of The Stone Cup for conversation and socializing. Purchase your favorite beverage and snack and meet your friends and neighbors.
12 p.m. noon = Meet at Sandstone Park for a march around town after Lyons mayor Hollie Rogin reads the Town of Lyons Proclamation making June LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Bring your support signs, wear rainbow outfits and walking shoes!
1-3 p.m. The march will end up back at Sandstone Park– enjoy speakers, information booths, make-and-take craft booths, face painting and live music.
Speakers include: Janaki Jane of Wide Spaces Community Initiative who will be speaking about creating a community of belonging for all, including LGBTQ+ people. She will talk about the importance of mental health and social support. —Paula Stone Williams, member of the Lyons Board of Trustees, Pastor, Author and TED Talk speaker will share a keynote message. —Jax Gonzalez from Boulder County OASOS and Lily Berlin from OutBoulder will both talk about support LGBTQ+ youth and services available in Boulder County and Lyons. —Kaleigh Radebaugh from RISE Against Suicide will speak about suicide prevention for youth, especially LGBTQ+ youth. —And, local Lyons High School student Andy Archer will speak about his experience in Lyons and Lyons High School.
Information Booths from the following local non profit organizations will be present to share more about their offerings and answer questions:
Wide Spaces Community Initiative, Out Boulder County, OASOS, RISE Against Suicide, St Vrain Valley Safe School Coalition, PFLAG Boulder, Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center and Rooted.
Local teens will have make-and-take craft booths, provide face painting, and have baked goods, cold water, and iced tea available for donation to Out Boulder’s Youth Programs. Cash, check and Venmo available. We also will have a prize wheel to win Lyons Pride t-shirts, stickers, pins, rainbow flags, and other fun items.
In addition, the band Medicine Rose will offer musical entertainment throughout the afternoon.
What does ally stand for LGBT?
Being an ally with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) individuals is the process of working to develop individual attitudes, institutions, and culture in which LGBTQIA people feel they are valued. Go HERE to see a list of “how you can be an Ally.”
Colors of the Gay Flag:
The originator in 1978, Gilbert Baker, saw the rainbow as a natural flag from the sky, so he adopted eight colors for the stripes, each color with its own meaning (hot pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit). Since 2010, there have been new versions for intersex, nonbinary, and agender people.
NOTE FROM LYONS GAY FEST COMMITTEE: We are grateful for the following sponsors making our Pride Festival possible: Wide Spaces Community Initiative, Lyons Community Library, Town of Lyons Arts & Humanities Commission, Out Boulder County and OASOS. Come learn more about these great community organizations, have some fun, meet some new people and get your Lyons Pride on! Wear your rainbow colors and come prepared for fun!
