The Center on Colfax
1301 E. Colfax Ave. | Colfax Avenue & Lafayette Street | City Park West Neighborhood
The 1990s were a critical time for Denver’s LGBTQ+ community. HIV/AIDS continued to rage through the community. In addition, Amendment 2 enshrined anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in Colorado’s State Constitution, leading to a years-long fight until the provision was eventually struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Center was at the forefront of both of these battles.
The 1990s also saw major changes to the Denver Pride celebration. “There had previously been a smaller pride celebration organized by the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire,” noted Sue Anderson, Executive Director of The Center from 1988 to 1992. The Center took over presenting Denver Pride in 1990 and transformed it into what we see today – starting initially with about 10,000 people attending and growing each year. By the early 2000s, Denver Pride became a two-day festival drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees to Denver’s Civic Center Park by the decade’s close.
The Center found innovative ways to serve the community. Beginning in 1998, The Center established Rainbow Alley, a program to serve LGBTQ youth. As the baby boom generation found itself approaching retirement, the need for more programs aimed at LGBTQ+ elders became apparent. The program that would become West of 50 was formed in 2009 to fill the gap. A new Transgender Program was established in the 2000s. The Center expanded programs to preserve LGBTQ history. It developed Range Consulting to provide workplace training on LGBTQ issues. Mental health counseling and support groups were created through the Glass Lawler Mental Health Program, and the Saga program began serving LGBTQ young adults. Growth brought about the need for more space and a permanent home. After receiving a major bequest from Roy Wood, a volunteer at The Center’s front desk and The Center’s Terry Mangan Library, The Center began a capital campaign led by Barbara Harrison and Christopher K. M. Leach to establish a permanent home.