Offices of the Gay Coalition of Denver
1454 Pennsylvania St. | Colfax Avenue & Pennsylvania Street | Capitol Hill Neighborhood
Founded in 1972 by Gerald Gerash, Lynn Tamlan, Mary Sassatelli, Jane Dundee, and Terry Mangan, the Gay Coalition of Denver was the first incarnation of a LGBTQ+ community center in Denver. As a center of community organizing, the GCD offered doctor referrals, counseling, and hosted a coffee house called Approaching Lavender.
The GCD organized committees to address political and legal issues facing the community, including harassment of gay men by Denver Police officers. Gerald Gerash and the GCD sued the city and organized a protest at City Council to demand change.
The City Council eventually repealed the laws, marking a major victory for the group.
Unfortunately, the organization faced financial hurdles and ultimately was forced to shut down. Despite this fact, momentum from the City Council protest had mobilized the community. Gerash secured a donation to continue the work the GCD had been performing and established a new coalition of groups from across Denver called Unity.
By 1977, these groups led to the formation of the Gay Community Center of Colorado, which is known today as The Center on Colfax.
Additional Resources
Read more about Gerald Gerash and early activism in Denver.