Denver’s Forgotten Queer History

Denver has emerged as the only U.S. city left out of 10 places worldwide being considered for the 2030 Gay Games. The games — which began in 1982 and happen every four years — invite over 10,000 LGBTQ+ people to compete in more than 30 different sports. With Denver being a serious contender for this celebrated event, no better time than now to look back at this city’s storied LGBTQ+ history and culture. Back in 2022, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi went on a tour of Capitol Hill with comics artist and historian B. Erin Cole to learn all about the gayborhood’s deep roots in the Mile High.

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B. Erin Cole’s illustrated map of queer Capitol Hill can be found as part of History Colorado’s Rainbows and Revolutions exhibit, on view now. Find more of B. Erin’s work here. 

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