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Casey Peifer (middle), the president of NoCo Equality, poses with her fiance, Leanna Valadez (left), and their Equality crew at Fort Collins Day Pride Festival by NCE on July 14. (Sara Graydon | Collegian)
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Colorado State University Price Resource Center shows support for their community at Fort Collins Day Pride Festival by NCE on July 14. (Sara Graydon | Collegian)
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Stand up comedy at Fort Collins Day Pride Festival by NCE on July 14. (Sara Graydon | Collegian)
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Justyne Rayne talks with the Satanic Temple of Colorado at the Fort Collins Day Pride Festival by NCE on July 14. (Sara Graydon | Collegian)
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Maeve Kelly poses with her pride parasols at the Fort Collins Day Pride Festival by NCE on July 14. (Sara Graydon | Collegian)
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Fort Collins community members picking up pride swag at Fort Collins Day Pride Festival by NCE on July 14. (Sara Graydon | Collegian)
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Cheyenne VA serves LGBT veterans at the Fort Collins Day Pride Festival by NCE on July 14. (Sara Graydon | Collegian)
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Puppy love at Fort Collins Day Pride Festival by NCE July 14. (Sara Graydon | Collegian)
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Dana Zzyym reps hermaphrodite rights at Fort Collins Day Pride Festival by NCE July 14. (Sara Graydon | Collegian)
Fort Collins Day Pride had a turnout of approximately 350 participants at Fossil Creek Lake on Saturday, July 14.
“That was nearly double last year’s turnout,” said Casey Peifer, President of NOCO Equality.
Peifer and many others in her organization as well as in the community recognize the need for a change in venue.
“We love this venue, but we would like something more accessible and on a bus route,” Peifer said.
Because Fort Collins is continuously voted as one of the top 5 places to live in the country, it helps to drive organizations like NOCO Equality.
“Our LGBT+ community has room to grow. We deserve a louder presence and quite frankly that’s no one’s fault but our own,” she said.
Many of the participants at pride agreed they would like to see a Pride Parade and have the Festival down in Civic Center Park.
“I’d love to see College Avenue lined with rainbows for the month of July,” said Peifer.
Peifer is engaged to Leanna Valadez who is the owner of the R Bar in downtown Fort Collins.
“We need to be collected which is the whole meaning behind opening the R Bar,” said Valadez.
The R Bar is not an exclusively gay bar, everyone is welcome.
“Those who are not a part of the status quo, we are here and we need your support,” said Valadez.
Resources and contact information for the LBGTQ+ community and allies:
Website: www.nocoequality.org
Facebook: Northern Colorado LGBTQ Social Alliance
Collegian reporter Sara Graydon can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @Sara_Graydon
