Comic Con Drops Anchor During PrideFest
What if I told you that you could express your inner nerd and your outer sexuality on the same day?
Well you’re in luck, because this year Denver Comic Con and Denver PrideFest are collaborating, and you get a whole weekend to do so. (Can I hear a “woot woot”?)
If you were feeling let down because you never thought you would see a sexy, gay Deadpool, your day is here! Fellow friends, comic-book lovers, and proud members of the gay community, unite!
This year, on the weekend of June 18th and 19th, not only do DCC (one of the best) and Denver PrideFest (also one of the best) happen at the same time, they’re collaborating.
I interviewed Bruce MacIntosh, director of programming for Denver Comic Con, and chairman emeritus for its parent nonprofit, Pop Culture Classroom, for some info. He tells me this relationship has been several years in the making — since 2012 when Comic Con had its first year here in Denver. Bruce says Comic Con has a diversity mission that aims to bring people together regardless of who they are or who they like; therefore, he expressed, the ideals of Comic Con and Pride deeply align.
He hopes that with this partnership, members of both events take the opportunity to explore the ideals of both events as exemplified through special goings-on this year. Bruce says the message of Comic Con works so well with Pride because it “involves learning, diversity, tolerance, and self-expression at the same time as all the entertainment.”
One such event (a highlight, really) is a series of marriages on Sunday of that weekend. While not too much is changing about DCC or PrideFest this year, this special close will act as a finale.
“Author and Wonder-Woman-expert Andy Mangels is coming from Oregon and getting ordained especially to officiate nuptials. Nowhere else in the world have multiple same-sex couples ever been able to ‘tie the knot,’ while dressed in geeky costumes,” Bruce says.
He tells me that even if the events don’t fall on the same weekend annually like they do this year, DCC and PrideFest will continue to cross-program. After all, he explains, DCC will continue to have its Unity mission (previously called the Diversity mission), which aims to “bring together anyone who enjoys the many and varied elements of pop culture, regardless of their race, gender, or sexual orientation.”
“Practically everyone enjoys some form of pop culture, whether it’s the latest movie with somebody in a colorful costume, or the final volume of a fantasy trilogy with an alien race,” he says. “It’s only recently, however, that many nerds or gays have felt comfortable coming out and coming together to celebrate our common interests. Whether it’s Pride or Denver Comic Con, you can rest assured that you’re not different, never judged, and can share your interests with thousands of people just like you.”
So really, don’t miss it. We may, in fact, finally settle the Batman and Robin gay debate.
