From the Editor: Pride in ourselves

Some see Pride celebrations as political events, tracing them to their historic roots as Stonewall–era protests. Others see Pride as a their best chance in the year to let loose, dress up, party and dance. But across the range one element holds, not just for LGBT people but for all humans: Pride is about being able to express who we are.

Our community, full of unique beauty and diversity, has fought its greatest battles against being silenced. We were silenced society, by prejudice, by politics and by ourselves through fear of coming out. At Out Front we’ve been bustling to prepare two issues that are full of what we see as the antidote to that – stories about expressions. They include the messages on our Special Edition cover feature –chosen by the community from a collection of statements by the community, for the community – to the expressions of individuality showcased in this issue’s photo essay on page 22.

We’re reminded that every person has a different way of making herself feel valuable, important, beautiful and unique. Being allowed to do that transforms us, and in turn creates our foundation to take part in something greater. Working with these stories, and the people in them, transformed me, too, in ways that caught me off guard.

Lonnell Callum – Mr. Leather Colorado 2013 and featured in the photo essay – has a Zen like presence and a deep, wise humility that surprised my notion of what the kink community is about. Lonnell revealed himself to me as a kindred sprit; someone who I have since learned some valuable points of self-reflection from.

Local lesbian mom Debbie Scheer, with her incredibly open, warm, playful and light-hearted energy, taught me that it’s never too late to grow into who you are.

Through these and many more interactions, I’ve re–learned what my individual purpose in the community is, and what Out Front’s purpose is: To connect the community through the celebration of our differences. We do this through sharing our stories, building ourselves up from the inside out, and learning to find beauty in those we think we wouldn’t be able to relate to or understand.

As a crew, Out Front celebrated the start of the summer together at the Climax Rooftop party at Vinyl over Memorial Day weekend. Wandering around what has been coined as “the hottest LGBT venue of the summer” with a cocktail in hand, I allowed the conversations of the night and the colors of the sunset to soak in.

The orange and purple hues from the sunset melted across the tops of the Rocky Mountain peaks, breathing the most perfect glow to the crowded rooftop; infiltrating the dancers, minglers, drinkers and pockets of friends with an overlay of excitement for the summer. I spent the night talking to people, and listening to their stories.

Alba Avella, a yoga and dance instructor, animal lover, free spirit and subject in this issue’s photo essay cover story, mentioned that the crowd on this particular night was filled with what yoga teachers often refer to as the abundance of fire in the ‘Pitta Dosha’, consuming people’s minds and bodies with summertime heat. She noted that it is this heat, which if balanced correctly, could fuel change, power and energy into our lives and bodies.

Jennifer Schumacher, a local trainer and co–owner of the barefoot fitness studio, WillPower, stopped a group of friends mid–conversation, urging them to look over at the sunset glowing over the mountains. “Take that energy and that light, that inspiration and color, and bring it in to let it move you,” she said in her motivational tone. “The word of the week is ‘achieve,’ achieve the power and strength inside of you, guys, bring it in!”

Tiffanie Meehling, part–time bartender at Blush & Blu and full–time elementary school teacher commented on the packed late night crowds as a sociological construction: “People have FOMO,” she said, “Fear–Of–Missing–Out. That’s why everyone has to be here among the drunken staggerers and debauchery. People are scared that if they don’t stay, or didn’t show up, they’d be missing out.”

The reason we build communities, the reason we band together for a particular humanitarian cause, the reason we attend faith–based groups and churches, the reason we go to Charlie’s or Blush & Blu or the reason we still like to be valued as individuals, is because we hope to both be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We form community through our differences, eccentricities and uniqueness.

We yearn to connect to something larger than our individual egos – yet we express our need to be a part of something, individually, by making us recognizable parts of different sub-cultures or social movements. Our expressions are manifested through our clothes or physical style, our ways of talking and listening, or within the types of various activities we engage in.

Each individual is a different piece of the mosaic, or a different weaver in the universal web. We offer new perspectives, fabulous trends, and various parts of practicing our passions.

My partner, Jody Bouffard, has instilled a sense of community into me, in a way I didn’t know existed. For the past year, working with her as the co-owner of her established lesbian bar, has not only satisfied my passion for entrepreneurship, has not only cloaked me in love and adoration – she tells me every morning in my disheveled state that I’m beautiful and follows it with “Someday, I’m gonna marry you, Holly Hatch,”– nor just the physical attraction factor (I’m a sucker for tattoo sleeves and a mysterious façade) but she has also taught me that nobody can do it alone.

“It takes a village, people,” is a phrase she walks around living, and saying, reminding me – and others who sometimes feel like an after-thought in the community – that none of us search alone. We are successful because of the people we bring into our lives; we are enriched by success if we band together in our creation of a community.

This issue is our way of celebrating the community’s unique differences, but it also serves to connect us to different people, in new mysterious ways.

Joshua Hunt, a local gay entrepreneur and company coach who has been working with the staff at Out Front has challenged the staff to reach beyond our comfort zones and find new ways of connecting to folks we don’t understand or struggle with. And I am continuing this challenge, both to myself and to you, the reader: Take time during the crazy summer Pride season to think about new ways of connecting. Talk to someone who does something you don’t understand, or dresses in a way you are distracted by, or invite someone from the community out for a latte to discover what their story is, what drives them, and how you might connect to them after dismissing our stereotypical notions of cliques, groups, or who someone is.

In the words of Out Front publisher Jerry Cunningham: “First seek to understand, then to be understood.” We are capable of big, momentous changes, friends. Let’s continue to celebrate that far after Pride season is over.