There’s no place like home … or Denver lesbians

It was Fall in 2005 and I was sitting in a women’s meeting, when someone asked, “Is anyone going to First Friday?”

“Wait, what’s First Friday?” I asked.

“It’s a monthly lesbian dance party thing,” the woman responded.

I was all ears.

Then another woman in the group said, “Oh well, I’ve gotten to live to 40 without dancing, why start now?”

And then I opened my mouth before thinking – this happens sometimes – and said, “That’s just ridiculous!”

Oops, did I just say that out loud? Well, I might as well make my point now.

“Grandma Moses didn’t even start painting until she was 90-years-old, you’re not even half that age yet,” I said. “Dancing could and should still be in your future.”

This was my introduction to Babes Around Denver’s First Friday event, and I’ve been going ever since.

In 2005, BAD’s monthly shin-dig was still at Mile High Station. Each month I was determined to attend. I was hooked. A party every month where lesbians from all over the Denver Metro area and even as far as Colorado Springs and Wyoming were there, how could I say no?

I had just moved here from New York City, I didn’t know that many women and as much as I loved The Detour, there was no dancing. For me it was a no-brainer, I love to dance. I missed the big dance parties in NYC. I needed to shake my groove thang. And maybe, just maybe, someone might ask me to dance. Shakin’ it with cute girls. Yes!

When it moved to Tracks, it only got better. More space, better sound system, more bars – with better bartenders – and a variety of music genres and DJ’s, it was just awesome! Each month I find myself waiting in a longer line to get in … where do all these women come from? I’m not complaining, I like it!

A few years back, I moved to Seattle. There are a lot of lesbians there, so I thought that the Seattleites would have something just as good, if not better than BAD’s First Friday parties. How wrong I was. Their monthly party was about a third of the size, the music was OK, and where were all of the cute girls?

I missed Denver lesbians. I missed BAD’s First Fridays, terribly.

It was kind of funny, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m really social. But, I found myself feeling as though I had crashed someone’s house party. Few people were even dancing. I was ready to shake my groove thang, but no one seemed prepared to shake it with me. There were no random conversations struck up while standing in the bathroom line, no theme dressing, it was just not a First Friday.

I moved back, and immediately went to a First Friday, where I ran into everyone. Yes, every lesbian I knew was gathered at Tracks. I was welcomed with open arms and Dede Frain, founder of BAD, even bought me a “welcome back” shot. It was November, and I was very thankful. The place was packed, there were girls everywhere and random conversations happened at every turn.

“I thought you moved to Seattle?” I got asked.

“I did, but had to move back,” I responded.

“Well, I’m sorry it didn’t work out, but I’m glad you’re back!”

“Thanks, me too,” I said.

There’s nothing like Denver lesbians.

BAD First Friday’s are like Pride celebrations, once a month. And it just keeps getting bigger. Dancers, trapeze artists, burlesque performers, costume contests, lesbian cruise give-a-ways, Dinah Shore weekend, you name it. If you’re a lesbian in Denver, Ms. Frain has something for you.

With three dance floors, amazing DJ’s and all kinds of music – from country, top 40-hits, hip-hop, retro, ’80s to popular dance music – BAD knows how to throw a party. Every kind of woman will find she has a reason to shake her groove thang.

Seven bucks these days will buy you two gallons of gas, a really good cheeseburger (minus the fries) or your ticket in to the best lesbian dance party in the country.