Elections
Our Board meeting with officer elections coming up Wednesday October 14th at 6:30pm via zoom. In addition to helping plan the Pride event, Board members spend the year finding new affirming organizations and maintaining those connections to help support those organizations year-round. If you’re interested, please attend to vote or run for office!
NoCo Pride Made its Mark on 2026
… And wow, what a mark it was! Those of you who were able to attend know how much it meant to find our community together. Hundreds of incredible people showed up to celebrate and learn more about our shared history. We had over 70 local vendors, artists, performers, and speakers share their stories. Representation from all walks of life found community and shared connections. A sincere thank you to all who came and put in so much effort to make it happen. If you attended and want to share your experience with us, please fill out our online form so we can keep improving.
A Letter from our Officers
Hi folks,
First, a moment of vulnerability and transparency. Our board wondered whether, after 11 years, another Pride event was redundant. Was there still a need for our event when other allied organizations had stepped up to run multiple local Pride events?
You answered that clearly. You told us that Pride events like ours-ones that prioritize accessibility-are essential. Local businesses and organizations want the chance to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Disabled vendors, artists, performers, and attendees want an event designed so they can participate in the whole day. Small independent businesses and artists (especially LGBTQ+ and BIPOC owned and operated ones) want an affordable event between the June and winter rushes. Participants who aren’t out want a strict photo consent policy. And attendees want to meet organizations that aren’t just swapping in a rainbow logo each June, but are loud in their support year-round.
So we met that demand with indoor areas, ASL interpreting, and low-sensory areas. Our event fills a need in our community without competing with other local Pride events, which we continue to support, and ask you to as well.
Financial reserves were low this year, and we had to consider scaling back to make sure the event still happened. Then we were humbled when multiple sponsors (like local queer owned and operated businesses, Sound Bar and Signarama Fort Collins) and donors stepped in with their support. Many declined some or all of their sponsor benefits, asking that those funds instead increase the number of waived and reduced fees available to local nonprofits and independent artists. That generosity also let us upgrade everyone who requested a half-booth at a reduced fee to a full booth.
With National Coming Out day this past weekend and more LGBT+ events on the horizon, we’re glad to share that we’ve received nearly $2,000 in donations toward Pride from businesses and donors who asked to remain anonymous. Even when you can’t see it, there is support all around.
Planning and hosting an accessible Pride event is expensive and a lot of work. NoCo Equality is an all-volunteer organization with no paid employees, funneling all donations into our Pride event. In years with proceeds, we earmark funds for the next year’s event, then donate 10% back to local LGBTQ+ nonprofits.
So what can you do if you want to help? We’re already doing the early legwork for next year’s event. We’d love volunteers for the day of the event and the year-round planning committee, as well as help with website maintenance, graphic design, social media management, and technical support. We also have a wishlist of in-kind contributions for those who want to help non-financially. If you have a special skill, we’ll find a way to use it!
