SPECIAL EDITION: PRIDEFEST 2013

Today's Special Edition presents stories by two authors.

Pride 2013 
by Donny Kaye

As we drove south on University Boulevard we passed the church. A flood of memories overwhelmed me as I recalled the rehearsal the night before the wedding service and the actual wedding that followed the next morning, Flag Day 1969. The years that have passed have been filled with a lifetime of experiences, all of them memorable and significant to my life at this moment. There were times of closeness and the experience of love. There were children and the challenges as well as gifts that only parenting can bring. A career captivated my attention for 30+ years. Aside from the day-to-day challenges of being a father to three incredible individuals and a career there were vacations to remember, family outings to recall and the constant attention of a life complete with the demands of aging parents who required care themselves. And ever present in those days that flowed into years that quickly became decades, there was always a sense of aloneness and difference that I tried to understand and yet was fearful to confront. 

As the theater darkened I felt the presence of being surrounded by family. The one I sat closest to and I held hands as the performance of Elton John's music was performed by the Denver Gay Men's Chorale. The rhythm of my heart kept beat to the melodies and lyrics that are the songs of life that this masterful talent has created and was now being performed by the men of the chorale. The warmth of the hand of my companion allowed me to relax into knowing in my heart that this life journey is precisely on path. 

As I sat amidst family, holding the hand of the man who stirs my heart and soul in this moment, I couldn't help but recall all that has transpired across this lifetime I call mine. Stonewall, only a few weeks after that wedding day in June; the demands of my brothers and sisters across this nation and the world for equal rights; AIDS; the continuing invitation to step out of the closet, a closet filled with fear, judgment, shame, dread, isolation and separation. All are memories I have moved beyond and yet they remain as colorful and essential threads of the fabric of my life. 

As the concert ended I stood with a profound awareness of the PRIDE that I hold in being me, finally, me. The one who can once again can love himself; the one who can genuinely extend unconditional love to another. 

We stepped into the night air, and I danced to Rocket Man playing in my mind as we moved across the grass. I declared that this year’s PRIDE celebration had officially begun!

©  June 2013

About the Author

Donny Kaye-Is a native born Denverite. He has lived his life posing as a hetero-sexual male, while always knowing that his sexual orientation was that of a gay male. In recent years he has confronted the pressures of society that forced him into deep denial regarding his sexuality and an experience of living somewhat of a disintegrated life. “I never forgot for a minute that I was what my childhood friends mocked, what I thought my parents would reject and what my loving God supposedly condemned to limitless suffering.” StoryTime at The Center has been essential to assisting him with not only telling the stories of his childhood, adolescence and adulthood but also to merely recall the stories of his past that were covered with lies and repressed in to the deepest corners of his memory. Within the past two years he has “come out” not only to himself but to his wife of four decades, his three children, their partners and countless extended family and friends. Donny is divorced and yet remains closely connected with his family. He lives in the Capitol Hill Community of Denver, in integrity with himself and in a way that has resulted in an experience of more fully realizing integration within his life experiences. He participates in many functions of the GLBTQ community.

One Summer Afternoon 
by Michael King


After the walk down Colfax with the Color Guard and other veterans while wearing my red hat with all those polyester flowers attached, we watched the rest of the Pride Fest parade. It was over at 11:30 and we had an hour and a half before I was due to be at the Center for Spiritual Living’s booth. I had put the hat back into the bag and along with the other bag with the sandwiches we hadn’t eaten we dropped the two bags off at the booth and wandered around Civic Center Park. By noon we were sitting on a bench in the shade and observing the crowd.

Observing, watching, sometimes making comments about the more outrageous or unusual and occasionally speaking to someone occupied the afternoon. I arrived back at the booth about a quarter to one and Merlyn went to see if he could be of help to the Prime Timers.

I spent the next couple of hours passing out stickers that read “Shine your love. Love your shine.”

One observation that really stands out is how many people are obese. Of course with the costumes it was often emphasized in an especially unattractive way. Sadly there are so many children and young people that will soon be on disability as a result of the stress put on their bodies from all those extra pounds. Another awareness I had was how many men and women were so heavily tattooed and/or had multiple piercings. It’s not that I don’t see this every day; it’s just that the percentage of those attending Pride Fest was so high. I wonder what many of these people do to earn a living and how many are receiving SSI and Medicare.

There were a large number of beautiful bodies also with lots of scanty and sometimes stuffed underpants, naked boobs with hearts or tape on the nipples, a few bare asses, masses of bare bellies hanging out, many queens in drag, the leather crowd, lots of dogs suffering from the hot pavement, babies and young children being pushed or dragged along, some drunks, some stoned, lots of holding hands, some intimacy, way too much bad music and often too many people in one place.

The most unforgettable T-shirt was worn by a very petite and vivacious young lady; it read “Sorry fellows I only suck pussy”. There were many ways people expressed themselves and a few surprised even me.

I had spent Saturday at both the Prime Timer’s booth and at the GLBT Centers’ information center. So this was my second day this year to do the kind of people watching that can only be done at Pride Fest.

I really enjoyed putting stickers on the hairy chests. Of course the majority of people got them on their shirt, arm or bare skin. One cute guy took his off his chest and put it on his nipple and asked for another for the other side. I put it there and he gave me a big hug. I got and gave lots of hugs. I know a lot of huggers and a few I didn’t remember even though they seemed to know me. I was of course getting a lot of attention and having my picture taken because I was wearing the red hat and my Tibetan beads hanging off my ears.

Every year I get to have many special summer afternoons. In fact practically every afternoon, morning and evening is special all year long. And every year I get to spend two days enjoying the eye candy, the misshapen bodies, the costumes and the nice hairy chests.

After Pride Fest we went to my daughter’s for a Father’s Day dinner. My grandson MR B gave both his father and myself a card. Here is mine. I’m one hell of a lucky gay granddad.

© June 2013

About the Author

I go by the drag name, Queen Anne Tique. My real name is Michael King. I am a gay activist who finally came out of the closet at age 70. I live with my lover, Merlyn, in downtown Denver, Colorado. I was married twice, have 3 daughters, 5 grandchildren and a great grandson. Besides volunteering at the GLBT Center and doing the SAGE activities," Telling your Story"," Men's Coffee" and the "Open Art Studio". I am active in Prime Timers and Front Rangers. I now get to do many of the activities that I had hoped to do when I retired; traveling, writing, painting, doing sculpture, cooking and drag.