Partridge: Why Pride matters

Every year, as rainbow flags unfurl and the LGBTQIA+ communities come together in joyful celebration, someone inevitably asks: “Why do you need a Pride? Why not just fit in?”

It’s a question rooted in misunderstanding. We understand why someone might ask. But they must first know that for LGBTQIA+ people, “fitting in” has often meant hiding, shrinking, and staying silent just to stay safe. Throughout history, being visibly queer or trans meant risking violence, arrest, job loss, or rejection from family and community. Pride isn’t about standing out — it’s about reclaiming our right to exist openly, safely, and without shame.

Pride isn’t about being special. It’s about being seen — and seeing others. It’s about belonging in a world that too often tells us we don’t fit in.

At Mountain Pride, we believe belonging is more than a concept — it’s a practice. Pride in the Park in Avon is a bold and beautiful declaration that LGBTQIA+ people deserve joy, safety, visibility, and celebration in the mountains we call home. Every June, families gather by Nottingham Lake, drag queens strut in the sun, and community partners offer life-saving resources. It’s colorful, powerful, and deeply needed.

But this year, sponsorships for Pride in the Park are down by over 30%. We’ve heard from partners who once stood beside us, telling us, “It’s too political right now.” In a climate where queer and trans rights are increasingly weaponized, some businesses are afraid of being visibly supportive. While that fear may be understandable, it sends a painful message — that when things get tough, we can be on our own.

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Others aren’t stepping back out of fear, but necessity. Some of our most valued partners are struggling financially and facing uncertainty. To those partners: we see you. We know your values haven’t changed. Still, we refuse to accept defeat.

Mountain Pride was founded on the belief that liberation is collective, and real allyship doesn’t disappear in hard times. In fact, it matters most now. We often say, “Everyone wants a village, but no one wants to be a villager.”

Pride in the Park is that village. It’s the teen who finds the courage to be themselves. The trans mom walking through the crowd who feels safe. The elder who never got to attend Pride, now dancing freely with their grandchild.

But this kind of village doesn’t build itself. It takes villagers — real people showing up, giving, serving, and standing tall. This year, we’re calling on you to be one of them.

Why now? Across the country, more than 500 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills have been introduced. Trans youth are being denied health care. Drag is being attacked. Book bans are on the rise. This isn’t just happening in “other places.” It’s happening here. It’s felt by the student hearing slurs at school. The queer adult afraid to access health care. The business owner who flies a Pride flag and receives anonymous threats.

Pride in the Park is joyful defiance of all of it. It’s resistance through celebration. It says: We’re still here. We’re still proud. And we’re not going anywhere. But we need your help to make it happen.

How can you be a villager? There are so many ways to help build the village. You can make a personal donation — every dollar, whether it’s $25 or $500, helps support security, support queer and BIPOC performers, translate materials, and provide access tools to ensure Pride is truly welcoming for all. You can volunteer your time — set up chairs, greet guests, help with youth crafts, or be a warm and welcoming presence. You can spread the word — share our posts, invite your friends, talk to your workplace about matching donations or giving time off to volunteer. Visibility builds momentum. Momentum builds movements.

And most of all, show up. Bring your joy, your family, your authentic self. Because showing up affirms that queer people belong, that rural Pride matters, and that love — loud, public, colorful love — always wins.

For many in our community, especially those who are BIPOC or trans, Pride in the Park is more than just a celebration. It may be the only day they feel truly seen, safe, and celebrated. It’s not just about rainbows or performances. It’s about radical love, survival, and community in action.

This is a call to everyone who believes in equity. A call to business leaders who list diversity, equity, and inclusion in their values. A call to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider — who remembers the first time someone opened the door and said, “Come in. You belong.”

We’re holding the door open. Help us keep it open.

Be a villager. Be loud. Be proud. Help build the future we all deserve.

Join us on June 14, 2025, for Pride in the Park in Avon — and help make it possible.

Visit Mountainpride.org to donate, volunteer, or support.

Mads Partridge is the executive director of Mountain Pride, an Eagle County-based nonprofit whose mission is to continuously improve the lived experience of our LGBTQIA+ community.