Denver, CO
Optimism abounds that Denver Pride will be joyful as ever despite diminished sponsorship funding
Denver hosts one of the largest Pride celebrations in the country. But this year sponsorships for Denver Pride are down significantly.
The Center on Colfax says the funding drop is due to rollbacks of diversity, equity and inclusion budgets caused by national legislation. The Center says these cuts are putting critical services for the LGBTQ+ community at risk.
Fran and Anna Simon were the first same-sex couple to be granted a civil union in Colorado in 2013 — and the first to legally marry in Denver in 2014. The Denver couple is spreading a message of hope as Coloradans mark Pride this month.
“To me, Pride is embracing who you are and accepting everyone and celebrating all the diversity that we have in our community, said Anna Simon, “Including sexual orientation, including gender identity, that all of that makes a richer place to live.”
Pride is one of the best times of the year, says Simon.
She and Fran Simon fought for years for legal recognition of their relationship, breathing a sigh of relief at the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage.
A dilemma now– and every June– is who to march alongside for the Pride parade given all their friends and interests.
“Maybe especially in difficult times like now, Pride is super important and yea, we need to celebrate and be as loud and joyful as we ever are,” Anna said.
Fran added, “Especially in this time with the corporate sponsors leaving, I think it’s more important that we be out there.”
One motivator, says the couple, is the young people for whom this will be the first time ever attending Pride.
“When I was first coming out, it was huge for me, I mean it’s life saving for people to be in an environment, even if just for part of one day where they feel like they can be completely who they are,” said Anna.
Fran Simon has lots of practice fighting misperceptions these days and trying to find connections to people with diverse views, saying, “I always try to find common ground, and that we have a lot more in common than we have differences. So and then we can talk about parenthood or whatever.”
Finding common ground, say the Simon’s, is especially important in 2025.
“I am optimistic that we’re going to have a huge turnout this year, people are needing community in a way that they may not always, and this is a great way to have community and be uplifted,” said Anna Simon.
CBS Colorado is excited to take part in Pride this year. The celebration takes place the weekend of June 28th and 29th. With a new parade step off this year at 17th and Franklin, due to the construction along Colfax of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Where: Fight Club – 1959 16th St Mall Denver
Cost: Price varies
The Lowdown:
Guests have the option of $39 bottomless flatbreads, which includes the price of their oche reservation for Social Darts®. The bottomless flatbread menu features Smoked Salmon Flatbread, Four Cheese Flatbread, Breakfast Flatbread, or Garden Vegetable Flatbread. Guests can also order off the á la carte menu, which includes a fresh-cut fruit plate, breakfast sliders,, avocado toast, and Flight Club’s famous churros.
DENVER (KKTV) – A man out of Louisiana suspected of child rape is now in custody in Colorado.
The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force said they arrested 43-year-old James Connolly Tuesday morning in Denver.
The U.S. Marshals Service said Connolly was wanted by West Baton Rouge Parish deputies for first-degree rape of a child under 13 years old.
According to the U.S. Marshals, a full-scale investigation into the allegation was launched, and probable cause was found to file charges.
After an arrest warrant was issued on August 12, they said Connolly was likely aware of the warrant and had fled the state.
On Monday, officials reportedly received information that he could be in Denver. The next day, the U.S. Marshals Service said the Colorado Violent Offender Task Force found Connolly working maintenance for a company near I-270 and York Street in Denver under the name “Alli” with a changed physical appearance.
Officials said Connolly was then positively identified and taken into custody.
“The success of this arrest represents a culmination of extensive cooperative investigative efforts between the U.S. Marshals in Baton Rouge, U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force – Denver, West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Englewood Police Department, and Colorado Department of Corrections,” the U.S. Marshals Service said in a release.
He’s currently in the Adams County Jail pending extradition back to Louisiana.
Copyright 2025 KKTV. All rights reserved.
If the 11-2 Denver Broncos are going to obtain Super Bowl glory, they can’t be satisfied with their 10-game winning streak. Next up, the 9-3 Green Bay Packers come to Denver for a fixture that will kick off a run of four tricky games to finish out a season that now promises so much more.
When it comes to the Broncos facing adversity, Patrick Surtain II believes the Broncos have their opponents set up right where they want them.
“That’s what the NFL is all about. Each and every week, a new opponent comes,” Surtain said via 9NEWS‘ Scotty Gange. “Obviously, we’ve got some great opponents coming up for the rest of the year. So if we want to be that team we talk about, these are the games that matter and count.”
Green Bay’s Micah Parsons and Jordan Love will present a much more pressing challenge than the hemorrhaging Las Vegas Raiders did this past Sunday. Regardless of the challenges ahead, within the Broncos’ competitive DNA lies a unique blend of wanting to prove even more while also enjoying the fruits of their labor along the way.
Locker room celebrations have centered around the feel-good vibes of the aptly named “Club Dub,” so keeping the ball rolling certainly has its fringe benefits. Ultimately, Surtain revels more in how this team has stuck together through all the challenges, which makes living in this particular moment a whole lot sweeter.
“Yeah, it feels good finally watching the tide change,” Surtain told Gange. “You know, we stuck with it. There’s a bunch of guys that stuck through the process for a couple of years now. And to finally fulfill this moment, this opportunity—11 wins on the season is not easy to do in this league. So, that was something to be very pleased and happy about.”
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Complementary Football
Double-digit winning streaks don’t happen by accident. The finer details matter, especially as the gruelling 17-game campaign rolls on.
The Broncos’ offense mounted its three longest drives of the season in Sin City, statement moves down the field that dramatically tipped the scales in terms of time of possession. Surtain appreciated the in-game breather it gave him and his unit.
“The offense did a heck of a job with their time of possession,” Surtain said via Gange. “Yes, it was saving our legs a little bit. I don’t even know how many plays we had—pretty sure it was pretty low. But shout out to the offense for that. And defensively, we picked it up.”
While the Kansas City Chiefs have been vanquished from the AFC West picture, the Los Angeles Chargers caught a major break on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, keeping them still in the divisional hunt.
Moving forward, the smaller issues and stumbles on the defensive side might require Bo Nix and the offense to continue playing the kind of ball that keeps the lights on in the Broncos’ pop-up Club Dub.
Even so, Surtain and his teammates still have everything laid out in front of them
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