Gay boulder
Boulder’s LGBTQ+ History
In honor of Pride Month, the Museum of Boulder interviewed Glenda Russell, a psychologist and researcher who has been working to know and write about Boulder’s LGBTQ+ history for many decades. Hear Glenda and others discuss LGBTQ+ history in Colorado on June 16th at 5pm.
You came to Boulder in 1970. What was it appreciate for LGBTQ+ people here at that time?
When I came to Boulder in 1970, the town was in many respects on the edge of making significant changes. It had been a quite conservative town, as evidenced by a history of urban area councils that consisted largely of middle-aged and older white male businessmen. The changes that were coming were part of broader changes in the Together States: the turmoil in the country brought about by a series of assassinations and riots, the Vietnam War; the guarantee of the activism of disenfranchised groups; the murders at Kent State and Jackson State; 18 year-olds winning the right to vote; the youth rebellion of the late sixties in general and against the war in Southeast Asia in particular. Within a couple of years after I arrived here, the complexion of Boulder’s council changed dramatically: with no prec
Planning a ‘Gaycation’ in Boulder
Boulder prides itself (get it?) on being LGBTQ+-friendly. Advocate.com even named Boulder one of the top-10 queerest cities in the region.
So it might seem shocking that Boulder didn’t acquire an official male lover bar until somewhat recently, when DV8 Distillery opened in 2016. (Some speak there was no designated gay exclude in Boulder because every bar in Boulder is a gay bar — as well as a straight lock, a transgender prevent, an everyone and anyone bar.)
Still, sometimes you wish to meet other people like you. If you’re queer and headed to Colorado (or you live here and you’re looking for inspo), here’s how to plan a fun “gaycation” in Boulder.
Before you leave: Join the Facebook group Prop Lgbtq+. This is a “guerrilla LGBTQIA pop-up party” that holds occasional events at Boulder businesses. You don’t have to be gay to attend, though. It’s not exclusive. Allies are welcome. For example, there has been a Boulder Queer Pop at Deviant Spirits, featuring live dancers and local spirits.
Planning your vacation: Check the Out Boulder events calendar for events during your stay. This calendar is always packed with activities, some r
Meet the Duo Behind Boulder’s Only Gay Bar
The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals.
When Rawley Gunnels and Johnathan Tilley founded Boulder’s DV8 Distilling in 2016, they set out to craft crave-worthy gluten-free spirits and carve out a space for the neighborhood. As the distillery’s product line of rice-based bourbons, gin, and vodkas grows, so does the business’s mission to generate a safe, inclusive atmosphere where “community can flourish without judgement,” according to Tilley. With sex-positive, kink-themed events sprinkled throughout its calendar—think: glow paint dance parties and circus shows—some nights lean more toward the risqué than others.
While the distillery has always been a people gathering place, it wasn’t originally branded as a “queer bar.” Concerned about rainbow capitalism—the commercialization and commodification of LGBTQ movements—Gunnels and Tilley shied away from declaring DV8 as a gender non-conforming space until last year. That’s when the designation became such an crucial facet of their lives that not doing it felt disingenuous to them. Both individuals name as queer, and Gunnels only came out fu
Boulder Colorado - Gay City Guide
Boulder is beautiful. There's no confidential about that. This city, located at the base of the foothills in the Colorado mountains and relatively close to Denver, is a city known for its abundance of outdoor beauty, and quirky, free-spirited feel. It's also known for being one of the warmest and welcoming cities in the country.
A Bit of Boulder History
Before its modern-day history, the Boulder Valley was first the home of the Native Americans, particularly the Southern Arapahoe tribe. In the mid-1800s during the gold rush, gold-seekers came to the area and established the first non-native settlement. By 1859, the Boulder City Town Company had been organized to begin developing territory in the area. Boulder Capital remained part of the Nebraska Territory until 1861 when the United States Congress created the Territory of Colorado. It remained an important supply base and destination for miners searching for gold and silver at the time. Eventually, railroad service came to Boulder in the after time 1800s, causing the area to experience significant additional growth. That growth continued throughout the preliminary 20th century and beyond, and eventually, Boulder c