(MUSIC PLAYING) >> I THINK THE VOICES THAT THESE PICTURES GIVE THEM IS THAT WE HAVE A LIFE WORTH LIVING.

>>THEY ENCOURAGED ME TO JUST BE ME AND DO ME.

>>BEING HONEST AND OPEN AND ACCEPTING OF OTHER PEOPLE IS TO SORT OF PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE, AS WELL.

>>THIS IS SHIRLEY.

SHE ACTUALLY JUST TURNED 90 A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

AND SHE LIVES IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN DENVER.

AND HER QUOTE SAYS, "I CAME OUT AT 81, MEANING I STARTED OPENLY TALKING ABOUT MY RELATIONSHIP OF 38 YEARS, BUT TO REALLY BEGIN TO REALIZE WHAT THAT WOULD FEEL LIKE."

I THINK THE VOICES THAT THESE PICTURES GIVE THEM IS THAT WE HAVE A LIFE WORTH LIVING.

LOSING A PERSON BEHIND THE DATA AND BEHIND THE RESEARCH, AND I REALLY WANTED TO BRING THE PERSON BACK IN SO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY COULD SEE HOW RESEARCH AND STATISTICS AFFECT PEOPLE AND AFFECT THEIR LIVES.

AND SO, THAT WAS REALLY WHAT EYE TO EYE GREW OUT OF.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES THAT THE OLDER LGBT COMMUNITY FACE, LIKE 56% REPORT EXPERIENCING SOME FORM OF DISCRIMINATION FROM A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRANS OR GENDER-NONCONFORMING, IT GOES UP TO 70%.

TRYING TO HIDE IS A DETRIMENT.

IT DULLS EVERY MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL TOOL NEEDED TO NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL OTHER DIFFICULTIES IN LIFE.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT 75% OF OLDER LGBT PEOPLE GO BACK INTO THE CLOSET WHEN THEY ENTER ASSISTED LIVING OR SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES.

THIS SENSE OF HAVING TO COME OUT OVER AND OVER TO EVERYONE, AND HOW MUCH THIS MATTERS IN HEALTHCARE WHEN YOU ARE SICK, SCARED, AND TIRED, AND THE BURDEN IS ON THEM TO HAVE TO BE THE ONES TO COME OUT AND BE ABLE TO BE WHO THEY ARE AND TALK ABOUT WHO MATTERS MOST TO THEM.

THEY HAVEN'T WANTED TO REMAIN SILENT.

BUT THESE PHOTOS, I THINK, ARE A WAY OF GIVING THEM AN EVEN LOUDER VOICE.

AND I THINK HAVING THEM TOGETHER IS SORT OF BRINGING THEM IN TO A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, IS ALSO A VOICE OF STRENGTH.

I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOSPICE.

I'M WORRIED THINGS WILL BE OUTSIDE MY CONTROL.

I STILL HAVE TO SHAVE.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE HAIR ON MY FACE WHEN I DIE.

AND THAT WAS HER BIGGEST FEAR, IS THAT IF SHE WERE TO ENROLL IN HOSPICE, AND A NURSE DIDN'T ASK WHAT WERE HER BIGGEST FEARS, OR GAVE HER SPACE FOR HER TO ACTUALLY EXPRESS THAT SHE DOES STILL NEED TO SHAVE, AND HER BIGGEST FEAR WAS THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DIE AS A MAN, WITH A MAN'S NAME, AND WITH HAIR ON HER FACE.

THE EXHIBIT IS CALLED EYE TO EYE: PORTRAITS OF PRIDE, STRENGTH, AND BRAVERY.

AND IT CONSISTS OF OLDER LGBTQ WOMEN WHO LIVE IN COLORADO.

"I NEVER FELT I HAD TO EXPLAIN MYSELF OR MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT BEING QUEER.

WE ARE ALL JUST PEOPLE.

WE ARE ALL HUMANS."

THE PHOTOS ARE NEEDED BECAUSE I THINK IT HELPS PEOPLE SEE THAT THESE ARE JUST PEOPLE LIKE THEM.

AND JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE LOVES SOMEONE DIFFERENT THAN YOU ARE, THESE ARE PEOPLE.

THESE ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE WHO WANT THE SAME THINGS AS YOU WANT, AS OTHER PEOPLE WANT.

THEY WANT TO LOVE.

THEY WANT TO BE LOVED.

THEY WANT TO HAVE CAREERS.

THEY WANT TO HAVE FAMILIES.

THEY WANT TO HAVE FAITH.

THEY WANT TO TRAVEL.

THEY WANT TO DO ALL THESE THINGS.

AND WHY, I THINK, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE IT SO DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO BE WHO THEY ARE, IS NOT RIGHT.

AND MY HOPE IS THAT WHEN THEY SEE THESE PICTURES, THEY REALIZE IT'S JUST...

IT'S THEIR FRIENDS, IT'S THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, IT'S THEIR COLLEAGUES, IT'S THEIR NEIGHBORS.

AND IT SHOULDN'T CONTINUE TO BE SO DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO BE WHO YOU ARE.

THERE ARE TWO MAIN REASONS.

ONE IS TO REALLY HUMANIZE THE DATA, TO BE ABLE TO REALLY SEE THE INDIVIDUAL BEHIND THESE STATISTICS.

AND A SECOND PIECE OF IT IS REALLY TO HELP DESTIGMATIZE THE LGBT COMMUNITY.

IN GENERAL, I THINK IT IS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS A BUNCH OF STIGMA, A BUNCH OF FEAR AROUND IT.

AND THAT WAS A HUGE, I THINK, GOAL OF THIS PROJECT, IS TO ACTUALLY SEE THESE WOMEN, SEE THEIR FACES, AND REALIZE THEY'RE NOT THAT SCARY, AND IN HOPES OF REALLY HELPING PEOPLE JUST CONNECT, HUMAN TO HUMAN, PERSON TO PERSON.

MY GOAL, REALLY, WITH THIS EXHIBIT IS TO CHANGE A FEW PEOPLE , WHO THEN CHANGE A FEW MORE, WHO THEN CHANGE A FEW MORE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, IN GENERAL, DON'T HAVE A VERY GOOD IDEA OF JUST WHAT THESE FOLKS WENT THROUGH , JUST HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO BE ABLE TO BE WHO THEY WERE, HOW SO MANY OF THEM DID LOSE JOBS.

THEY DID LOSE CAREERS.

THEY DID LOSE FAMILY.

THEY DID LOSE HOUSING.

THEY DID LOSE FRIENDS JUST BECAUSE OF WHO THEY WERE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) >> LIFE AS A FOSTER PARENT OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS HAS BEEN KIND OF CRAZY.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS, REALLY GOODS AND KIND OF SOME REALLY ROUGH TIMES.

BUT OVERALL, IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY DO AGAIN.

MY NAME IS JARED PROCHNOW.

AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND, MATTHEW FOSTER.

WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 5 YEARS, TOGETHER FOR 15 YEARS.

OVER THE COURSE OF OUR 8-YEAR JOURNEY, WE HAVE FOSTERED OVER 60 KIDS.

AND WE'VE ADOPTED SIX.

>> JULIE GOT A PANDA!

>>WE HAVE TY AND ETHAN, AND THEY'RE A SIBLING GROUP.

THEY WERE OUR FIRST ADOPTIONS, ACTUALLY.

ETHAN WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT WE ADOPTED, FOLLOWED BY HIS SISTER.

AND THEN, ISAIAH AND JOSIAH WERE OUR SECOND ADOPTIONS.

AND THEN, OUR FINAL TWO ARE ALEXANDER AND JACKSON.

MOST OF OUR KIDS, WHEN THEY ADOPTED THEM, WERE TEENAGERS, AND SO WE KNEW OUR TIME WITH THEM WOULD BE SHORT.

BUT WE STILL WANTED YOUNGER KIDS, AND WE WANTED THE EXPERIENCES OF PARENTING.

SO THEN, WHEN WE FOUND THE YOUNGEST TWO, THEY WERE THREE AND SIX AT THE TIME, AND WE'VE REALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RAISE THEM AND HAVE THOSE FUN MOMENTS.

WE DECIDED TO KIND OF QUIT WHILE WE WERE AHEAD.

AND SIX KIDS IS A LOT.

>> WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE.

AT LEAST, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE.

HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES--I REMEMBER ONE, SPECIFICALLY, THAT THERE WAS A SIBLING GROUP, I THINK, OF THREE BOYS THAT WERE POTENTIALLY ADOPTIVE, AND THEY WANTED TO POTENTIALLY PLACE THEM IN OUR HOME.

AND THE CASE MANAGER FROM DHS TALKED TO THE KIDS AND SAID THAT THERE'S A GAY COUPLE THAT IS POTENTIALLY INTERESTED IN HAVING YOU IN THEIR HOME.

ARE YOU GUYS OK WITH THAT?

AND ALL OF THE BOYS SAID NO.

AND SO, THERE WASN'T EVEN A POSSIBILITY OF MEETING THESE KIDS OR GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WHICH IS FRUSTRATING JUST BECAUSE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO A STRAIGHT COUPLE.

A CASE MANAGER IS NOT GOING TO INTRODUCE A STRAIGHT COUPLE AND SAY, "THERE'S A STRAIGHT COUPLE THAT WANTS TO ADOPT YOU.

IS THAT OK?"

SO, THERE'S NO REASON THAT IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO US.

AND THAT IS REALLY KIND OF THE BIG ONE THAT HAS STOOD OUT TO ME.

BEING A GAY COUPLE IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, IT'S FRUSTRATING AT TIMES.

>>THAT'S GOOD!

>>I TOLD YOU.

>>WHEN WE GOT OUT HERE, THE FIRST THING THAT I TOLD HIM WAS, "THIS PROBABLY WON'T GO SO WELL BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO FRUITA, AND IT'S VERY RURAL.

BUT FRUITA HAS REALLY EMBRACED US, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF BACKING.

AND SO, EVEN IN THOSE MOMENTS OF CHAOS AND UNCERTAINTY, EVERYBODY WAS STILL HERE.

COMING TO FRUITA HAS REALLY MADE US BLOSSOM AS A COUPLE AND AS A FAMILY, BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN OUR MAIN SUPPORT.

IT PUSHED US THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS IN THE END.

>>IT'S EXCITING TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT WITH A LOT OF THE KIDS.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, LIKE HE MENTIONED, TO RAISE THE YOUNGER TWO ALMOST FROM THE TIME THAT THEY WERE YOUNG ENOUGH TO REALLY BE ABLE TO REMEMBER.

BUT THEN, AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE HAD A HUGE IMPACT WITH THE TEENAGERS.

AND IT'S A LITTLE SCARY TO KIND OF PUSH THEM OUT OF THE NEST.

AND WE REALLY ONLY HAD A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WITH THEM.

BUT THE YOUNG MEN THAT THEY'VE BECOME ARE INCREDIBLE.

OUR DAUGHTER, WHO'S 22, IS AN AMAZING PERSON.

SHE MADE US GRANDPAS TWO YEARS AGO.

WE GET TO PLAY AROUND WITH OUR GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO IS ANOTHER INCREDIBLE KID THAT WE GET TO SPEND TIME WITH.

AND IT'S REALLY BEEN A FANTASTIC JOURNEY.

(MUSIC PLAYING) >> THIS IS A SONG I WROTE CALLED "SPELL."

AND IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU MEET THAT CERTAIN SOMEONE, THEY PUT YOU UNDER A SPELL.

♪ I THINK I'M SLIPPING.

I THINK I MIGHT BE FALLING IN LOVE.

YOU GOT ME TRIPPING.

MUSIC IS LIKE MY THERAPY.

IT'S LIKE MY LOVER.

IT'S LIKE MY ENEMY SOMETIMES.

IT'S LIKE ALL THE THINGS.

MUSIC IS A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE.

♪ SO HOT, I'M A BELIEVER.

I CAME OUT IN THE MID-90S.

AND IT WAS NOT MET WITH JOY.

I HAD MANAGERS AND PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY TELL ME, "IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT EASIER FOR YOU IF YOU PRESENT AS A STRAIGHT WOMAN.

FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I WAS SURROUNDED BY A REALLY GREAT GROUP OF FRIENDS, AND THEY ENCOURAGED ME TO JUST BE ME AND DO ME.

AND WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE MY OWN ALBUM, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY SONGS WAS ABOUT WOMEN, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY SONGS WAS MY EXPERIENCE AS A LESBIAN IN AMERICA.

I GOT TO SAY MY TRUE EXPERIENCE.

♪ YOU PUT A SPELL ON ME.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO?

THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN WRITING ABOUT LATELY HAVE BEEN KIND OF AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

I AM A BIG PROPONENT OF PUTTING TOOLS IN YOUR TOOLBOX TO KEEP YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WELL.

MINDFULNESS IS REALLY A COLLECTION OF PRACTICES THAT HELP YOU REMAIN IN THE PRESENT MOMENT.

THE REASON I GOT INTO MINDFULNESS IS, I WAS KIND OF STRUGGLING WITH MY OWN FOCUS AND PURPOSE AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE, AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.

THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I TEACH.

I TEACH THESE REALLY CONCRETE SKILLS THAT HELP PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIVES IN A MORE MINDFUL WAY.

WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?

WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS IS TO BE PRESENT IN THIS MOMENT.

I DO WORK WITH KIDS A LOT.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT KIDS GET TAUGHT MINDFULNESS EARLY BECAUSE IT'S A LIFETIME SKILL.

AND SAY, "I AM KIND."

SAY IT LOUD.

>>[ALL] : I AM KIND .

>>I AM SMART.

SAY IT LOUD.

>>[ALL] : I AM SMART .

>>AND I AM IMPORTANT.

>>[ALL] : I AM IMPORTANT .

>>VERY GOOD.

I'M SO GRATEFUL I GET TO WORK WITH KIDS BECAUSE I GET TO BE THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT NOW.

I GET TO TELL THEM THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THESE PEOPLE OVER HERE ARE SAYING, YOU ARE IMPORTANT, AND YOU GET TO SHOW UP HOWEVER YOU WANT TO.

DEEP, DEEP BREATH.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A PART OF PRIDE PERFORMANCES EVER SINCE I REALIZED THAT I WAS GAY.

COMING OUT IN MUSIC WAS NOT EASY FOR ME AT ALL.

I GOT INTO A GIRL GROUP, AND THE MANAGER FOUND OUT THAT I WAS GAY BECAUSE MY GIRLFRIEND CAME TO A SHOW, AND HE WAS LIKE, " WE NEED EVERYBODY TO THINK YOU'RE STRAIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE A STRAIGHT GIRL GROUP."

AND I WAS LIKE, "ARE WE, THOUGH?

I MEAN WHO SAID WE WERE A STRAIGHT GIRL GROUP?"

SO, WHEN I STARTED PERFORMING, I DEFINITELY DIDN'T START PERFORMING IN THE GAY COMMUNITY.

I REMEMBER THAT FIRST TIME THAT I PERFORMED AT PRIDE IN THE CIVIC CENTER PARK ON THAT HUGE STAGE, IN FRONT OF I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE, IT WAS SO AWESOME TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH THOSE PEOPLE THAT I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED.

[SINGING WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION] YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.

WHAT GOES ON IN MY HEAD BEFORE I HIT THE STAGE, I THINK BEING A MINDFULNESS INSTRUCTOR, I'M VERY MUCH SO PRESENT AND IN MY BODY.

I FEEL MY HEART RACING.

I CAN FEEL MYSELF START TO SWEAT.

SOMETIMES MY HANDS START TO SHAKE, AND I'M LIKE, "OH, MY GOD, IS MY VOICE GOING TO SHAKE?"

BECAUSE I'M SO NERVOUS.

THE THING THAT MAKES ME PUSH MYSELF PAST THE ANXIETY AND THE STAGE FRIGHT IS KNOWING WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE.

THERE'S SO MUCH EXCITEMENT, AND YOU GET ON THE STAGE, YOU DO YOUR THING, YOU GET OFF, AND EVERYONE'S LIKE, "OH, MY GOD, WERE YOU JUST ON STAGE?"

IT'S JUST SO AWESOME.

I DON'T KNOW, YOU JUST GET TO TOUCH PEOPLE ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

IT'S JUST PURE JOY.

♪ THERE IS NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE THAN IN YOUR HEART.

(MUSIC PLAYING) [DRILL WHIRRING] >> GOOD JUDY GARAGE IS A GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND AUTOMATIVE REPAIR FACILITY.

I GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF MECHANICS.

JUST GREW UP WITH IT MY ENTIRE LIFE.

IT'S ONE OF MY LOVES.

I ENJOY IT.

I HAD STARTED WORKING IN SHOPS WHILE I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.

REACHED THE POINT IN LIFE WHERE WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO START OUR OWN BUSINESS, AND GOOD JUDY IS KIND OF WHAT WE CAME UP WITH.

WHAT SETS US APART IS WE OPENLY ADVERTISE AS BEING LGBTQ-FRIENDLY.

TO ME, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO OPEN A SHOP LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT'S SORT OF TWO SIDES OF WHO I AM.

I IDENTIFY AS TRANS, THEY/THEM, ALSO SHE .

FOUR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS, TWO ROOKIE OF THE YEARS, A BUNCH OF MAIN EVENT WINS.

WE DID A LOT OF RACING JUST NORTH OF ALAMOSA.

THERE'S A LITTLE TOWN THERE CALLED MOSCA THAT HAD A THREE-EIGHTS MILE DIRT OVAL.

BEING HONEST AND OPEN AND ACCEPTING OF OTHER PEOPLE IS TO SORT OF PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE, AS WELL, BECAUSE I ALWAYS FELT LIKE IF I EXPRESSED MYSELF IN TERMS OF MY GENDER IDENTITY, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT I WOULDN'T BE WELCOME IN THE AUTOMOTIVE COMMUNITY.

FEELING LIKE I COULDN'T EXPRESS MYSELF AND MY GENDER IDENTITY IN THOSE KIND OF TRADITIONAL OPERATIONS AND PLACES WITHOUT BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OR JUDGED OR HARASSED OR BELITTLED.

THE NAME GOOD JUDY GARAGE COMES FROM THE PHRASE "GOOD JUDY."

AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, IN A TIME WHEN IT WASN'T OK TO BE OPENLY GAY OR TRANS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT WAS SORT OF CODE SPEAK TO REFER TO SOMEBODY THAT WAS PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS A FRIEND OF DOROTHY.

THE REFERENCE COMES FROM JUDY GARLAND , WHO WAS A SUPPORTER OF LGBTQ RIGHTS.

SOMEBODY THAT WAS A SUPPORTER OF THE COMMUNITY, A FRIEND OF THE COMMUNITY, WAS REFERRED TO AS A GOOD JUDY.

THE IDEA WAS TO CREATE A SHOP THAT'S A SAFE, COMFORTABLE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T WORRY ABOUT GETTING HARASSED OR BELITTLED, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR ORIENTATION IS, WHAT THEIR GENDER IS, TO JUST MAKE IT A REALLY NICE, COMFORTABLE, ENJOYABLE PLACE FOR OUR PATRONS.

ONE OF OUR PRIMARY GOALS HAS REALLY BEEN TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING HONEST WITH PEOPLE, WE'RE BEING STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH PEOPLE.

THE REACTION HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.

I'VE HAD PEOPLE START CRYING WHEN THEY TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.

[DRILL WHIRRING] AND SO, TO BE ABLE TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT MEANS THAT TO PEOPLE HAS REALLY, REALLY BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR US.

WE MIGHT NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE EXACT ANSWER, BUT WE'LL DO OUR BEST.

(MUSIC PLAYING) >>MARSHA'S CLOSET IS NAMED AFTER MARSHA P. JOHNSON, WHO WAS A BLACK, TRANSGENDER WOMAN WHO IS MOST KNOWN FOR HER INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE STONEWALL UPRISING IN 1969.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STONEWALL UPRISING WAS, THAT IS--IT WASN'T THE START OF THE GAY LIBERATION MOVEMENT, BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY A TURNING POINT IN THE GAY LIBERATION MOVEMENT.

MY NAME IS ARI ROSENBLUM.

I USE THEY/THEM PRONOUNS.

WE ARE AT THE TRANSGENDER CENTER OF THE ROCKIES.

AND I AM OUR NEXT QUEER YOUTH PROGRAM TEAM LEADER.

I WORK WITH OUR YOUTH POPULATION, STARTING AT AGE 12.

MARSHA'S CLOSET IS A RELATIVELY NEW RESOURCE THAT PROVIDES GENDER-AFFIRMING CLOTHING AND PRODUCTS TO MEMBERS OF THE TRANS AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE COMMUNITY IN COLORADO.

WE TAKE COMMUNITY DONATIONS OF CLOTHING, SHOES, MAKEUP, JEWELRY, ETC, AND WE PUT IT TOGETHER IN A CLOSET AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR FREE.

IT BASICALLY REMOVES THE FINANCIAL BURDEN AND ALSO SEVERAL OTHER BARRIERS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF BARRIERS FOR TRANS PEOPLE GETTING GENDER-AFFIRMING CLOTHING, BOTH FINANCIAL AND JUST SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS.

ONE OF THOSE IS THAT SHOPPING IN A WOMEN'S CLOTHING DEPARTMENT, AS SOMEBODY WHO READS AS BEING ASSIGNED MALE AT BIRTH, CAN CAUSE A LOT OF JUDGMENT BOTH FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS AND FROM STORE EMPLOYEES.

SO, HAVING A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE COME IN AND WE ASK, "WHAT ARE YOUR PRONOUNS?

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?"

AND WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY HELP THEM FIND THINGS THAT MAKE THEM FEEL VERY GOOD AND AFFIRMED.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE TO COME GET CLOTHES.

SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE "IN NEED, " WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT FINANCIAL NEED.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANYBODY WHO'S TRANS OR GENDER-EXPANSIVE WHO IS EXPERIENCING BARRIERS TO GETTING CLOTHES AT TRADITIONAL CLOTHING STORES.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE GOT A CALL THE OTHER DAY, AND THE PERSON WAS LIKE, "JUST TELL ME, IS THIS A PHASE?"

AND MY RESPONSE WAS, IS THAT GENDER IS FLUID, SO WHATEVER YOUR IDENTITY RIGHT NOW IS MIGHT NOT BE WHAT IT IS IN FIVE YEARS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A PHASE, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S NOT WORTH EXPLORING.

AND IT'S VERY FUNNY BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE HAVE ANY YOUTH EVENTS AT THIS SPACE, THERE ARE ALWAYS ONE OR TWO YOUNG PEOPLE, WE HAVE THESE TOTE BAGS THAT ARE PART OF A GRANT THAT FUNDS US, AND THEY WILL SERIOUSLY FILL UP SEVEN OF THE BAGS, LIKE FULL SEVEN BAGS, AND THEY'LL WALK OUT, CARRYING ALL THESE BAGS ON THEIR SHOULDERS.

AND THEY HAVE SO MUCH FUN.

AND ONE OF THEM ACTUALLY GOT THIS REALLY FUN 80'S PROM DRESS HERE, AND THEY ACTUALLY WORE THAT DRESS TO A HALLOWEEN EVENT THAT WE HAD A COUPLE WEEKS LATER.

THAT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE, THAT THEY HAD FOUND SOMETHING AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY WEARING THE CLOTHES THAT THEY WERE GETTING.

AND ONE THING THAT REALLY JUST ALWAYS STICKS WITH ME IS THAT WE HAVE THE BINDERS, WHICH I HAD MENTIONED.

WHEN PEOPLE COME IN EITHER AFTER HAVING ILL-FITTING CHEST BINDERS, OR HAVING NEVER WORN A CHEST BINDER BEFORE, BEING ABLE TO HELP THEM GET A CHEST BINDER THAT FITS THEM AND FLATTENS THEIR CHEST, AND JUST THE JOY AND THE EUPHORIA THAT CAN BE ON SOME OF THESE PEOPLE'S FACES, AND THE AMOUNT OF APPRECIATION THAT THEY HAVE FOR BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THESE RESOURCES, IS JUST UNMATCHED.

PART OF WHAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT LIVING AS A TRANS PERSON IS NOT BEING PERCEIVED HOW YOU WANT TO BE PERCEIVED.

AND SO, GOING INTO A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE SEE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE, INSTEAD OF FOR WHATEVER JUDGMENTS THEY'RE MAKING BASED OFF OF WHAT THEY'RE JUST LOOKING AT, IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS, AND HONESTLY WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR TRANS PEOPLE TO HAVE OTHER TRANS PEOPLE TO INTERACT WITH.

BECAUSE OFTENTIMES, IN CLOTHING STORES, YOU'LL HEAR A LOT OF MICROAGGRESSIONS, YOU'LL GET A LOT OF LOOKS, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

AND BEING ABLE--JUST BEING SEEN IS SO IMPORTANT.

ONE OF THE REALLY BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF THE TRANS COMMUNITY IS THAT WE'VE ALL HAD TO FIGHT TO BE WHO WE ARE, AND SO OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING OURSELVES IS SO UNWAVERING.

AND IT'S JUST TRULY SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T EXIST IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

BUT IT'S TRULY SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS UNIQUE TO TRANS PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND.

AND HAVING A COMMUNITY AND HAVING A FAMILY OF TRANS PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT JUST TO KNOW YOU'RE NOT ALONE EVEN IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) >> IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME.

>>IT'S AN OVERALL CELEBRATION OF JUST BLACK CULTURE AND LOVING BLACKNESS.

>>PRIDE IS ABOUT COMMUNITY.

IT'S ABOUT REPRESENTATION.

IT'S ABOUT FINDING YOUR PEOPLE.

>>BLACK PRIDE PROVIDES THIS POWER, THIS POWER AND THIS SENSUALITY THAT NECESSARILY HASN'T BEEN GRASPED BEFORE.

>>IT'S REALLY HARD TO BE CONSIDERED EQUAL WHEN YOU ARE OF COLOR AND ON THE LGBT SPECTRUM.

I JUST THINK THAT PEOPLE JUST THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WEIRD OR IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD.

WE'RE THE SAME.

WE'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT WE'RE ALL CAPABLE OF THE SAME THINGS.

>>OUR FIRST PRIDE WAS ABOUT RESISTANCE.

STONEWALL, IN 1969, IT WAS ONE OF MANY RAIDS ON A BAR.

AND IT WAS BLACK AND BROWN TRANS WOMEN THAT FINALLY SAID, "UH-UH, WE'RE NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE ," AND THAT WE ARE NO LONGER TAKING CRAP FROM THE POLICE.

IT WAS VERY MUCH ABOUT RESISTANCE.

BEING A BLACK, QUEER, NON-BINARY PERSON, THERE'S EVERYDAY MICROAGGRESSIONS, MACROAGGRESSIONS, NOT ONLY WITH MY BLACKNESS AND WITH MY QUEERNESS, AND THEN ALSO BEING NON-BINARY.

SO, HAVING ALL OF THOSE IDENTITIES COME TOGETHER, THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE'RE JUST--WE'RE PEOPLE, RIGHT?

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO LIVE OUR BEST LIVES, AND IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHO WE LOVE, WHO WE GO HOME TO, WHO WE ARE TAKING CARE OF.

NONE OF THAT SHOULD MATTER BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ABOUT US BEING WHO WE ARE.

>>I PERSONALLY IDENTIFY AS PANSEXUAL.

I GUESS, IN A BETTER SENSE, IT'S MORE BEING ATTRACTED TO THE SOUL AND THE SPIRIT THAN ATTRACTED TO THE PHYSICAL PERSON THEMSELVES.

PEOPLE ARE FEARFUL, FEARFUL OF THE UNKNOWN, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT, WANTING TO GET A MESSAGE ACROSS, BUT ALSO WANTING IT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, WANTING IT TO BE PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT REPRESENTS PRESTIGE.

>>I GREW UP IN A BLACK CHURCH, PARTICULARLY THE BLACK PENTECOSTAL CONTEXT.

RIGHT.

AND SO, BEING BLACK AND QUEER FOR ME WASN'T AN OPTION.

BEING BLACK AND BISEXUAL WASN'T AN OPTION.

AND SO, THE STORY THAT I TELL MY FAMILY IS, YOU STILL HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH ME BECAUSE I ACCEPTED MY QUEERNESS.

YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE ME BECAUSE I SAID YES TO THE FACT THAT I'M A QUEER, BLACK PERSON, RIGHT?

HAD I CONTINUED TO DENY THAT, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE RIGHT NOW.

>>YOU NEVER KNOW EVERYONE'S STORY, BUT I KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE NERVE OR THE ABILITY TO TAKE OUT FROM YOUR MOUTH OR YOUR ACTIONS TO HARM AND BE HURTFUL OR JUDGE SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND OR DON'T KNOW OR CHOOSE NOT TO KNOW, THAT'S YOUR OWN ISSUE.

YOU NEED TO WORK IT OUT WITH YOURSELF.

>>ONE OF OUR EVENTS IS STRANGE FRUIT OF BLACK EXCELLENCE.

AND THAT IS OUR GALA.

WE'RE HAVING IT AT THE BOTANIC GARDENS.

WE WERE VERY SPECIFIC ON WHERE THE LOCATION WAS BECAUSE ACCESS TO OUTDOORS IS NOT OFTEN AFFORDED TO US.

SO, IN ORDER FOR US TO REALLY CELEBRATE OURSELVES AND TAKING UP SPACE, IT'S TAKING UP SPACE IN PLACES THAT WE NORMALLY DON'T FREQUENT BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET IN TO THEM.

STRANGE FRUIT WAS A POEM THAT BILLIE HOLIDAY ENDED UP SINGING.

IT'S A SONG THAT POINTS TO THE LYNCHINGS, HANGINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING, THAT STILL HAPPEN.

AND EVERY TIME SHE SANG IT, SHE WOULD BE ARRESTED.

AND SHE WAS TOLD NOT TO SING IT FOR YEARS.

AND EVERY TIME SHE HAD A CHANCE, SHE WOULD SING IT.

WE WERE VERY SPECIFIC AROUND IT BECAUSE SHE DESCRIBES THE SMELL OF ROTTING FLESH, AND ASSOCIATES IT WITH FLOWERS AND WHAT THAT COMES UP AS, WHICH IS WHY WE WERE LOOKING AT THE BOTANIC GARDENS, FOR ALL OF THE SMELLS AND ALL OF THE FLOWERS THAT ARE THERE, BUT ALSO AS A WAY TO HONOR OUR ANCESTORS, BECAUSE IT WAS THEM THAT PUSHED THROUGH, THAT DIED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE AND TO BE OUR EXCELLENT SELVES.

>>THERE'S A HOME FOR YOU HERE IN COLORADO.

DESPITE THE AMOUNT OF BLACK FACES THAT WE RARELY SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS, THERE'S A HOME FOR YOU HERE.

(MUSIC PLAYING)