For the first time, all of Denver’s major professional sports teams will march during Denver PrideFest – News Block

DENVER – For the first time in its nearly 50-year history, all of Denver’s major professional sports teams will march for LGBTQ+ rights during Denver PrideFest this weekend.

The Colfax Center’s announcement, however, does not mean that any player from either team will be marching this Sunday.

Contingents from the NBA champions Denver Nuggets, Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids and Colorado Mammoth will join hundreds of thousands of people marching for equality during the Denver Pride parade on Sunday.

Contingents will include Supermascot Rocky, dancers from the Denver Nuggets, Skyline Drum Squad and the Mile High City Hype Squad; the cheerleaders for the Denver Broncos and Miles the Mascot; Colorado Rockies mascot Dinger; Colorado Avalanche Ice Patrol, Bernie the Mascot and The Celly Squad; Colorado Mammoth Wild Bunch and Wooly the Mascot, and RapidMan, the mascot of Colorado Rapids.

“Over the years, there has been a lot of debate about the presence of LGBT athletes in professional sports in general. And I think slowly, teams are starting to see the value of that segment of the community, as part of their fan base,” said Rex Fuller, executive director of the Center on Colfax, organizers of Denver PrideFest. “Certainly, I think there are a lot of LGBT sports fans in Denver, and I think the teams are responding to that and wanting to send a message of welcome and acceptance. I think it’s a big important step. Now more than ever, that show of solidarity is a very significant statement.”

For the first time in history, all of Denver’s major professional sports teams will march during Denver PrideFest

This year’s parade kicks off Sunday, June 25 at 9:30 am and will see hundreds of thousands of guests line up 14 blocks of Colfax Avenue, beginning at Cheesman Park and ending at the Denver Civic Center. There, guests can continue to enjoy the PrideFest festivities, including live music, food, games, community, and more.

Survivors of the Club Q shooting will serve as grand marshals for this year’s Denver Pride Parade.

Denver PrideFest, the largest Pride celebration in the Rocky Mountain region, will take place June 24-25.