06/22/2026
Over the past few years, many members of our community have expressed concerns about communication, transparency, and the visibility of Colorado West Pride’s Board of Directors. Those concerns were reflected in a community statement signed by numerous community members, and we want to address them directly.
First and foremost, we hear you.
The feedback we received has played a significant role in shaping the work we have been doing behind the scenes. We recognize that when communication is limited, it can create uncertainty, frustration, and a sense of disconnect from the organization.
Since March of this year, Colorado West Pride has been undergoing a significant organizational restructuring. Today, the Board consists almost entirely of new members. As a new leadership team, we have spent considerable time learning organizational history, reviewing existing processes, and trying to rebuild the infrastructure necessary to support the organization’s future.
As a volunteer-led nonprofit, we reached a point where we needed to focus on strengthening our foundation to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the organization. This work has included clarifying board roles and responsibilities, updating policies and procedures, improving administrative and financial systems, strengthening governance practices, and building tools and resources that will support future board members and organizational leaders.
This work needed and still needs to be done before we were able to fully engage with the public in a meaningful way. In reality, much of our time and energy has been dedicated to creating a stronger, more sustainable organization that can continue serving our community for years to come, not just one event at a time.
At the same time, we recognize that we have missed opportunities to improve how we communicate about that work and show up in community. While rebuilding our internal systems has been a priority, we understand the importance of keeping our community informed and engaged throughout the process.
As part of this next chapter, we are actively increasing transparency and communication. We are committed to providing more regular updates, sharing information about organizational initiatives and decisions, creating additional opportunities for community feedback and support, and ensuring that community members have a clearer understanding of the work happening behind the scenes.
Part of that next chapter and something we would like to address publicly is “Why September?”
Over the years, Pride has been held in several different months. At the start of CWP, it took place in May, and CMU’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) played a significant role in the event. As the festival grew, it moved later into May due to venue demands which unfortunately made it more difficult for CMU students to participate. Eventually, Pride was moved to June to align with National Pride Month.
While celebrating in June had its benefits, it also came with obstacles. We had to work around major events like Denver Pride, Salt Lake Pride, Juneteenth, Father’s Day, and Country Jam. Scheduling became increasingly difficult, and many community members expressed concerns about the heat and overall safety of hosting an outdoor event during the hottest part of the year. It was also harder to attract performers and vendors, as many were already committed to larger Pride events elsewhere throughout June.
When Pride was moved to September during the COVID pandemic in 2021, CWP received a lot of positive feedback. The cooler weather made the event more comfortable and accessible for attendees, volunteers, performers, and vendors alike. We also saw CMU’s GSA become involved again, and we were better able to bring in public, talent, and community partners from around the state.
One of our top priorities is the health, safety, and overall experience of our community. What was observed in September was that people stayed longer, engaged more, and seemed to enjoy the event without having to worry as much about the heat.
That doesn’t mean the conversation is closed. Our community’s needs continue to evolve, and we believe it’s important to regularly evaluate what serves our community best. Rebuilding and maintaining trust is an ongoing process. We know it is built through consistent action, open communication, and accountability. We are committed to doing that work and to strengthening our relationship with the community we serve.
Colorado West Pride exists because of this community. We are grateful to everyone who has shared feedback, asked questions, raised concerns, and remained invested in the future of this organization. Your voices continue to help shape our work, and we look forward to moving forward together.
The 2026 Colorado West Board of Directors
If you would like to be more involved in these processes, we encourage you to fill out our applications found in our LinkTree!
