Places to avoid if you don’t guzzle Bud Light …
Introducing Lavender Hill, Denver’s first Queer Cultural District.
Lavender Hill covers parts of Capitol Hill, City Park West, Cheesman Park, Baker and Five Points.
In a few years, visitors to Denver might wander through Capitol Hill and pass signs marking important moments in the city’s LGBTQ+ history.
They might pass through a neighborhood in Baker full of pride flags year-round and visit a public art installation honoring queer culture. Maybe they’ll stay at a hotel owned by a gay couple or visit a longstanding lesbian bar.
It’s part of Zach Kotel’s vision for Lavender Hill, Denver’s first Queer Cultural District. Kotel, a Denver-based designer and co-founder of the District, partnered with The Center on Colfax, Colfax Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) and Black Pride Colorado to create the district.
“Working in placemaking, I’ve seen time and time again how powerful creating and designing a space can be,” Kotel said in a statement Wednesday. “I wanted our community to feel those same transformative results, especially now, when we’re facing renewed legislative attacks nationwide. I also knew that Denver’s values were better than that, and that our city would embrace the idea of celebrating its own.”
While Lavender Hill just launched Wednesday, Kotel pointed to one element Denverites can currently visit: the Joy of Pride project, a photography installation along Colfax Avenue between Grant and Josephine Streets created in partnership with Colfax Avenue BID, Black Pride Colorado and YouthSeen.
“I find joy in seeing young Queer people feeling comfortable and safe in themselves, and seeing older Queer adults with gray and white hairs,” said Leigh Briggs, one person featured in Joy of Pride, in a statement. “We’ve always been here, we’ll always be here. Por siempre viviremos.”
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