Parade and celebrations drown out cake decision
Couple from Supreme Court case were grand marshals
As floats made their way down Colfax Avenue for the Coors Light PrideFest Parade, there was a quiet undertone. Two weeks earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who denied a same-sex couple a wedding cake.
But on Sunday, the decision in the controversial case that was framed as LGBTQ rights versus religious freedom was largely drowned out by a marching band playing “Y.M.C.A.”
Rainbow-colored flags, shirts and hair painted Colfax Avenue as a large crowd lined the street to cheer on the passing parade. People leaned over balconies and out of windows to watch while others observed from bar patios. A few expert parade goers sat on folding chairs in the back of pickup trucks that were parked along the street, sipping from red solo cups while under the shade of an umbrella.
Drag queens narrated the passing floats, including one that blasted self-described queer singer Janelle Monáe’s “Make Me Feel.” High schoolers waved rainbow flags from lesbian pop singer Hayley Kiyoko that said “20GAYTEEN.” Dogs in rainbow tutus used their big eyes to earn pets from passersby.
Parade grand marshals Charlie Craig and David Mullins stood in the back of a yellow truck, waving to the crowd. They were the couple denied a cake by Masterpiece Cakeshop in 2012.
The couple filed discrimination charges, which set off a sixyear court battle. Justices determined that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission was “neither tolerant nor respectful of (the baker’s) religious beliefs.” But instead of the sweeping decision that was expected, the court’s ruling only reaffirmed that religious objection must be considered without prejudice.
Talking to The Denver Post on Saturday, Mullins said he wanted to remind the LGBTQ community that despite the ruling, Colorado still has protective anti-discrimination laws in place.
“And really, just having a nationwide dialogue about this is a huge win for us,” Craig said.
Paul Barber, or “Too Tall,” as his friends call him, was among the crowd watching the parade. He wore rainbow eyelashes, a tutu and a Cleopatra-style headdress that was made of rainbow beads.
“I’m happy for them,” he said of Craig and Mullins. “I’m happy that they took a ruling not in
their favor as a positive moment, a teaching moment.”
He compared the couple’s stand to the Stonewall Riots in New York when the gay community protested a police raid of the Stonewall Inn in 1969. The protests were pivotal in the gay liberation movement and sparked commemorative “Gay Liberation” marches in June. In the late ’70s and ’80s, the marches morphed into Pride parades.
“Stonewall started a movement. It didn’t all of a sudden turn into this,” Barber said, motioning to the celebration around him. “It takes time to make things grow.”
Barber, 55, has been attending every Denver Pride parade since 1985. But when he started going, it was more of a walk. The only vendors were local gay bars and everyone ate green chili. By comparison, this year’s PrideFest was expected to attract 350,000 people over the weekend and had more than 200 vendors (including more than 21 food vendors).
Barber said there were men before him who fought for gay rights, then he fought for rights in the ’80s and now he hopes the younger generation will continue to fight for the rights of different communities, noting societal movements such as #MeToo, equal pay and racial equality.
“It continues to get better, but getting better doesn’t mean you don’t fight for rights until everyone is treated equally,” he said.
Later in the parade, the crowd cheered as colorful dancers walked by, but 1year-old Luca Antognoli was far more interested in the rocks next to the sidewalk. He came to the parade with his moms Liz, 43, and Jen, 40.
The couple was married in 2015 before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized marriage between same-sex couples in all 50 states that year. While wedding planning, Liz Antognoli said the Masterpiece Cakeshop incident was in the back of her mind every time she entered a store.
The couple commended local businesses that stood up to support everybody and also thanked allies for being there for the LGBTQ community.
Both Liz and Jen said the political climate now allows for more hatred, which is part of why they brought their son to the parade.
“It’s important for us to feel connected with our community here in Denver and to show our son the beautiful people in our city,” Jen Antognoli said.