Each year, June is dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The month-long celebration is an opportunity to unite, honor diversity, spark awareness of the community’s current issues, and bring change to our everyday lives. Pride Month began in 1969 after the Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests, and it has since spread worldwide. 

Everyone at JFS believes we have an obligation to make the world a better place, and we also believe in a shared responsibility to support impactful changes throughout our community. We strive to make that happen daily regardless of a person’s faith, race, age, income, ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

As part of developing and strengthening JFS’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles, we partnered with Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler and The Equity Project, a Denver-based consulting firm that specializes in providing DEI support to organizations and individuals. We completed our Organizational Assessment using qualitative and quantitative data to help identify where the agency stands toward our internal culture, policies, and procedures. We are committed to taking action on this comprehensive examination to deliver vital services rooted in our deeply held Jewish values. 

We are excited to partner with the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center and more than 13 organizations and congregations for Pride Month to show a united Jewish presence at Denver Pride 2023. Here are a few ways to participate and show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Pride Shabbat at the JCC on June 23 (Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Shabbat dinner) 

Organized and led by LGBTQIA+ leaders in our community, Pride Shabbat will start with an energetic Kabbalat Shabbat service (Friday night service that welcomes Shabbat) that is built around celebrating the joy of Shabbat and the joy of Pride. Everyone is welcome to join for Kabbalat Shabbat, although registration is requested. A live stream of this service will be available. Shabbat dinner following the service is an additional fee on a sliding scale with hardship pricing available. Learn more about the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center activities. 

PrideFest: All day on June 24  - 25 

Denver PrideFest, organized by The Center on Colfax, is a two-day festival celebrating our LGBTQIA+ community. Thousands of people from across Colorado enjoy PrideFest 2023, along with hundreds of exhibitors, dozens of food vendors, three stages of live entertainment, a family area, a youth area, and more! The Jewish Community of Denver will have a booth in the family area of PrideFest, where we will be making Pride-themed friendship bracelets and lanyards. Learn more about PrideFest.   

Pride Parade on June 25 

JFS is excited to march with the Jewish Community at Denver's Pride Parade! Space for marchers will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. All marchers will receive an “Ahava” (LOVE) t-shirt! The route spans 14 blocks of Colfax Avenue from Cheesman Park to Civic Center, where celebrations continue at PrideFest. Learn more about the Parade. 

Learn more about all of the Denver Pride festivities and the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center activities and be a part of the conversation.