After postponing its 2025 event due to concerns about ICE activity, Colorado Gay Latino Pride (Latino Pride) will return. The group is partnering with Aurora Pride, and the combined event is set for Saturday, Aug. 29, at Winged Melody Park in Aurora. It is free and family-friendly, organizers said.
Jose Martinez said the group began planning its 2025 event, but called it off before it happened.
“We started planning for last year, 2025, but because of the threat, we decided to postpone it and to actually protect the community out of an abundance of concern,” he said.
The organization held its first Pride event in 2018. It did not hold another until planning resumed for 2025, following a pause tied to the pandemic, Martinez said. Last year’s event was slated for the parking lot of Highlands United Methodist Church, which offered the space to the grassroots organization at no cost. According to Martinez, the site included a tent and staging left over from a festival that was held the day before.
“This whole space logistically was provided to us at no cost, it included the staging, the tent,” he said. “So this was a perfect place.”
Martinez said the decision to cancel last year weighed heavily on him and stemmed directly from concerns he heard throughout the gay and immigrant community.
“It’s something that affects all of us and it is something that affected my own family just recently,” he said. “We’ve had family members detained, so these things we’re starting to see play out with our families and our workplaces and our safe places as well.”
This year, Martinez said, Latino Pride’s partnership with Aurora Pride is meant to provide a safer environment.
“There will be security, it’s a secure spot,” he said. “We have a commitment that this will be a safe place.”
Aurora Pride and Aurora Highlands echoed that commitment in a statement. The groups said they have “a comprehensive safety and emergency response plan in place” and will have licensed professional security and dedicated medical resources on site throughout the event. The statement said organizers are prepared to coordinate with Aurora Police, fire and EMS if needed.
Despite the uncertainty of the past year, Martinez said showing up matters.
“It’s very important that we as an organization be present and visible with our community in good times and bad times,” he said. “Amigos come in all colors, shape and sizes and from all walks of life. … So Pride is something that we celebrate together in unity.”
The full statement from Aurora Pride and Aurora Highlands read:
“Aurora Pride has a comprehensive safety and emergency response plan in place, with the safety and well-being of our attendees as a top priority. We understand that safety concerns can impact whether people feel comfortable attending community events, and we have taken those concerns seriously in our planning. Licensed professional security and dedicated medical resources will be onsite throughout the event, and our team has reviewed emergency procedures with an Aurora Fire Captain. We are prepared to respond to a range of situations and coordinate with Aurora Police, Fire and EMS if needed. Our goal is to ensure everyone feels safe and welcome at Aurora Pride.”
