As the federal government proposes rules that could threaten access to gender-affirming care for youth amid scapegoating and misinformation around what gender-affirming care really is, it is critical to make sure LGBTQ+ kids are cared for. The message from outside Colorado may be that it not OK to be who you really are, but inside our state, inside our circles of families and friends, it has to be OK.
A light in the past couple of weeks was Rainbow Alley’s annual Holigay celebration. It was a true representation of our “gay agenda”: a day of safe and affirming programming—crafting, cooking-decorating, youth performances, gift-giving… It was a day to enjoy the holiday season with our families.
Our host this year was Wendy Pobirk who has taken the torch from Linda Warren—the legendary “Queer Santa”—after 26 years. Linda was unable to join us this year and see Wendy and the new team at The Center take the event to a new level, bringing together not just queer kids, but LGBTQ+ families and their allies.
The most moving part of the experience to me was seeing adults showing up for kids. Clint Ledbetter, a long-time Holigay volunteer, grew up in Alabama without anything like Rainbow Alley, a free, drop-in program at The Center that supports LGBTQ+ youth with community, resources, and a place to belong.
“It’s really important for me to be the person I needed as a kid,” Clint said. “Showing up for these youth matters, because having something like this would’ve changed everything for me.”
Wendy has watched Holigay grow over the years but says the heart of it has never changed. “First and foremost, it’s always about the kids,” she shared. “No matter how big it gets, the magic comes from giving them a place where they can just be themselves.”
As a child, Wendy also did not have access to safe, affirming resources like Rainbow Alley and felt she couldn’t be herself until adulthood.
“I think queer kids need to know that there’s a whole community out there that appreciates them, that loves their authentic selves and that doesn’t want them to be any different,” Wendy said. “Seeing kids be themselves here just completely warms my heart.”
So, as we hear the national rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people become more toxic; as we see resources and rights under attack; as we see our kids suffer, we know what we need to do. We must continue to create safe and affirming spaces for kids. And, if you ever need a reminder of why we do it, show up to something like The Center’s Holigay celebration.
Special thanks to the Holigay elves—a team of volunteers who has stuck with The Center through many seasons, PFLAG for the parents’ corner, Artsy Tots for creating a place for toddlers to play in the snow, Hunnie B. for a stunning performance, Art Garage for the craft space, and Town Hall Collaborative for hosting us.