- I FEEL LIKE I SEE MYSELF, NOT JUST WAITING ON OTHERS TO SEE ME OR ACKNOWLEDGE ME, BUT I ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND SEE MYSELF.

- DRAG IS THIS PERFORMANCE ART.

IT IS SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT'S ALSO USED AS A TOOL TO USE OUR VOICE.

- HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING?

- DRAG ACTUALLY SAVES LIVES.

- IT'S CELEBRATING WHO WE ARE AS A QUEER COMMUNITY AND EDUCATING THE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE AFRAID JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN EXPOSED.

- IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEAN INTO LOVE, LEAN INTO HEALING, OPERATE WITH EMPATHY.

- MY ADVICE FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE SEEKING COMMUNITY IS TO BE BRAVE AND LET PEOPLE LOVE YOU.

(MUSIC PLAYING) [PIANO MUSIC PLAYING] - ♪ JUST THINKING ABOUT TOMORROW CLEARS AWAY THE COBWEBS AND THE SORROW.

- I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CREATE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES BECAUSE EXPRESSION IS THE GREATEST FORM OF COMMUNICATION.

- IT'S REALLY EXCITING FOR ME TO WATCH THEM GROW AS ARTISTS AND JUST EXPAND WHO THEY ARE AS A MUSICIAN, IS REALLY SPECIAL.

WE ARE SO, SO LUCKY.

- ♪ ...HANG ON 'TIL TOMORROW.

- DRAG, IT IS ART AND FASHION AND LOVE AND POLITICS AND REBELLING AND JAZZ AND ROCK 'N ROLL AND RAP.

IT IS EVERYTHING ROLLED INTO A BALL AND PUT OUT INTO A PERSON TO EXUDE INTO THE WORLD.

- THE MUSIC SCENE IS IMPORTANT TO THE REST OF THE SOCIETY BECAUSE IT'S A HEALING MECHANISM.

IT SERVES AN IMPORTANCE TO THE MIND AND THE BODY AND THE SOUL.

- HI.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

- THE BLACK, QUEER COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE EVENTS TOGETHER.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THOSE EVENTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY.

(MUSIC PLAYING) MY NAME IS UCHENNA OHAYA.

I GO BY UCCCHH IN THE ARTIST SENSE.

AND I'M ONE OF THE PRODUCERS OF THIS SHOW.

FUNKY FRESH FRIDAY IS A NEW SHOWCASING EXPERIENCE FOR ARTISTS FAR AND WIDE.

WE REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND PUT THAT FOCUS ON ESPECIALLY BLACK ARTISTS AND CREATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY.

MYSELF AND MY CO-PRODUCER, THE QOR, WE'RE BOTH ARTISTS AND CREATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS QUEER BLACK WOMEN.

THERE ARE NOT OFTEN SPACES FOR US WE'VE FOUND, ESPECIALLY IN COLORADO.

WE HAVEN'T FOUND SPACES THAT ARE INVITING OR WELCOMING FOR US, OR PLACES THAT WE CAN BE IN REGULARLY.

SO, FORGING THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH TOWN HALL COLLABORATIVE, IT'S REALLY GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT OURSELVES OUT THERE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) [ARTISTS SINGING] - AS A FEMALE ARTIST, WE DON'T REALLY GET A VOICE, WE DON'T REALLY GET TIME, AND WE GET OVERLOOKED A LOT.

SO, I THINK IT'S JUST TIME FOR US TO BE SEEN AND BE HEARD.

PRIMARILY, I COME FROM A BACKGROUND WHERE I HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE TO DO SHOWS.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST TIMEOUT FOR THAT.

I THINK THAT ARTISTS SHOULD BE PAID FOR THEIR TIME ON STAGE.

- THE QOR AND I, WE WERE WORKING ON MUSIC TOGETHER, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HAVING MORE STAGE TIME AND SOME OF THE GRIPES WITH NOT HAVING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE US OR HAVING TO PLAY ANOTHER PERSON'S GAME JUST TO GET THE BARE MINIMUM OF STAGE TIME.

AND SO, WE WANTED TO TAKE IT INTO OUR OWN HANDS AND REALLY CREATE THAT SPACE FOR OURSELVES AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY.

- WE WANTED TO PUT THIS TOGETHER TO HIGHLIGHT BLACK ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY BLACK WOMEN ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY BLACK, QUEER WOMEN ARTISTS, IN DENVER, COLORADO.

BECAUSE WE HERE.

- ♪ AND IT'S TRUE, A PURE SOUL AIN'T EVER DYING... - COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

AND I DEFINE FAMILY AS THOSE THAT WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR ME, THOSE THAT ARE LOOKING OUT FOR MY GREATER INTEREST AND SEE ME AS A HUMAN, AND THAT VALIDATION AND THAT AFFIRMING THAT SAYS, "YOU ARE SEEN, I SEE YOU, AND YOU SEE ME."

(MUSIC PLAYING) - HIP HOP IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS A STORY, THERE'S ALWAYS A MESSAGE.

AND WE'RE JUST HERE TO HIGHLIGHT ARTISTS TO HELP PEOPLE AND ARTISTS WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE TO HAVE A VOICE.

- TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THAT TABLE, NOT JUST A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BUT CREATE THAT TABLE FOR BLACK, QUEER COMMUNITY.

- YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE IS FACED WITH.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THAT PERSON THAT EXPRESSES WHATEVER THEY'RE EXPRESSING, IS DEALING WITH.

AND I CAN BE WHOEVER I WANT TO BE FOR THE MOMENT WHEN I RAP BECAUSE I GET TO EXPRESS MYSELF.

- EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.

AND EVEN IF I DON'T CONNECT WITH IT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT STILL VALID.

SO, JUST HAVING THAT SPACE, CREATING THAT SAFE SPACE AND THAT CENTERSTAGE FOR ARTISTS TO COME AND SHARE THEIR MESSAGE, BIG OR SMALL, HOWEVER THEY SEE FIT.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - EVERYONE DESERVES AN OUTLET EVEN IF IT DOESN'T RING SOMEONE ELSE'S BELL.

- ARE WE READY FOR SOME FUN?

[AUDIENCE CHEERING] LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

ARE WE READY FOR SOME FUN?

[AUDIENCE CHEERING] (MUSIC PLAYING) - THE IMPORTANCE OF DRAG IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ANYONE WHO IS PART OF A FANDOM.

COSPLAYERS COSPLAY BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO DRESS UP.

FOR DRAG, IT'S THE CLOTHING, IT'S THE EXPRESSION, IT'S THE PEOPLE.

MY NAME IS COCO BARDOT, AND WE ARE AT THE CLOCKTOWER CABARET TONIGHT.

- HI, FRIENDS.

OH MY GOSH!

LOOK AT YOU ALL TONIGHT.

HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING?

WHEN I WALK INTO THE ROOM, PEOPLE KNOW WHO THE DRAG QUEEN IS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK ABOUT DRAG, DRAG IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S CREATIVITY.

IT'S LIKE DRESS-UP.

IT'S EXPLORING.

I'M SO EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THIS FIRST ACT TO YOU, GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS PERFORMER.

PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR COCO BARDOT.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - ♪ YOU DO SOMETHING TO ME.

IT WAS ALWAYS AN INSULT THAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY TO ME, AS A WOMAN IN DRAG, "OH, YOU'RE JUST THE BURLESQUE DANCER, YOU'RE JUST THE GO-GO" AND ALL THAT.

I'VE HAD MY TROUBLES OF BEING AN AFAB WOMAN IN DRAG.

THERE'S NOTHING MASC ABOUT ME.

THIS ISN'T GETTING MASCULINE WHATSOEVER.

I'VE LEARNED TO NOT ONLY ACCEPT THAT I LIKE BURLESQUE IN DRAG, AS WELL, BUT THE FACT THAT I'M ABLE TO EMBRACE MY FEMININITY EVEN MORE, IN A SUPERPOWER SENSE ♪ I GOT RHYTHM.

I GOT MUSIC.

I'VE GOT DAISIES IN GREEN PASTURES.

I GOT MY MAN.

WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE?

- AS A DRAG QUEEN, WE CAN KIND OF PUSH THOSE BOUNDARIES OF, LIKE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MAN, OR A WOMAN, OR NON-BINARY, OR TRANS?

OR WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE STRONG?

OR WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BEAUTIFUL?

HI!

LOOK AT YOUR BEAUTIFUL SMILE.

AND NOW LOOK.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE NEXT TO THE OCEAN.

I KNOW.

WOO!

FOR ME, I DO LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN DRAG.

I ENTERTAIN.

I HOST BINGO.

I DO DRAG STORYTIMES WITH KIDS.

AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE GET TO SHOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A BIG GROWN-UP, QUEER PERSON LIVING IN THE WORLD.

AND THIS IS ONE IDEA OF WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

AND THAT CAN BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR LITTLE, QUEER KIDS WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE FOR THEMSELVES.

- WE ALL HAVE THE FREEDOM TO RAISE OUR KIDS HOW WE WANT TO DO IT.

BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN--I WOULDN'T IMMERSE MY OWN CHILD INTO SOMETHING THAT I KNOW IS HARMFUL TO ME OR OTHER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN.

I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY ELSE'S CHILDREN THRIVE AND GET IN TO WHATEVER ART OUTLET THEY HAVE.

BUT I JUST WANT THE KIDS TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE IT.

- LOOK AT YOU.

YOU'RE GORGEOUS.

YES!

TRY THIS.

DRAG ACTUALLY SAVES LIVES BECAUSE QUEER KIDS, WHO DON'T HAVE A ROLE MODEL MAYBE IN THEIR FAMILY OR IN THEIR SOCIAL CIRCLES, WILL SEE SOMEONE LIKE ME, WHO IS KIND AND COMPASSIONATE AND IS LIVING MY LIFE CONFIDENTLY AND FULLY AND JOYFULLY.

THEY SEE AN EXAMPLE WHEN THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE SEEN ONE BEFORE.

AND SO, I THINK THAT'S HOW DRAG AND QUEER REPRESENTATION IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE CAN REALLY SAVE LIVES.

OH, GOODNESS.

MY GOODNESS.

LET ME COME DOWN AND SAY HELLO.

- WITH THE RATES OF DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE SO MUCH HIGHER WITH LGBTQIA+ YOUTH AND YOUNG PEOPLE, WE TELL PEOPLE--THEY SAY, "YOU'RE MAKING OUR KIDS GAY."

AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MAKE KIDS GAY.

WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE GAY KIDS ALIVE.

- WHEN I THINK ABOUT THESE ANTI-TRANS AND DRAG BILLS THAT ARE AROUND THE COUNTRY, IT'S JUST--IT'S IGNORANCE, IT'S BIGOTRY.

PEOPLE ARE SCARED, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED IN TENNESSEE IS WRITTEN IN SUCH A HATEFUL WAY AND WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT IS SO VAGUE, THAT JUST BEING THEMSELVES, GOING OUT IN PUBLIC DRESSED AS THEIR TRUE GENDER, THEY COULD BE, IN SOME CASES, CRIMINALLY CHARGED.

AND IT'S ENCOURAGING HATE.

- IF THE PEOPLE WHO PASS THESE LAWS IN TENNESSEE WERE REALLY CARING ABOUT CHILDREN, THEY WOULD BE EFFECTING CHANGE IN THE AREAS WHERE CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY BEING HARMED.

THEY WOULD BE ADVOCATING FOR THINGS LIKE FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN OR ACCESS TO EDUCATION OR FOOD INSECURITY, OR THEY'D BE ADDRESSING ISSUES LIKE GUN VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE OR JUST HEALTHCARE, IN GENERAL.

I THINK IT'S A CLASSIC TECHNIQUE OF, "WE'RE GOING TO GET EVERYBODY ENRAGED BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING REALLY EASY BECAUSE WE'RE PROTECTING THE KIDS.

WHO DOESN'T WANT TO PROTECT THE KIDS?"

WELL, WHO DOESN'T WANT TO PROTECT THE KIDS, YOU'RE RIGHT.

BUT THE LAWMAKERS IN TENNESSEE WHO PASSED THIS BILL ARE NOT PROTECTING KIDS.

- I THINK I HAVE THE COMMON SENSE TO KNOW THAT MY DAUGHTER SEEING PEOPLE IN HIGH HEELS AND BIG WIGS ISN'T GOING TO HURT HER.

I JUST SEE IT AS ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF ART.

- WHEN YOU SEE A DRAG QUEEN, IT'S A POWERFUL THING.

AND IT'S BECAUSE DRAG IS THIS PERFORMANCE ART.

IT IS SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT'S ALSO USED AS A TOOL TO USE OUR VOICE.

- WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO PUT US OR THESE KIDS IN DANGER, RIGHT?

- THE BIG PURPOSE OF TODAY, THIS IS A STUDENT-LED PROTEST WALK-OUT FROM THEIR SCHOOLS.

AND THEY WANTED TO SHOW THEIR PEERS AND LAWMAKERS AND THE GROWN-UPS THAT QUEER AND TRANS YOUTH HAVE RIGHTS THAT NEED TO BE RESPECTED, AND THAT THAT KIND OF HATRED AND HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA IS NOT WELCOME HERE.

- I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE QUEER COMMUNITY IS TIRED OF THESE TARGETS, OF BEING MARGINALIZED.

AND WE ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST STRONG COMMUNITIES.

AND IF WE CAN USE OUR VOICE, AND IF I CAN USE MY VOICE FOR THOSE KIDS WHO ARE SILENCED IN THE RED STATES, THEN THAT IS MY GOAL, THAT IS MY LIFE GOAL.

- WE NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST US, BUT THAT WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

- I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS, FOR UPHOLDING STUDENTS IN EVERY WAY.

I'M A RETIRED TEACHER FROM DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WORKED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOLS FOR 26 YEARS IN DPS.

I'M HERE BECAUSE MY OLDEST CHILD IS TRANS.

MY OLDEST CHILD IS NON-BINARY.

AND THEY FEEL A CALLING TO GO INTO EDUCATION TO BE A CLASSROOM TEACHER TO REPRESENT AND TO BE A PRESENCE SO THAT KIDS IN SCHOOLS FEEL SAFE.

- OPPOSED TO COMING FROM TEXAS, I FEEL A LOT SAFER HERE DESPITE ALL OF THE TRAGEDIES IN THE NEWS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO STRIP AWAY FROM US.

- IT'S EXTREMELY UNSETTLING FOR ALL THESE LAWS THAT WE'RE SEEING PASSED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AFTER CLUB Q, THE SHOOTING HERE LOCALLY, IT WAS HEARTBREAKING.

AND I GOT--I GOT A LETTER FROM A MOM, AN EMAIL, AND SHE SAID THAT THEIR KID IS IN COUNSELING, SO NO SUICIDAL IDEATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT ALL THE LAWS BEING PASSED IN TEXAS, AND THEN CLUB Q, THE SHOOTING HAPPENING, THEIR CHILD SAID THAT THEY ALMOST WISHED THEY COULD DIE AND NOT HAVE TO BE AN ADULT, GROW UP TO LIVE IN SUCH A HATEFUL PLACE.

- BUT I FEEL PROUD TO BE OPENLY OUT.

ESPECIALLY BEING HERE, TOO, YOU'RE SO SAFE TO SHARE YOUR STORIES AND TO BE LIKE, "YEAH, I'M GAY," OR "I'M TRANS," OR "I'M X, Y, Z."

THIS COMMUNITY DOES EXIST.

IT IS THRIVING DESPITE LOSS, DESPITE BEING CONSISTENTLY PUSHED DOWN.

WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER IN NUMBERS, YOU'RE UNMOVABLE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - ICONS IS, AT THE MOMENT, THE ONLY GAY BAR IN DOWNTOWN COLORADO SPRINGS.

WE CELEBRATE QUEER CULTURE THROUGH ART AND COCKTAILS AND MUSIC.

IT'S JUST A CELEBRATORY, EXCITING GAY BAR WITH LOTS OF COLOR, COMPLETELY UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT BEING GAY AND BEING IN COLORADO SPRINGS, WHICH IS EXCITING.

- WE JUST TOOK ALL OF OUR FAVORITE ASPECTS FROM GAY BARS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND TRIED TO FIT IT INTO THIS TINY ROOM.

IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

IT'S JUST A LITTLE JEWEL.

AND WE GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO OUR STAFF FOR THAT.

- ♪ SOME PEOPLE CAN'T TELL THE TWO THINGS APART... - ♪ SOME PEOPLE CAN'T TELL THE TWO THINGS APART... - EVERY BARTENDER IS A LIVE SINGER, A PROFESSIONAL, TOP-NOTCH SINGER.

AT ANY MOMENT, THEY COULD BE MAKING A DRINK AND PICK UP THE MICROPHONE AND SING YOU A SONG.

- DEPENDING ON WHO THE BARTENDER IS, WE LET THEM SING WHATEVER THEY WANT.

THEY'RE ALL REALLY ECLECTIC AND DIFFERENT.

THEY ARE SO SPECTACULAR, I DON'T HAVE THE WORDS FOR IT.

- IT DOESN'T EVEN FEEL LIKE A SHIFT SOMETIMES.

YOU'RE AWARE THAT YOU'RE WORKING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE THAT ARE FAMILY.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS EVER IN A RUSH TO LEAVE.

IT'S MORE LIKE A RUSH TO GET HERE, LIKE, "LET'S GO."

- I THINK PART OF OUR MISSION IS TO SORT OF REDEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE GAY IN 2023 IN COLORADO SPRINGS.

I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM BEING GAY IN THE 90S.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IF COLORADO SPRINGS WAS READY, HONESTLY, FOR THIS TYPE OF SPACE.

BUT WE WENT FOR IT.

WE WENT BOLD.

AND WE COMMISSIONED ARTISTS TO PAINT ICONIC FIGURES THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE QUEER COMMUNITY AND PAVED THE WAY FOR US.

WE CELEBRATE THEM THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY, ARTWORK.

IT'S REALLY A FUN ENVIRONMENT.

- THIS SPACE IS FOR COMMUNITY, FIRST AND FOREMOST.

YES, IT IS A QUEER SPACE, BUT I REALLY VALUE AND APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT ANYONE CAN COME IN AND FEEL LIKE FAMILY.

HAVING MOVED HERE SEEKING OUT COMMUNITY AND NOT REALLY HAVING ANYWHERE TO GO HERE IN TOWN OTHER THAN CLUB Q.

- WHAT HAPPENED AT CLUB Q HAS CHANGED A LOT OF THINGS.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN ADAMANT TO NOT LET THIS DEFINE OUR FUTURE.

IT'S NOT LIKE THIS ONE EVENT IS GOING TO TAKE AWAY OUR POWER.

IF ANYTHING, IT'S EMPOWERED US TO BE MORE LOVING AND KIND AND FIND THE STRENGTH THAT IS THE QUEER COMMUNITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS.

BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF US.

THIS IS NOW A PLACE WHERE WE CAN SORT OF REWRITE HISTORY AND REDEFINE OUR TRUTH IN COLORADO SPRINGS.

♪ THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW.

BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT TOMORROW THERE'LL BE SUN.

- WHETHER YOU'RE HERE A COUPLE HOURS OR ALL DAY, YOU GET TO ENJOY COMMUNITY, YOU GET TO SMILE AND LAUGH.

- YOU COME IN HERE ANY DAY, YOU SHOW UP, SIT DOWN AT THE BAR, THEY'LL MAKE YOU A GREAT DRINK.

AND WITHIN THE HOUR, THEY'LL BE UP THERE, BELTING THEIR FACE OFF.

♪ ...OUT OF CONTROL, OUT OF CONTROL.

- WE'RE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND CELEBRATE THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER.

- ANY QUEER SPACE IS IMPORTANT AND SACRED, FIRST AND FOREMOST.

AND WE JUST DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF THAT IN COLORADO SPRINGS.

- ♪ I'VE GOT A SINGULAR IMPRESSION THINGS ARE MOVING TOO FAST.

- HAVING A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN GO, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY BE PRESENT WITH COMMUNITY, IT JUST REALLY FEELS LIKE A SAFE HAVEN.

- THE PURPOSE OF THE SPACE, AS FAR AS FAMILY GOES, IS TO PROVIDE THAT SAFETY AND THE COMFORT AND THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT MAYBE THEY'RE NOT GETTING AT HOME OR FROM THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

I THINK THE QUEER COMMUNITY IS REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF CHOSEN FAMILY AND WHAT THAT CAN MEAN.

- I THINK WE NEED EACH OTHER.

I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO FEEL AT HOME, WHERE YOU ARE FULLY ABLE TO BE YOURSELF, TO BE COMFORTABLE, TO BE SEEN.

- SHALL WE BEGIN?

- YES.

GRATITUDES TO BEGIN.

- I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE LIVING WITH YOU GUYS.

IT'S A GREAT HOUSE TO LIVE IN.

- I AM BRI ERGER.

AND MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE/THEY.

AND WE ARE AT MY HOME, SKYLAND, IN NORTHEAST PARK HILL.

(MUSIC PLAYING) SKYLAND HOUSE IS AN INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN A HOME TO A LOT OF LGBTQ FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

- WELCOME TO SKYLAND HOUSE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF SHOES.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING ABOUT LIVING AT A CO-OP, IS YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE GOOD SHOE STORAGE.

I AM TRANS, SO I SAY MY DEAREST ALLEGIANCE WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY IS TO THE TRANS COMMUNITY.

MY NAME IS JULES WEED, AND MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY/HE.

I THINK I AM, AS A YOUNG PERSON, DESPERATELY SEEKING COMMUNITY AT THIS STAGE IN MY LIFE, AND LOOKING, LIKE, WHERE DO I FIT IN?

- GRATITUDE TO JULES FOR THE EXTRA-DEEP CLEAN UP HERE.

THAT'S ALWAYS A BIG PRODUCTION.

- THANKS.

I FOUND SKYLAND HOUSE AT A VERY SCARY MOMENT IN MY LIFE, WHEN I WAS MOVING TO COLORADO WITHOUT A PLACE TO LIVE.

I WAS DESPERATELY SEARCHING FACEBOOK GROUPS FOR ANYWHERE I COULD POSSIBLY LIVE.

I HAPPENED TO FIND BRI'S POST, AND WE WENT ON A WALK.

AND I WAS HOOKED.

I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS THE PLACE FOR ME."

- ALL RIGHT.

THIS JUST OVER 6,000-SQUARE-FOOT LOT, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAXIMIZE EVERY INCH OF IT SO THAT IT'S GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE AND BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LAND.

AND OVER HERE WE'VE GOT THREE LOVELY LADIES.

THIS IS ONE OF THE CHORES.

ONE OF THE HOUSEMATES MAKES SURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR FOOD REFILLED AND THEN TAKES OUT THE COMPOST SCRAPS.

BECAUSE THAT'S GREAT ENTERTAINMENT FOR THEM.

ARE WE GOOD TO SHIFT OVER TO CHORES?

- I CAN PUT THEM ON THE BOARD.

- WONDERFUL.

WE OPERATE LIKE A LOT OF INTENTIONAL COMMUNITIES DO, IN THAT WE HAVE HOUSE MEETINGS.

WE HAVE CHORES.

CHICKENS, TRASH, COMPOST, CHLOE.

AND WE TRY AND ENGAGE IN BUILDING EACH OTHER UP.

YOU'RE ALSO GOOD AT THAT ONE, AT KEEPING UP WITH THAT ONE.

AND BEING THERE TO HUG EACH OTHER, TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER WHEN LIFE CAN GET REALLY MESSY.

- THE GREAT THING ABOUT AN INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY IS, I THINK IT CAN SERVE AS FAMILY.

AND I THINK THAT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN MAYBE THE FAMILY THAT YOU'RE GIVEN DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A SAFE PLACE TO COME HOME TO.

- I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITY WITH SHARED IDENTITIES, INCLUDING FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ.

AND HOPE THAT SOME FOLKS SEE IT AS AN INSPIRATION TO RETHINK HOUSING.

OFTENTIMES, INTENTIONAL COMMUNITIES, THE RENT THAT IS CHARGED IS ALMOST ALWAYS SIGNIFICANTLY OR SOMEWHAT BELOW MARKET-RATE VALUE.

IN DENVER, IN PARTICULAR, THERE ARE A LOT OF HOMES, ESPECIALLY AS FOLKS AGE AND THEIR CHILDREN MOVE OUT, WHERE THEY'RE IN A FOUR-BEDROOM, FIVE-BEDROOM, SIX-BEDROOM HOUSE, AND MANY OF THOSE BEDROOMS ARE UNOCCUPIED.

WHAT I THINK IS REALLY EXCITING ABOUT THIS MODEL IS THAT EACH BEDROOM, THERE'S A PERSON WHO HAS A BEDROOM.

AND NO BEDROOM IS UNUSED.

WE DON'T HAVE MAYBE AS MUCH OF A HOUSING SHORTAGE AS EVERYONE SAYS.

MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO RETHINK HOW WE'RE OCCUPYING THE HOMES THAT WE DO HAVE.

- DOWNSTAIRS.

I THINK THAT HOUSING IS A HUGE ISSUE, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SOLVED ENTIRELY BY CREATING MODELS LIKE THIS.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GREAT WAY TO START TO CHANGE THE IDEAS THAT WE HOLD AROUND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FAMILY, WHAT IT MEANS TO SHARE A HOME.

- THE OPTIONS THAT SOCIETY TELLS ME, MAYBE THAT I SHOULD LIVE ALONE IN MY MID TO LATE 30S, YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR OWN PLACE.

BUT FOR ME, SHARING MEANS SO MUCH MORE.

- HAVING PEOPLE TO COME HOME TO EVERY DAY AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND JUST SAY, "OH MAN, MY DAY WAS HARD," AND TO SHARE--I DON'T KNOW--A MOMENT OF JOY WITH, I THINK HAS REALLY BUOYED ME THROUGH MY DARKEST, HARDEST DAYS - I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO--FOR ANYONE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR HOME.

AND I THINK ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S RECENTLY HAPPENED, I THINK ABOUT CLUB Q AND REALIZING HOW INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THIS SPACE IS FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE.

IT'S THESE RELATIONSHIPS.

THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE AT MY CORE, IS WHAT MATTERS ON THIS PLANET.

- I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT, AS WE CONTINUE TO BRIDGE COMMUNITY AND LEAN INTO LOVE, LEAN INTO HEALING, OPERATE WITH EMPATHY, I THINK IT REALLY HELPS TO HAVE THOSE SPACES, AND TO CREATE THOSE SPACES, AND TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN AND BUILD THOSE SPACES.

- JUST BEING ABLE TO BE IN A PLACE, TOO, WHERE I DO SEE SO MANY OTHER QUEER PEOPLE AROUND.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE THAT ARE FAMILY.

AND ON THIS SIDE, IT'S FAMILY IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

- I THINK FAMILY IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WITH THE PRECONDITION OF GROWTH.

FAMILY IS PEOPLE AND PLACES AND THINGS THAT HOLD YOU DOWN AND ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE.

- I KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE AND THAT WE HAVE EACH OTHER, EVEN IF WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY IN THE SAME CIRCLES.

- WHAT KEEPS ME GOING IN DRAG IS JUST THE PEOPLE I MEET, FANDOMS, THE FANS, BACHELORETTE PARTIES, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, OTHER BURLESQUE ICONS IN THE CITY, OUR LEGENDARY QUEENS.

IT'S ALL THE PEOPLE I GET TO MEET AND JUST CONNECT WITH.

- MY MESSAGE TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE TO... LET'S SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

LET'S COME OUT TO EACH OTHER'S EVENTS.

LET'S BE HERE FOR ONE ANOTHER, BUILD EACH OTHER UP.

- COMMUNITY, TO ME, MEANS CAMARADERIE.

IT MEANS RECIPROCITY.

IT MEANS RESPECT, THAT MUTUAL RESPECT, AS WELL, MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT AND NOT JUST, "WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME?"

BUT JUST YOU YOURSELF, YOU ARE VALUED, YOU ARE ENOUGH, AND BEING AFFIRMED IN THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REAL CORE PART OF WHAT COMMUNITY MEANS TO ME.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) - ♪ OH!

♪ ♪ THE SUN'LL COME OUT TOMORROW, SO YOU GOT TO HANG ON 'TIL ♪ ♪ TOMORROW.

♪ ♪ COME WHAT MAY.

♪ ♪ TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I LOVE YA, TOMORROW.

♪ ♪ YOU'RE ONLY A DAY AWAY.

♪