Local officials lead Longmont Pride

Joyful hugs led off Longmont Pride Sunday morning, as community members gathered in the parking lot of Roosevelt Park to put final decorations on vehicles and find their space in line. 

Out Boulder County staff were on hand to help organize the first of their three Boulder County Pride motorcades in Longmont. The cars were decorated in rainbows and affirming messages, flags, balloons and banners. Representatives from all levels of local government were there, in the parade and watching from the sidewalk, to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community.

“Longmont Pride is kicking off this day beautifully with over sixty people here in beautifully decorated fun cars and face paint. Our grand marshall and city manager Harold Dominguez is here riding a historic fire truck along with his beautiful family,” said Out Boulder executive director Mardi Moore. “It’s going to be a great day. There’s a lot of excitement, and a lot of hugs. I’ve given more hugs today than I have in over a year.”

The excitement was palpable and the air rang with sounds of celebration. Longmont City Manager Harold Dominguez and his family mingled with the crowd before taking their place at the head of the motorcade.

“It’s a great honor to be asked to be the grand marshal. It’s important to me that everyone has a voice in our community,” Dominguez said.

Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin rode in the motorcade for her second year in a row, though the first in her role as commissioner. Local musician Kenny Peralez drove Loachamin in a vintage white Cadillac once more.

“It’s good to be here, healthy, happy and in community with folks that care about Longmont, the whole county, our state and what Pride means for people across the country,” Loachamin said.

Joining them was Shiquita Yarbrough, who is running for one of the at-large seats for city council in the next Longmont election.

“I’m riding in the Pride motorcade today because I want people to understand we’re all human beings, and Longmont is all-inclusive,” Yarbrough said. “It’s important that our younger generation sees representation in our city government, that it’s not intimidating and one day they can be on city council. When they see me, maybe they look like me, and they know I’m representing them.”

Representation, equity and inclusion were at the tip of everyone’s tongues today. Dominguez spoke of how Longmont will continue making sure all of the city’s residents would be heard, and the LGBTQ community in particular.

“We’re trying to engage the LGBTQ more, including involving them in the selection of a new Public Safety chief,” Dominguez said. “It’s about working collectively with the community to make sure that LGBTQ voices are heard, and we can ensure that we’re representing everyone in our community.”

Loachamin, the first Latinx woman to serve as commissioner in Boulder County, has been at the forefront of equity work in Boulder County even before her election.

“There’s still so much work to do for inclusivity, locally we’re still trying to get people to agree on which part we’re working on — equity, diversity, inclusion, justice,” Loachamin said. “For a few hours in Pride and preparing and being here together, I think it helps a lot of us believe that we can get to all of them. My role in our government is continuing these conversations in every meeting I have, every day.”

As the motorcade rolled out of Roosevelt Park to make its way south down Main Street, Longmont and Boulder County residents lined the street to cheer and wave them on. Out Boulder County livestreamed the event from their Facebook page at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Main Street. 

State Representative Karen McCormick was in the crowd as well, with her golden retriever. 

“What brought me out? What would keep me home? I was here yesterday because I was so excited, it’s such a beautiful day,” McCormick said. “I’m a proud mom of a trans kid and I’m always going to find an opportunity to show up and stand up.”

The rolling motorcades continued, with Boulder at noon and then Lafayette at 4 p.m., but celebrations continued in Longmont businesses long after the parade had passed.