Rocky Mountain Equality (formerly Out Boulder County)

Rocky Mountain Equality is an LGBTQ+ nonprofit whose work ensures that LGBTQ+ people, families and communities across Colorado can thrive. Since 1994 it has educated, advocated and provided programs, services and support, growing from the Pride celebrations that began as Boulder Pride into Out Boulder, then Out Boulder County, and now Rocky Mountain Equality, a name that reflects its reach across northern Colorado and its statewide policy work.

The Equality Center of the Rocky Mountains, at 3340 Mitchell Lane in Boulder, is the organization's home and the place many groups meet, including the weekly Boulder County Gender Support Group on Thursday evenings. The Downtown Boulder Pridehouse on Spruce Street hosts behavioral health and recovery services, with weekly drop-in hours on Tuesday and Friday afternoons for resource navigation and recovery support. Programming also takes place in Longmont, Fort Collins and other northern Colorado communities.

Young people have a place of their own. The Youth Program serves LGBTQ+ youth and allies ages 11 to 18 with free drop-in social support groups, leadership and social justice education, paid internships for ages 13 to 18, free events and Pat's Closet, a collection of donated gender-affirming clothing and binders. Parents and caregivers can join monthly peer-led groups, in person or online, and transgender and gender-expansive adults and youth can attend free support groups led by trained trans facilitators. Older adults have the 50+ Program, with the Double Plus Supper Club every other month, a monthly game night, Queer and Aging events on topics such as housing, finances and elder abuse prevention, and case management.

Queer and trans people of color are served through QTPOC programming, including Sunday Kiki Sessions for people involved in Ballroom culture and the Alex Ortega Scholarship, which provides $5,000 toward college, vocational or trade school. Queer Creative, which grew from the organization's 2023 focus on arts and culture, produces Queer Circus, the Colorado Queer Comedy Festival, a monthly creative writing workshop and open mic, and Queer Writes in Fort Collins.

Community members facing urgent costs can apply for basic needs assistance, mental health co-pay and sliding-scale assistance, and help paying for vital documents such as state IDs and birth certificates. Speaking Out, the organization's longest-running program, sends trained volunteer speakers into middle and high schools, churches, college classes and health care settings, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity trainings help organizations serve their clients better. Safety in Pride trains law enforcement and legal professionals and supports a network of LGBTQ liaisons across agencies.

Rocky Mountain Equality organizes Pride celebrations, publishes a community calendar, tracks bills in the Colorado General Assembly and sends advocacy alerts. A capital campaign, We All Belong Here, is paying off the Equality Center, adding an elevator and expanding services. Volunteers, donors, sponsors and recurring givers make the work possible.