I would describe Denver as fiercely LGBT-friendly.

Colorado is becoming something of a sanctuary state for people trying to get out of the increasingly LGBT-hostile Midwest and portions of the South (Texas and Florida in particular). Colorado legislators are aware of this and have made laws protecting people who come to the state seeking reproductive or gender-affirming healthcare from external lawsuits or prosecution.

Local businesses and homes often fly pride flags all year round, and June’s pride events are absolutely massive. While rainbow capitalism is a meme, it’s also a litmus test for what capital owners think consumers and investors want to see. In other words, it would be noteworthy if they stopped.

Denver has a lot of LGBT culture, though I would describe it as newer and more militant than my limited experience of NYC. There are gay bars, an active drag scene (Alyssa Edwards and Pattie Gonia performed at Pride this year), and tons of outdoor LGBT groups (hiking, climbing, foraging, birdwatching). I recently started dressing as my chosen gender in public, and the responses from acquaintances and random strangers alike have been overwhelmingly positive. Colorado allies are second to none.

Colorado was not always this liberal. There are still conservative holdouts in places like Pueblo and Colorado Springs. Drag story hours around the state sometimes have hecklers (Proud Boys, judging from the colors), but humiliation ruins the illusion of fascist machismo, and so the efforts of groups like Parasol Patrol have proven very effective at stifling such protests.

Some rapid-fire semi-relevant notes on general life here:

• Rent and housing prices are rising, but have plateaued since 2022. Cheaper than NY or CA.
• The cost of other necessities (utilities, fuel, food) are quite unremarkable and comparable to the Midwest. Restaurant entrees are usually $25, half for fast food.
• There are a lot of jobs in software, aerospace, green tech, and manufacturing. With wage transparency laws, it’s easy to window shop for jobs. Denver minimum wage is $18.29/hr, and everything within 20 miles of Denver pretty much follows suit.
• Gentrification is a point of conversation, particularly along Colfax. No telling how that’s going to go.
• The food’s pretty good. There’s a lot of Thai, Vietnamese, and Nepalese.
• If you’re worried about smell, avoid Commerce City. The Purina plant and the Suncor refinery are notoriously unpleasant.
• People in Colorado are friendly, helpful, and pretty talkative. If you go hiking, you’ll probably make friends on the trail. It’s an interesting contrast to the performative politeness of the Midwest.
• Walkability is good in Denver proper, but it’s nothing like NYC. They’ve been adding bike lanes lately.