Team Colorado

Article Author: Natalie Maldonado^[1][2]

History

Team Colorado was originally founded in 1991 and is now an umbrella group for many Colorado LGBTQ sports teams. Team Colorado of the Rockies is a 501c3 non-profit organization that promotes community and teamwork among a range of LGBTQ-oriented sports organizations. The group holds multiple events throughout the year, from team dinners to sponsoring local sports events; ensuring the continued support for the athletic community. Behind the scenes is the Team Colorado Board that consists of volunteer members who oversee the operations of the program. They hold regular meetings to discuss all discourse related to Team Colorado as well as the LGBTQ+ Sports Organizations. Members of the community and outside of the board are also welcome to attend board meetings. Their presence was crucial in starting to build a sports outlet and community among LGBTQ+ members. This is seen in many newspapers, oral histories, and more. They have gained respect, community, and sponsorships along the way; which keeps their organization functioning today. They also organize and push for the representation of Colorado athletes to go compete in the Gay Games to further the fostering of a competitive and prideful comradery.

Events

1999 - Annual Spaghetti Dinner

An event hosted to foster the rising LGBTQ+ community as people became more involved in society through these sports teams.

To foster community both on and off the court/field, an event that was held every year was Team Colorado’s annual spaghetti dinner. This was open to all teams and families and was an opportunity for athletes to tell stories from their season, or discuss what the upcoming season would look like. Getting everyone to gather around a table created a full circle moment every year for individuals to sit back and realize, “Look at the community we’ve built.” Nothing provides comfort more than a home-cooked meal in a place where you feel safe and loved. This event was held at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Rockies, which was built in 1972.

The MCC’s motto is, “We are people on a journey, learning to live into our spirituality, while affirming our bodies, our genders, our sexualities. We don’t all believe exactly the same things. And yet in the midst of our diversity, we build community, grounded in God’s radically inclusive love for all people.” – Holding the dinner in a place that accepted the LGBTQ community with open arms was crucial for getting people there.

1999 - GLBT Sports Day/Health Fair

^[3]
An event hosted during Pride Month to spark community, spread health awareness, and present

an opportunity for everyone to get involved in teams and organizations.

The GLBT Sports Day/Health Fair was a community event in Denver that focused on LGBTQ+ sports and health. Health Fairs typically consisted of providing HIV testing, counseling, and sexual awareness, along with free condoms. They had speakers, allied organizations, and health groups booths in order to spread as much knowledge to the LGBTQ community in order for people to feel safe and secure in their identity.

The sports part of the event featured Volleypalooza, a volleyball tournament sponsored by the Colorado Gay Volleyball Association (CGVA). This tournament featured a double elimination pool play, where teams compete within their pool based on their performance. Teams play matches to then determine their seed going into the tournament. The event was designed to promote a safe and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community through volleyball.

Another sports event featured was the Rainbow Run. This run was a fun 5k that was and still is a vibrant way to celebrate Pride Month, bringing the community together in support of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. Throughout the running (or walking) course, participants get covered in brightly colored powder, ending the race doused in every color of the rainbow.

Today, proceeds raised from the run are donated to the CSU Pride Resource Center to support students in need.^[4]

Sponsorships

Coors Brewing Company

Gaining recognition and building community, Team Colorado was able to get sponsorships from companies as well known and impactful as the Coors Brewing Company. The company aligned with their values, enacting an employee policy stating: “Our company policy on employees with AIDS or the AIDS virus is the same as with any other serious illness. We will deal with each case individually...Any employee with AIDS will be afforded privacy, will remain eligible for all benefits including disability plans, and will be provided management support to remain productive.”

Ground Zero News Letter, February 1995

In 1994, the company sponsored Team Colorado’s presence in that year’s Gay Games. Both sides benefited from this collaboration; Coors gained credibility, visibility, and support from the LGBTQ community; while Team Colorado gained exposure in the games, received funding, and increased their recognition with their name now tied to a big name brand (one also already huge within the queer community.) ^[5][6][7]

References

Anything to add?