2023 Prism Awards

Lady Justice - 3242 S. Acoma St.

Odell Brewing - 1625 Perry St.

Cervecería Colorado - 1635 Platte St.

Champagne Tiger - 601 E Colfax Ave

Cerebral Brewing - 1477 Monroe St, Denver, CO 80206

Denver Beer Co - 2409 Main St, Littleton, CO 80120

Cerebral Brewing - Aurora Arts; 9990 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010

Andrea Gibson is the Poet Laureate of Colorado and one of the most celebrated and influential spoken word poets of our time. Best known for their live performances, Gibson has changed the landscape of what it means to attend a “poetry show.” Gibson’s poems center around LGBTQ issues, gender, feminism, mental health and social justice. The winner of the first Women’s World Poetry Slam, Gibson is the author of seven award winning books and seven full length albums. Their live shows have become loving and supportive ecosystems for audiences to feel seen, heard, and held through Gibson’s art. Find Andrea online at andreagibson.org.

A Diné scholar born and raised within the Navajo Nation, charlie amáyá scott (they / her) is dedicated to inspiring joy and justice through her community and social media. Their scholarship and writings are imbued with a desire for a more just and liberating education that supports and cultivates the next generation of Queer, Trans, and Indigenous brilliance. In addition, Charlie reflects, analyzes, and celebrates what it means to be Diné, Queer, and Trans in the 21st century on her personal blog, dineaesthetics.com, and celebrates her entirety on Instagram and TikTok at @dineaesthetics.

Jesse Daniels is an entrepreneur, activist, and community leader in Western Colorado. With more than 26 years of experience, he describes his professional life as ‘The Nightlife & Entertainment Industry.’ Jesse, his mother & sister attended the 1st annual Moab Pride Festival in 2011 which led to many conversations over subsequent months starting with, “If Moab can have a Parade & Festival,…”! Jesse co-founded Colorado West Pride Fest in 2012 and remained Event Director until 2022. In 2023, Jesse saw an opportunity to create a queer space in Western Colorado, and Good Judy’s Bar & Night Club was born.

Parasol Patrol's mission is clear: to shield LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC children and youth from the distressing elements of protest environments. The Parasol Patrol was formed out of a need to protect our children's eyes and ears from the hateful speech of protestors. With a mighty team of volunteers and umbrellas as their emblem of peace, Parasol Patrol is an initiative driven by compassion and action. Parasol Patrol also offers training and education about hate groups, safety, and youth trafficking. Visit parasolpatrol.org to join their mission.

Instagram: @leslieherod

Instagram: @willowpillqueen

Instagram: @dj_cyn

Dana Zzyym (they/them) is an intersex activist, Coloradan, US Navy Veteran, and first US citizen to have an “X” sex/gender marker on their official US passport after an historic six year long lawsuit. They are currently the Associate Director of Intersex Campaign for Equality where they continue their activism work.

Alicia Roth Weigel is a writer and activist working to improve the landscape for marginalized populations in the South and worldwide through her firm, Intrepida Strategy. A Human Rights Commissioner for the City of Austin, she continually advocates for the rights of intersex people like her—work for which she has received numerous awards and which is featured in both Focus Features' documentary Every Body (directed by Julie Cohen of the film RBG) and her memoir Inverse Cowgirl. Over the past decade, Alicia has helmed nonprofits and political campaigns and has held various marketing and business development roles in Brazil, Angola, South Africa, and throughout the US. She has written for the New York Times and Time Magazine, has been interviewed by NPR's Terry Gross and the Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart and been featured in the Daily Mail, Forbes and more. She lives in Austin, Texas with her chihuahua Chiquita.

Mary-Ellen Maynard (they/she) has been a member of, first, the Lesbian Community, for at least 30 years and is now happily part of the more expansive LGBTQIA2S+ community. All told, they’ve been hanging out with the Queer folk for 40+ years. As a non-binary and intersex person, Mary-Ellen uses they and she pronouns. In one incarnation, they were a glass artist, selling primarily to the Lesbian and New Age markets into her fifties. Mary-Ellen had been semi-retired as an aspiring writer for 20+ years producing essays and LGBTQ+, sci-fi, solar punk, and, in particular, Intersex fiction. In 2020, the need to found a local LGBTQ+ organization in support of members of her community, young and old; overwhelmed her. If you do the math, you know that they’re reasonably old, very busy and thriving!

Penrose Library

R Bar

Location TBD

Jude is a fierce activist for the LGBTQ+ community. She started her advocacy work at the age of nine by testifying for a Colorado Bill that allows transgender people to change the gender marker on their birth certificate without it being stamped “amended.” Jude testified for this bill eight times from 2016 to 2019. Due to her persistence and commitment to showing up every year the bill was ultimately named “Jude’s Law” when it finally passed in 2019.

One Colorado Executive Director