“I can’t begin to tell you how much this Pride event is needed in Greeley.' The High Plains Library District in late April canceled its annual Greeley Popup Pride Celebration after months of planning the event, which was scheduled to occur in June.
Editor’s note: This is Part 1 of a two-part series about the High Plains Library District’s cancellation of its LGBTQIA+ Pride celebration, how community members are reacting and the wider context of the event’s cancellation.A local drag performer is accusing higher-up staff at the High Plains Library District of following a harmful trend of nationwide backlash against the LGBTQIA+ community.
Some see the Pride cancellation as strike three for Executive Director Matthew Hortt, administration members and the board members as the district is currently involved in a discrimination lawsuit for firing a teen librarian who challenged the district’s cancellation of her programming for LGBTQIA+ youth, as well as programming for youth of color.
Last year’s Pride event brought in 164 people, according to an HPLD Friends & Foundation Quarterly Report Form — pulled from a records request filed by the Tribune. Melena said the district plans to participate as a vendor in the Erie and Johnstown 2023 events, as well as future Pride events across the district.emails obtained by the Tribune via a records request indicated the High Plains Foundation staff understood the partner to be a “well-respected person in this field of work.”
Perry and others place some blame on UNC staff for influencing High Plains’ cancellation, but a university spokeswoman indicated the decision to cancel the event was solely made by the library district. UNC encourages events that showcase diversity and inclusion, Herbert added. She said diverse and inclusive efforts align with UNC’s institutional values to “nurture and celebrate” people with diverse backgrounds and intersecting identities.
“Members of the queer community have thanked the library for providing a safe inclusive event,” Ortiz’s quarterly report from a February Board of Directors meeting said. As the mother of an adult gay child, the woman reflected back on her son’s fear of coming out in the Greeley community where he grew up and lived his whole life. She said when he finally came out as a young adult, he said, “Mom, please don’t tell anyone. They killed Matthew Shepherd an hour from here.”
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