2023 Award Recipients
Tanya Wait & Lori Mitchell
Grand Marshals
The Grand Marshals award is given to a member(s)of the LGBTQ+ community who embodies queerness, dedication to our community to make it better, and the motivation to make it happen.
Youth Awards
Presented at 10:30 a.m. in Riverside Park in Salida, CO on June 3rd, 2023. Hear public speakers introduce award recipients.
Youth of the Year
EL Sanchez
The Youth of the Year Award is intended to recognize and celebrate youth who have overcome adversity and demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments in school and community.
Youth ALly of the Year
Natalie Moore
The Youth Ally of the Year Award recognizes and honors contributions made by an individual or group who shows a consistent commitment to helping the LGBTQ+ community by using their resources and centers of influence to provide opportunities for and empower LGBTQ+ individuals, employees, organizations, or the community-at-large.
Big Bear Award
Mx. Red
The Big Bear of the Year Award is selected by youth and peers and intended to recognize and honor individuals who have a commitment to youth equality and creates opportunities and care for young people of all colors, cultures, and communities.
Business of the Year
Corvus: Clothing and Curiosities
The Youth Business of the Year Award is selected by youth and intended to recognize and honor individuals and businesses that have a commitment to youth equality in employment, community, and support and creates opportunities for young people of all colors, cultures, and communities.
Rising Star
Marcus Gallegos
The Rising Star Award recognizes emerging leaders who show ongoing and exceptional growth in their contribution to our community.
Ashton Daley
Felix Raber
Community AWARDS
Alyx Hartman, Felix Raber, Ashton Daley, Moon Harrison, Ava Vanleuken, Leym Ham
The Community Awards category recognizes individual youth who show ongoing involvement and exceptional growth and are nominated by peers, teachers, parents, and community members.
RAINBOW AWARD
Olive Ritchie
The Rainbow Award recognizes emerging leaders who show ongoing and exceptional growth for their contribution to our community.
Leadership Award
Radisen Lawrence
The Leadership Award is selected by youth and peers and is intended to recognize and honor individuals who have proven to be kind and effective leaders.
Community Awards
Presented at 4:15 p.m. in Riverside Park in Salida, CO on June 3rd, 2023. (Directly following the parade) Hear public speakers introduce award recipients.
ALLY of the Year
Cassie Stauch
The Ally of the Year Award recognizes and honors contributions made by an individual or organization who shows a consistent commitment to helping the LGBTQ+ community by using their resources and centers of influence to provide opportunities for and empower LGBTQ+ individuals, employees, organizations, or the community-at-large.
Cornerstone award
Southwest Conservation Corps
The Cornerstone Award is intended to recognize individuals or organizations that show a consistent commitment to race, gender, and age equality by creating opportunities through employment, funding, and community outreach.
Back row: Dylan Lang, David Montes, Cal Mittag, Cole Connelly, Ryan Ballantine, Tess Ryley, Maeve Tierney-Hynes, Anna Hendricks
Middle row: Trevor Taylor, Jordi Romero, Adam Vitt, Shelby Smith, Stevie Lopez, Zina Wilson, Pamela Cisneros, Alexa Sharp, Kimberly Martinez
Front row dogs: Demi, Telma
Elevation award
Salida Presbyterian Church
The Elevation Award is intended to recognize and honor individual(s) or organizations that through mindfulness and faith lifts not only the members of our LGBTQ+ community but the community as a whole.
Business Ally of the Year
Tres Litros
The Business Ally of the Year Award is intended to recognize and honor individuals and businesses that have a commitment to equality in employment, community, and support and creates opportunities for people of all colors, cultures, and communities.
Community Superhero
Bianka Martinez
The Community Superhero Award is selected by community members to recognize outstanding involvement in the community at large as well as specifically the LGBTQ+ community.