Denver Pride is honored to announce Christopher Sloan, also known as the legendary Christi Layne, as the Grand Marshal for our 50th anniversary celebration.⁠ ⁠ Christi has been a driving force behind significant milestones for Denver’s LGBTQ+ community, including getting the first permit for the Denver Pride Parade & Festival and being an honorary founder of The Center. Christi also held the position as Empress VI of the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire.⁠ ⁠ In 1976, the inaugural parade faced uncertain odds; the permit to march was initially limited to the sidewalk and marchers were told to obey the streetlights. This wasn't enough for Christi. At only 20 years old, Christi took a bold stand with the city, stating, “I’ve got hundreds of people coming. We're going to march whether you give us a permit or not.” Amidst continued opposition, Christi made a cold call to the governor's office to secure a last-minute permit, which was hand delivered on the day of the march by 6 pol...