EVOLUTION

Out Boulder County is now Rocky Mountain Equality! The needs of the LGBTQ+ community don’t stop at the borders of Boulder County, so why should our work? Over the last decade, we have prided ourselves on meeting LGBTQ+ people and communities where they are. We are excited to work collaboratively with the organizations already supporting the LGBTQ+ community across Colorado.

WHAT WE
BELIEVE

VISION

We envision LGBTQ+ people, families, and communities living authentically in an inclusive, equitable, and compassionate world.

MISSION

We work collaboratively to create connection and provide advocacy, education, research, cultural events, and responsive programs and services that ensure LGBTQ+ people, families, and communities thrive.

OUR CORE
VALUES

EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE

Is everything we do ultimately in the service of building a better world where all LGBTQ+ people are treated respectfully and justly throughout their entire lives so that they can not only live but thrive? How are we working to recognize and dismantle systems of oppression that hinder this better world? Are we aligning our efforts across operations, programming, education, research, and advocacy to be the most effective catalyst for intersectional social change?

COLLABORATION & SOLIDARITY

How are we forming and sustaining interdependent, mission-aligned partnerships to increase the breadth and depth of our joint work’s impact? Do those individuals and organizations with whom we collaborate know unquestionably that OBC stands supportively with them as one, that their fight is our fight too?

RESPONSIVENESS & ACCOUNTABILITY

What are the current needs and aspirations of the diverse individuals and communities we serve, and how are we moving quickly and creatively to leverage our resources effectively to meet them? How are we holding ourselves to the highest standards of ethics and transparency, and how fully do we take ownership of times we fall short of our own or others’ expectations?

COMPASSION & TRUST

Are we open-hearted, honest, courageous, and kind in our individual and collective relationships? Rooted in relationship, are we congruent in words and action and honoring our commitments? How are we putting empathy into action by listening deeply to, advocating tirelessly for, and walking arm-in-arm with all our LGBTQ+ community members on the path to the future we are creating together?

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING

What more can we do to create spaces for our communities to celebrate and hold the full, beautiful spectrum of LGBTQ+, and especially trans and QTPOC, identities and intersectionalities? What perspectives and experiences are missing and how can we invite these in? How are we centering underrepresented, misrepresented, and softer voices so all feel welcomed, heard, valued, and home at RMEQ?

OUR HISTORY

Since 1994, Rocky Mountain Equality (RMEQ) has educated, advocated, and provided services, programs, and support to LGBTQ+ individuals and families in Colorado. Through its activities, support groups, and events, the organization reaches around 15,000 people each year.

BOULDER PRIDE Several community organizations in Boulder County collaborated on a series of events to celebrate Gay Pride. This collective was called Boulder Pride. As the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community’s engagement grew, the need for Boulder Pride to broaden its purpose grew as well.

Boulder Pride received a three-year grant from the Gill Foundation to secure a community center and offer services to the LGBTQ+ community. The first program established was Speaking Out, a program still going strong today that brings trained LGBTQ+ and allied volunteers into classrooms and other settings to share their personal stories in order to build empathy and understanding.

OUT BOULDER Boulder Pride engaged in a community process funded by the Gill Foundation and a generous donation from Vermilion Design rebranded as Out Boulder to better represent the diversity of the programs and services being provided, including a new youth program.

Out Boulder hosted a Trans Leadership Summit, from which the Trans Steering Committee was formed to better serve the transgender community.

Out Boulder organized Longmont Pride for the first time and moved the celebration downtown where it became a must-attend event for the LGBTQ+ and ally communities.

OUT BOULDER COUNTY After opening a downtown Longmont location, the organization changed its name to Out Boulder County, expanding its mission to serve LGBTQ+ individuals throughout Boulder County.

Out Boulder County organized a Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC) Leadership Summit that brought community members together to identify and work on personal and organizational goals, leading to the development of Out Boulder County’s QTPOC program. The organization also conducted a robust survey of LGBTQ+ community members in partnership with CU-Boulder to better understand the community’s priorities and needs.

The organization maintained full operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting with virtual programming. In response to the pandemic, the organization created its first-ever direct financial aid program for LGBTQ+ individuals and families, conducted rigorous research on COVID’s impact on the LGBTQ+ community, and advocated for LGBTQ+ inclusion in public health response efforts. The ongoing pandemic also spurred the decision to close the downtown Longmont location.

Out Boulder County purchased a sizable community center, the newly minted Equality Center of the Rocky Mountains, where Rocky Mountain Equality is now headquartered. The established downtown Boulder office was rededicated to house the new behavioral health and recovery services program.

Out Boulder County engaged in state legislation for the first time with the successful passage of HB22-1157, Collection of Data for Public Health Purposes (“Fairness in Data Collection”) and HB22-1356, Communities Lead, Communities Thrive Nonprofit Infrastructure Funding.

Out Boulder County brought programs and services into Larimer and Weld counties. This began with programming for LGBTQ+ youth, voter education and engagement for school board races, vaccine equity work, and behavioral health services.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN EQUALITY With the continued growth of its programs and services in northern Colorado, Out Boulder County rebranded as Rocky Mountain Equality to better reflect the organization’s growing reach outside of Boulder County and its continued work on statewide legislative and policy efforts.

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