Greeley Pride event to take place July 29 after June cancellation

By Dan England

Most people who knew Andromeda D’Angelo Stanfield before December would recognize her as Sarah Worley. But they changed their name, a process, they said, that helped them get comfortable in their own skin. 

“The name I had didn’t feel like me,” they said. 

Sarah, they said, was too feminine. They are gender fluid — which is why we are using the pronouns we are — and their friends call them “Andy,” which they prefer because it’s more masculine. 

The name change wasn’t a small thing: It was part of a complete acceptance of who they are. Andromeda knew they were gay in the sixth grade and has been out for years.

Now living in Larimer County, Andromeda feels comfortable, perhaps for the first time in their life. They want that feeling for others. With queer-only spaces and a Pride event hosted in June attended by thousands, they feel supported. That’s a big reason why they’re helping to bring a Pride event to Greeley. The event takes place Saturday, July 29, at Aims Community College. 

Greeley’s played host to pride events in the past, but this year, the event was canceled. 

High Plains Library District announced the cancellation of its annual Greeley Popup Pride Celebration in April after months of event planning. The move came in the wake of a lawsuit alleging discrimination for firing Brooky Parks, a former Erie Community Librarian who spoke out after LGBTQ+ programming was canceled. 

According to a report by the Greeley Tribune, the library district did not cite a reason behind the decision to cancel the event, but spokesperson James Melena said the decision was reached after following an internal review of the planning and recommendation from a key and valued partner. 

“We have determined that we are unable to put on a successful event that would celebrate our LGBTQIA+ Community at this time,” Melena wrote in an email to the Tribune. “This does not mean that we are stopping our support of Pride events.”

Though Andromeda lives in Larimer County now, they said Greeley is close to their heart. They worked for Dos Rios Elementary as the school librarian and now works for High Plains, which is how they got involved in the Greeley Pride event: It’s their job, as the events and experiences librarian, to plan it. The library board canceled it after they planned it for six months. They are, essentially, carrying over her work for this event. 

“I was like, this isn’t happening,” Andromeda said. “We are going to have it one way or another.” 

The library district hasn’t said why they decided to cancel the event. Andromeda was disappointed in the decision, even angry, but they don’t want to harbor ill will and considers Greeley a safe place for her LBGTQ+ community. 

“I think Greeley is more open-hearted than a lot of people give it credit for,” Andromeda said. 

The cancellation just affirmed Greeley Pride’s determination, said Simone Perry, the director of entertainment for the event. 

“With the wave of anti-queer and anti-trans legislation across the country, we knew that it was more important than ever to have a Pride celebration in Greeley,” Perry said. “HPLD's cancellation illustrated how important it was to make this happen. We want to send a clear message to our queer and trans community that they belong in Greeley just as much as anyone else.”

Despite the setback, the event is expected to be the biggest of its kind in Greeley.

There will be entertainment and resources available the entire day, with music, other performances and public speakers, along with booths with “a ton” of information on being gay, transgender care and support, Andromeda said. Weld’s health department will offer tests for sexually transmitted infections. There will also be food trucks. 

As for Andromeda, they now wear their rainbow hair with real pride — “my stylist is fantastic” — and they hope to create a nonprofit that will run the pride event every year and provide support to the population, especially gay and transgender teens. Andromeda is also working on a doctorate in equity, diversity and inclusion. 

“I want to make sure there are enough services for teens and kids who are LBGTQ+,” they said. “I’m hoping to do more queer-specific programs. People don’t deserve to feel alone. That’s why Greeley pride is so important.” 

To go

The new event is set for noon Saturday, July 29 at Aims Community College. Despite staff’s involvement in planning the event, it is not associated with High Plains Library District. 

To learn more, go to https://greeleypride.org/.