Showing Up with Pride: Julissa Soto Speaks at Historic Latino Pride in Eagle, Colorado

Date of Event: June 2025
Location: Eagle, Colorado
Event: 2nd Annual Latino Pride Celebration
Hosted by: Mountain Pride

In a moment that marked both a celebration and a call to action, Julissa Soto took the stage as a keynote speaker at Latino Pride in Eagle, Colorado — one of the most powerful and culturally significant LGBTQ+ events on the Western Slope.

This wasn’t just another Pride gathering. It was a historic milestone.

For the first time ever in Eagle County, a Pride Month proclamation was delivered in Spanish, honoring the voices, identities, and leadership of Latino LGBTQ+ community members. The community then marched in unity to the county building — waving flags, holding signs, and making visible what has too often been ignored.

✊🏽 Pride With Purpose

Latino Pride is uniquely powerful because it is grassroots, bold, and entirely organized by and for queer Latino leaders. It’s a space where cultural identity, sexual orientation, language, and advocacy come together — not in contradiction, but in celebration.

Hosted by Mountain Pride, the event reflects the nonprofit’s ongoing commitment to its four pillars:
Community. Education. Advocacy. Resources.
Mountain Pride remains one of the only year-round organizations focused on serving the LGBTQ+ population in Colorado’s rural Western Slope communities.

🎤 A Voice for Equity and Representation

Julissa Soto took the stage alongside allies and elected officials, including County Commissioner Matt Scherr and State Representative Elizabeth Velasco — both of whom stood proudly in solidarity with the community.

“Two elected officials showing us what allyship in action looks like,” Julissa remarked during her speech. “This is what it means to show up. This is how we build trust — not just with words, but with presence.”

As one of the leading national voices for Latino health equity, Julissa emphasized the intersectional struggles that queer immigrants often face: lack of healthcare access, legal insecurity, language barriers, and cultural stigma — all compounding to create invisible walls around already-marginalized people.

Her message was clear: "Showing up matters. Advocacy matters. Visibility matters. And we won’t stop."

💜 Family, Identity, and Unapologetic Pride

In a deeply personal moment, Julissa shared a rare photo of herself with her grandson, Juan Manuel, who wore a shirt reading: “I STAND WITH IMMIGRANTS.” She wore an outfit that boldly proclaimed where she stands: with immigrants, with queer youth, and with families navigating complex identities.

“We must teach our children to respect and defend all communities — regardless of where they come from or who they love,” she said. “Juan Manuel stands proudly with the immigrant LGBTQ+ community — and so do I.”

🌟 A Call to Action

Julissa’s presence wasn’t just symbolic — it was a call to action. She urged other regional leaders, commissioners, and officials to step forward, not only during Pride Month but all year long. The lives and safety of LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities depend on more than statements — they depend on courage, commitment, and collaboration.