The Center on Colfax in Denver has embarked on a Colorado LGBTQ History Project aimed at collecting, preserving, archiving and sharing information about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) history in Colorado. The Center recently embarked on a Colorado Transgender History Quilt project aimed at educating citizens on the fascinating history of transgender people in Colorado. The project’s goal is to collect oral histories, archive documents, and educate citizens through the creation of LGBTQ History lesson plans, teacher trainings, tours and exhibits.
The Center will be working on the quilt throughout the winter of 2026, and is calling for people to donate clothes of significance to be archived with History Colorado or with the Denver Public Library, and/or pieces to be included as a part of the quilt. The quilt will be made up of the stories of transgender Coloradans like Joanne Conte, the first openly transgender person to serve on a city council in Colorado, and Frenchy Vosbaugh, a woman who came to the U.S. from France and lived as a man for 60 years until his death in 1907 in Trinidad. The Transgender History Project will choose symbols of the lives of Colorado’s transgender citizens, like Frenchy’s overalls or Joanne’s hat and glasses, to honor and memory of trans ancestors who came before and to create hope for the legacy of those who come after. If you’d like to participate or contribute to the project, or just find out more about it, message David Duffield through Facebook or email history@lgbtqcolorado.org