Kris Wright

Kris Wright

Author: Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project June 16, 2023 Duration: 1:53:03

Kristina “Kris” Wright was the owner of the very popular Pens and Needles Custom Tattoo (now Certified Tattoo Studios) in Colorado Springs. Kris was the 2018 Woman of Influence, and the Assistant Director of the Tattoo Academy after serving in the military. Interviewers: CC Students Emmaline Hawley, Brooktie Frogge, and Kit Slaymaker. Season 4 of the COS LGBTQ+ Oral History Project is directed by Dr. Rushaan Kumar, Colorado College, in collaboration with students in his class titled “LGBTQ Social Movements in the US”, taught in Fall 2022.


Tucked into the foothills of the Rockies, Colorado Springs holds a complex and powerful story, one often told through a narrow lens. The Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project shifts that perspective entirely, turning the microphone over to the people who lived it. This isn't a polished historical overview, but a living archive of intimate conversations. You'll hear directly from longtime LGBTQ+ residents, their voices carrying the weight and warmth of personal memory. They share stories of creating community in unexpected places, of resilience in the face of being labeled a national battleground during the culture wars, and of the quiet, daily triumphs that often go unrecorded. This podcast prioritizes narratives from underrepresented queer and trans communities, ensuring the full tapestry of the city's identity is preserved. Each episode feels like sitting down with a neighbor who has seen the city transform, offering a crucial, firsthand account of the struggle to simply make a home. Listening feels like an act of preservation, honoring a past that actively shapes the present. Through these personal histories, the project builds a more complete and human understanding of a place and its people.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 59

Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project
Podcast Episodes
Susan Peiffer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:03
Susan Peiffer is a renowned poet, writer, and educator who has mentored several queer artists and poets in the Springs. They were named the 5th Pikes Peak Poet Laureate, and have a long track record as a youth advocate a…
Darolyn Stewart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:05
Darolyn Stewart, who identifies as "Black first, and then queer", has been a tireless advocate for youth in Colorado Springs. Her work spans across several groups, non-profits, and educational institutions from Safe @ Sc…
Dara Hoffman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:03
As author, gender affirming therapist, blogger, podcast host, LGBTQ+ community health equity liaison and much more, Dara Hoffman has been transforming trans and nonbinary mental health in the Springs for several years. I…
June Berry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:04
June Berry worked at the Pikes Peak Library District until recently, and is a phenomenal labor organizer and activist. Berry shares stories of surviving the medical system and DIYing her own trans healthcare. In a full c…
Ari Carlin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:56
Interview with Ari Carlin for the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project, conducted by University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) students, led by Dr. Tre Wentling.
Daemon LaVey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:46
Interview with Daemon LaVey for the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project, conducted by University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) students, led by Dr. Tre Wentling.
Taylor Salazar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:29
Interview with Taylor Salazar for the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project, conducted by University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) students, led by Dr. Tre Wentling.
Avalon Manly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:51
Interview with Avalon Manly for the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project, conducted by University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) students, led by Dr. Tre Wentling.
Colleen McElvogue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:01
Interview with Colleen McElvogue for the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project, conducted by University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) students, led by Dr. Tre Wentling.
Jesse Perez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:01
Interview with Jesse Perez for the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project, conducted by University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) students, led by Dr. Tre Wentling.