Nico Wilkinson

Nico Wilkinson

Author: Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project June 16, 2023 Duration: 1:55:44

Nico Wilkinson (they/he) grew up in Denver but has lived in Colorado Springs since 2012. They are a locally beloved poet, and serve as Development Director at Inside Out Youth Services. They are also a leader in the “Keep Colorado Springs Queer” initiative which hosts regular open mic nights in the Springs. Interviewers: CC students Liv Normandeau and Vicente Taijeron. 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
Victoria Lipscomb [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:38
Interview with Victoria Lipscomb for the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project, conducted by University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) students, led by Dr. Tre Wentling.
Joshua Jiron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:50
Interview with Joshua Jiron for the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project, conducted by University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) students, led by Dr. Tre Wentling.
Diane Hansen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:07
Diane Hansen (she/her) has lived in Colorado Springs since 1982 and witnessed the voting cycle of Amendment II initiative in 1992. After a career in the military, she worked as a courier for 19 years and is now with Cent…
Alekx Schneebeck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:35
Alekx Schneebeck (they/them) was born and raised in Colorado Springs. They work as a case manager with TESSA, an organization that empowers survivors of partner and sexual violence. They are especially engaged in thinkin…
Goddess Tyescha [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:25
Goddess Tyescha (they/them/Goddess) has lived in Colorado Springs for seven years. They are an organizer who cares about liberation for all, with an emphasis on QTPOC liberation. They have worked in numerous advocacy pos…
Heidi Beedle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:00:10
Heidi Beedle (she/her) is a reporter for the Colorado Springs Indy and has previously been a teacher in Colorado Springs. She has been in the Springs since 2011 and graduated from UCCS after serving in the military. Inte…
Kris Wright [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 A…
Rev. Mallory Everhart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:51:59
Rev Mallory Everhart (she/her) has lived in Colorado Springs since 2013. She is a social justice oriented pastor at the progressive Vista Grande Community Church, an active member of the local queer community, and a cat…
Tara (DJTBeatz) Bush [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:50
Tara Bush (DJ TBeatz) was born in Colorado Springs, grew up a “military brat”, and is a veteran of the Springs lgbtq party scene. They are a local DJ who has been spinning since 2013, including at Club Q for the past six…
Ashley Cornelius [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:58
Ashley Cornelius (she/her) has lived in Colorado Springs since she was three years old. She is a registered LPC/therapist, the current Poet Laureate of the Pikes Peak Region, as well as a community organizer, especially…