NSM Faculty Celebrate Pride Month

Dr. Anna Sher and wife, Fran Simon, are married by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, 2013.

Biological Sciences faculty member, Dr. Anna Sher, has been featured many times throughout the years in media coverage of marriage equality with her wife, Fran Simon. Together, they have been strong supporters of equality in the Denver community for years.

In 2013, they were the first couple to join via civil union in Colorado and the first same-sex couple to be married in Denver. The story of how they met and became married was told through a video from the City of Denver—including the family addition of their son and the ongoing fight for full equality for LGBTQIA+ communities. They were honored by the DU Cultural Center in 2013 with the Catalyst of Change (formerly “Queerific Activist”) Award.

In celebration of Pride this month—and to discuss concern over the likely upcoming repeal of Roe (and the ways that the repeal would threaten protections and equality for LGBTQIA+ persons), Anna and Fran were also featured in articles from KDVR and Denver 7. Fran said, “We want to make the world a better place … we want our son to have it better—and future generations. So, we focus on what we can do to make that happen.”

Though the work is challenging, Anna and Fran have been an integral part of the legal and social recognition of LGBTQIA+ communities in Colorado and nationally. You can join them in Pride Month activities, including the Denver PrideFest on June 25-26.