Call Me Limbo
Call Me Limbo is your weekly dose of comedic therapy where pop culture and politics get tossed in a blender with personal stories, improv games, and zero chill. Hosted by Dai and David—two queer best friends with more opinions than filter—the show tackles everything from reality TV and music videos to capitalist hellscapes and Bad Bunny’s underwear.
It’s entertainment with a little revolution on the side.
Sometimes you’ll laugh until you cry. Sometimes you’ll cry until you’re organizing a union. Either way, we’re here for the drama, the joy, and the work of building a better world—with jokes. Always with jokes.
We believe the personal is political, but also… pop culture is too damn fun to ignore. So whether you’re here for the Disney Channel wand impressions or a fiery takedown of billionaires—welcome. You’ve found your people because when they go low.....we go lower. So, Call Me Limbo!
Call Me Limbo
Call Me Saying Bye Felicia with DeMarcio Slaughter
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This week, Dai and David are joined by a Denver legend - DeMarcio Slaughter! DeMarcio has emceed, hosted, and coordinated all the entertainment for the annual Denver PrideFest Center Stage for over 20 years. As he prepares to celebrate his final year on stage at Denver Pride, DeMarcio reflects on his favorite Pride moments, difficult entertainers, fashion, and what he's most looking forward to after retiring from this role. Additionally, we talk about Diana Ross, turtles, Transformers, hospitality, airport pickups, queer love, beta cassettes, queer ancestors, political shifts, and much much more.
Join us in giving DeMarcio his glitter as he kicks off his thank you tour!
Denver PrideFest Weekend Activities
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Theme Music by Aidan Ivory Edwards.
Logo by Mark Mittelstaedt.
Hello and welcome to another episode of your favorite podcast.
SPEAKER_01It's your boy Day. And I'm David, and together we are coming out, and we want the world to know. Yes, the iconic Diana Ross, which feels very fitting with you. Yes. This is Call Me Limbo. We're also creating conversations this week. We are joined by an incredibly special guest. He is a Diana Ross super fan, a lover of transformers, a hospitality expert, the husband of one of our previous guests, father to multiple turtles, an incredible party host, my friend, and the Denver Pride center stage MC and entertainment coordinator for over 20 years. The Marcio Slaughter is here. Very nice. Welcome, gosh.
SPEAKER_00That was the boss.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_02I like that. I like that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. We try to we try to warm you up a little bit.
SPEAKER_02So yeah, no problem. Get me with Diana and Transformers.
SPEAKER_01That's that's I that's why I led with that. That's why I led with that. So yeah, I was like, what's the perfect intro for Demarcio at the time? Thank you. Hey, Diana Ross.
SPEAKER_02I am so excited to finally be able to sit down and talk with you both, having uh uh watched and listened to the show over the past year and a half or so. A couple years, yeah. Yes. This is cool to be a guest. Thank you for including me.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, well, thanks for thanks for voluntarily doing this.
SPEAKER_01Volunteering gets me in trouble. Yes. Well, I'm just gonna start with the the first question that I kind of want to know, and I would imagine listeners would want to know, and community in in Denver would like to know. So I don't think it's a secret at this point, but this is going to be your last year hosting Pride. You are correct. Correct. Yes. How are you feeling about it? Very good.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_01Maybe that's our episode. Peace out.
SPEAKER_02No, it's been um uh for the past uh 20 plus years. I have dedicated every summer to doing uh pride as a volunteer, and I am looking forward to not uh investing in my my time and thought process in May and June to this event. I'm very much excited. I'm pleased with what I've accomplished and what the team has had build, and I feel comfortable stepping aside to let the next volunteer jump in and do that. So yeah, this is it. Bye Felicia. Right. That's our tagline, the team and I, we end every text with hashtag bye Felicia. Yes, I love that. So are you Felicia or who is Felicia? Felicia is the the feel, the theme, the event itself. Um, because you know, when we started, it was 20 years ago. It was a half day festival, David. It was it was on a Sunday afternoon. It was when I started, it was from like noon to five right after the parade. And over the past decades, as things have changed, uh it's grown into a two-day festival, 17 hours worth of entertainment uh that I didn't realize I was doing at all until someone asked me, how do you do it? What are you doing? And uh I'm uh I'm in a good space. I'm really in a good space to walk away.
SPEAKER_01Good. Well, I was like, I remember this was before I met you and before you became my friend, like this what, five years ago. And I was like, I remember going to my first, I think it was my first ever Pride. And it was here in Denver. And because I went to college in Iowa, and there were like very, very small like pride events. I remember going to like my first gay bar in Iowa, but I think my first pride was here in Denver, and Caswell was performing, and I was like, I remember it was like, oh my God, he's so raunchy and so gay. And I was like, I've gotta be there. And so like I took the light rail downtown to um like to yeah, to go to the festival, and I remember being clear in the back of the crowd, and I remember seeing you, DeMarcio, like performing and on stage and being really impressed. And like when we met, I didn't associate the two, I didn't connect the dots. I like that, yeah, until like you were like, Yeah, I'm also the the host and the MC of Pride Fest. And I was like, Oh, now I can place you.
SPEAKER_02I very much like it when people don't know that side of me, because you know me. That's not that's a small chunk of my persona that happens one weekend. I'm like, you know the you know the real nerd. So and that's uh thank you for like yeah, it's um uh so what year was that? 20, what year?
SPEAKER_01It was probably 20. I did he perform a couple of times? Yeah, okay. I think I'm so this was like I think it was when I was in grad school. So it was either maybe 2009, 2010, 2011. Would you come back then? Yeah, maybe yeah.
SPEAKER_02I got a whole list. I got a whole list, so yeah.
SPEAKER_01Okay, it's been good. Been there done that. Yeah, that's cool. Are there any particular like favorite moments that you've had?
SPEAKER_02Oh, I remember what you know, with the booking all these headliners, because you know, my first year, um, they only had local bands, uh, Denver local bands performing as the headlining act. So when I took over, I said, you know, I would like to bring a national recording artist of some sort to really build up because I'd heard what other cities were doing. And again, this was, you know, 2003. This internet was, you know, still, you couldn't Google every single thing, but you knew enough. And I said, um, well, let me uh work. And they had a, I think I had a $2,000 budget uh for the whole day. And I said, uh, well, I want to bring CeCe Penniston. I thought that that finally, yep, you got it. And I said, I want to do it. And she was $5,000. So at that time, I remember going to local businesses in Denver and asking for $200 here, $75 there, $150. I literally went to every gay, and there were a lot more gay shops and independent LGBTQ owned businesses back then. And I just asked them to donate. And I literally said, I will say your name five, six times on stage if you give me $200 to put towards CC. So we raised the money, we brought CC Penniston, and it was so cool because the riff, the joke was, well, the the act was that uh I would lift my microphone to the sky and the performer would be backstage and they would do a riff. And I just remember the whole gimmick. I was like, okay, this this is the line. I was listening to my iPod in the gym the other day. That's that was the line. And we used that for several years. Uh-huh. I was listening to my iPod in the gym the other day, and this voice came on, and that was my cue to raise the mic, and she would riff from backstage. And I remember when she riffed, the audience went nuts. And I was like, okay, this is mine. Yeah. I got this. I had never heard such screams. And she came out and waxed it. And so that was the first memory. And then after that, we did Martha Wash and Tiffany and Debbie Gibson and in Vogue. I remember I was on vacation at the San Diego Zoo. Uh, and it was my, it was the center's, I think, 20th, you know, 15th or 20th, it was some milestone for them. And they brought in Vogue. And I remember being at the zoo on vacation, like a week, and they're like, um, we're gonna have to cancel. And I remember watching the giraffes and elephants at the San Diego Zoo, like in tears, trying to get the agent not to cancel the act, but they came through. I remember being called on the phone uh by Jennifer Holiday, whose agent did not communicate our airport pickup style. So Jennifer, Miss Holliday, was waiting for someone to greet her at baggage claim with the sign, but I was not aware of that. She was used to that. And I remember being on stage in the park and I get a phone call and she's like, Hello, is this DiMarcy? I said, Yes, how can I help you? This is Jennifer Holliday, and I can tell you must be relatively young by the sound of your voice, but there's no one here to greet me at the shewed me out. Oh no. But she came and I remember watching her rehearse, and I was in tears just watching Jennifer Holiday sing, I am telling you into. And I still have that video. I'll just I'll send it to you. So there have been so many cool moments, performers who've driven me crazy, some that we've hung out with. It's been Caswell was super fun. Hanging out with him and shit talking with Caswell is you know, it's been really good. It's been really, it's been good.
SPEAKER_01That's cool. I, you know, I always want, I always dreamed of like being picked up at the airport by somebody with a yes, and then I realized I was like, all I have to do is like book it. Like I can just book it for myself. But I was like, when someone else is supposed to be booking it for you, I suppose. Yeah, it should go good. Oh my gosh. I was like, when I saw my like I booked it for myself when I was overseas, and I was like, when I like saw my name on the site, I was like, I've made it. I missed that and boarding in zone one on an airplane. I'm a 1K member, so I do like to I it's part of your brand. It's hard of your brand. It helps. I love that.
SPEAKER_00So I'm very curious because I want you to spill on who's the man the most difficult, but I don't want to do that to you publicly because I know you still have to finish some responsibilities. But if the spirit moves you, it is gay month, so they can't really get you right now. That'd be homophobic.
SPEAKER_02There was a performer from the the RuPaul's Dragway show who was a judge, and he, as a male, came to perform a few years ago, and he brought a sound engineer. And the sound engineer, when they bring their own sound engineer as a headliner, it's a relief because we don't have to play the music, we don't have to do anything, we just plug it in, they do it. The sound engineer did not have the right tracks. And because of being outdoors in the park, the Wi-Fi is sometimes sketchy. You're not in a hotel conference room where you can just instant speeds. And I remember the sound check took like two hours, and the day got backed up. And I'm just watching this gentleman uh deal with his sound engineer who didn't, he literally didn't have his music, his person's music on his laptop, and it was so very awkward that, and then the person's dancers got a little intoxicated at this altitude and missed their flight. Oh, so I had to deal with that because I do all the transportation and hotels for everybody. So it's a it's not just them showing up, it is getting them from City A to our city, from Denver Airport, downtown to their hotels and back. So there have been some there have been some moments.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Well, and it's all volunteer, you said. So so yeah, and his name rhymes rhymes with Roderick Ball.
SPEAKER_00What's funny is I like messaged you like, oh wait, is this who I think it is? Funny enough, they were actually the headliner, I believe, last year. I did not, I love them. I've seen them live. I didn't go though because it was too hot. See, the reason why I don't like that pride is outside, and I know that sounds crazy. Like, I don't like being hot. I think it was like 90-something degrees. So I honestly applaud them for performing last year here because it was ridiculously hot.
SPEAKER_02And and they put on a great show, don't get me wrong. Oh, yes, what folks don't realize is that I have to deal with everything before and after. So often I can't enjoy their actual performance. And again, that's my fault. That's why I want to step away. Yeah, I want to show up as an audience member and just take it all in like a spectator. People have been asking me for years like, would you bring Diana Ross? I'm like, I've been asking him that. Yes, I would. However, I would not want to deal with Miss Ross's contract and writer. Like, I just want to walk in, sit down in my firm of seat and enjoy the moment and not have to deal with all that other stuff. That's not fun.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00That's I used to do that for my college. Um, when I was when I was, of course, when I was in school. So, and the funny thing is, I never got to watch any of the concerts either because my my choir director would always schedule the concert the same night as the as the performance. And I used to be so angry. So I would set up, I would break down, but I never could see the show because the show was right during the concert. So I get that frustration for sure. So I tip my hat to you because it people don't realize it's really not a personal thing with the artists a lot of times, because what they don't realize, a two-hour delay in sound check means everybody else who was scheduled in those time slots is now pushed back, and the headliner gets priority, and then there's this, and then everyone's angry, and you're like, I promise y'all, this isn't what we wanted. And if you can't get the tracks, really screwed over. It's like, where's your stems? Where's your this? Where's that? And it just turns into a massive headache.
SPEAKER_02So right, and to your point, it's hot, yes, and nothing worse than people delayed in the heat, and it's not air conditioned back then. It's it's it's not, it's real weather.
SPEAKER_00So I am curious though, because you know, what are you aside from you know being able to just watch and not have to deal with that? I guess what I wanted to ask, what things are you looking forward to once you wrap your responsibilities? But maybe that includes like kind of what's next for you in this next chapter of life.
SPEAKER_02That's a great question. And I look back over the past two decades. I've been so very fortunate to have this public stage persona, and it has afforded me great opportunities, great visibility in in Denver and the city. And when I travel around, it is very rare. I'm not bragging. However, after 20 years of doing this, I get recognized everywhere I go, a lot in the airports and other cities and towns. And so it's been cool. What's next? I think just enjoying the summer to not literally, and it started about it started about four days ago. My body wakes up at four o'clock in the morning in June just because I am used to uh uh fidgeting, emails, guest lists, backstage, transportation, hotels. That's when I go into the zone. And I can't, there's nothing I can do about it. So I'm looking forward to a June where I just don't have to, where I can enjoy the summer. That's what's next. Just enjoying the summer. And you know, Shane, my husband too, he had to um he got roped into this also. Shane knew pride as a participant, as an attendee. So he was used to that party at environment. In fact, that was our first disagreement when we started dating, is because pride for me was a business, and for him it was a party. So our first pride together did not meld well because I didn't appreciate or understand the party side of it. I didn't know how you could not be focused on these things. And he had to understand that's all I could think about was the business side. So I like to say that I was uh he was wrong, but I was wonger in that first argument. And uh I want to be able to, you know, because it's his life too. You give 20 years, you know, 17 years. That's a lot of summers dedicated to something that's not our relationship.
SPEAKER_00What would you say? I'm just curious, and maybe nothing, because he watches sometimes. Is there anything if you could like apologize to him for in that 20 years? What would that be? Because that does take a toll on the relationship.
SPEAKER_03Sure.
SPEAKER_02There were a lot of times when, because his birthday is the 13th of June. Oh. And pride has fluctuated dates over the past several years. So there have been many times where I have not, I've never forgotten his birthday, but I've not been able to give it the attention that you would like to give your spouse on their birthday because I'm mentally elsewhere. When it is time to sit down and apologize, I will say, you know, where do you want to go for your birthday for the next 15 years? What do you want to do? That's something I think about because, you know, my birthday, I like it, you know. I'm not saying I gotta celebrate all month, but there have just been so many times where I'm focused on being that guy and he had to, you know, take a back seat for a minute.
SPEAKER_00Well, this actually drops on his birthday. So what a wonderful. Yeah, so happy birthday, Shane.
SPEAKER_02Happy birthday, Shane, friend of the podcast. He's fine. I just took him to Puerto Vallarta. We just got back from Puerto Vallarta yesterday. He's fine. This and this to that point, this is the first time I've ever taken a vacation before the festival. I have never taken a vacation in the month of May or June since we've been together. So to actually leave Denver and disconnect for five days. Wow, so cool. Was so I've never done that in June. Like that was weird for us. Yeah. So you got a taste of it. Yeah. So I'm ready.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. No, that's it. Yeah. Yes. So I'm curious. Like you, you mentioned you and Shane have been together for 17 years. You've been hosting Pride since before gay marriage was even legal in the US, let alone in Colorado. Colorado used to be known as the hate state because of a lot of LGBT, anti-LGBTQ legislation. When you started, I would imagine Colorado was still probably a red state at that point. Yeah. And so, like, we've shifted to a pretty solidly blue state. And you and Shane, did you you got married on the Pride Stage or you renewed your vows? Or you like, yeah. Tell me, tell me more about that.
SPEAKER_02Uh great story there. Yeah, it was negative. It was very negative uh when I started. I would I used to have to uh tell my bosses at the time that I was gonna need a day off or fake sick when I was back in entry-level hotels to be able to take the whole weekend off. I couldn't go to them and say, I am the host of Gay Pride, can I have this? It was it was finding a way around that. When uh it was the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, and Shane and I decided to uh we we'd already been married, but I decided to make, we decided to make a, I don't want to say spectacle, but uh what's the word, monument, acknowledgement to all those who came before us. And so um I was working for the mayor of Denver at the time, and I asked Shane on stage if he would marry me. And and again, we'd all talked about it before, but we really wanted to make a statement on the anniversary of someone. So we said yes. My boss, the mayor, came in uh uh 15 minutes later and performed our vows, uh, the ceremony on the stage. And I'll send you that video too. Yeah, it is the quiet, you got 5,000 people watching you get married, and there is not a peep, there is not a sound, and everyone is watching, and to see that video is so amazing. One, because everyone is with me, with us in that moment, and it's so symbolic, symbolic to the cause. And I wanted to, I get a lot of people tell me, you know, you're my first pride, you're my first pride, you're my first pride. And I know that so many people out there, it was their first pride. That's what I wanted them to see. That's what I wanted them to walk away with on that anniversary. Um, so it was super amazing, really pissed off because none of them bitches sent me uh a wedding gift. I don't know how you have a wedding gift. Three precious thousand people. I know it was last minute, but they could have been mowed. They could have done something. But no, it was it was really just it was a magical moment. And yes, it was I don't want to say it was planned, but the message that we wanted to send that was that was that was paramount.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Kind of the theme that we are sort of talking about all month long is like relationships, like queer relationships. And I'm curious what like queer love means to you now, and maybe what it meant in the past, or just yeah, what queer relationship.
SPEAKER_02Interesting you asked me that because I was just in the grocery store and then and my monologue for pride starts in my head in May. And I start just I'll be in the shower. Liz, what I do so much, waste so much water. Um, because I'll start talking to the audience and I'll plan my jokes and the routine and the feel of what I want to say. I started there. And I was just in the store and thinking to myself of messages to say, and what I came, what I'm walking away with is I don't care if you don't find yourself unattractive because your personality is what keeps me. But if you have an unattractive personality, then you're ugly. I had it all worded right in the grocery store, but it's about it's not, it's about not being shallow. It's about embracing people and queer love is about, you know, just that acceptance of it's okay to be different. It's okay to not be okay. It's okay to ask questions, it's okay to continue to discover yourself because you change. The Di Marcio that I was 20 years ago would have never guessed, one, that it was the last 20 years, but two, that I would be who I am in my real life today. Because when I started, it was all about imitating Diana Ross. It was all about giving the same energy that Diana would give to her audience. And I got to be that young gay. That was my superpower in that time. However, as I've grown and matured and I'm closer to 50, the real me, I'm comfortable with myself and my skin and all of this. And I don't have to be anything other than who I am. And I know that the audience they expect a presentation. It's a show. There's a persona that I have to give off. But at the end of the day, it's about loving and appreciating myself. And that's what cruel love is. And I hope that the team and I, the work that we've done, will allow individuals to just embrace that and open their mind to accepting and loving who you are.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I love that. I was like, you mentioned Diana Ross and kind of sometimes I think that imitation can be the sincerest form of flattery, especially like when you're just starting to kind of discover yourself and you're modeling yourself after someone who has in your mind like self-actualized. And I don't know, I'm just curious where that, where that love for Diana came and that admiration. Sure.
SPEAKER_02I fell in love with Diana when I was 11. Grandma's house. I'll do this story very fast. I was at grandma's house watching that you remember beta cassettes? Beta. She had a whole bunch of beta before VHS. Beta. It was videos. Videos. Yeah. Hey. Beta cassettes. Yes. Beta players before VHS, before Laserdisc. I was flipping through her uh stuff to find something to watch. And I came across this Diana Ross video. And I knew my parents are very, very strict. Very strict. Um, so I remember seeing Diana, and I remember that Diana and Michael were always together back in the 80s.
SPEAKER_01Michael Jackson. Jackson.
SPEAKER_02Okay, yeah. So my parents love Michael Jackson. I knew that it would be okay for me to watch this Diana Ross tape without their permission. I was all alone. I knew I wouldn't get in trouble. So I put it in. And you've seen it. The moment she comes out, I had never seen a black woman do what she did. I was raised with a bunch of loving, very church women, robust, uh, more vocal, loud, boisterously. I had never seen that glamour side. I didn't know black women could smile like that. I didn't grow up with that. I didn't know the diamonds in first, just the glamour aspect. And I felt, I mean, I was captivated. And that's what I wanted to do. I wanted to make people smile like Diana did. I had never, the response to her was just something I had never seen. Whereas that, you know, you watch a Michael Jackson video of Prince at the time, people were falling out and fainting and crying. The reaction to Diana was just so like different. I want to watch you. I just want to be in awe of you. And that's what I took to the stage when I started MCing for drag queens who could never get ready on time. People asked me, How'd you get started? Drag queens. I used to be assistant to drag queens in the Denver area. And I was underage. I would carry their bags into the club and they could never get ready on time. So they'd give me the mic and say, DiMarcio, go stall. And that's how it started. That's how pride started. It was a stall for a drag queen. And they were like, Oh, you're pretty funny. I would take jokes from Sinbad, Eddie Murphy, anything off of B E T, and I would put it into the show and it would just work. And so I became the host or MC for drag queens. And with that Diana element, I wanted to look good. So I'd buy the cutest club wear, fancy clothes, never drag, but just I wanted to look good and change. And that's where that's how it started.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So damn long ago. Well, and now you're kind of known for your fashions as well, which I think is really neat.
SPEAKER_02It's cool. There's a lot. I can't wait to get rid of it. You got to come and get to see the closet. Because there's gonna be a big yard sale on the 30th of this month. There's a big gay yard sale. Yeah, we've been in a museum. Because I keep all the costumes I still have, all 20 years worth, and they're all cataloged. So I know what I can fit into and what I can't. So if I'm looking for certain styles or colors, I can go down to a tote, pull it out, and throw it on. Hopefully it still works. Yeah, but we were stuck for 15 minutes up there. I changed very, very quickly.
SPEAKER_00Do you all have like a museum or like LGBT center or somewhere that, like, if you were to house some of I mean you are a part of Denver LGBTQ history, so it's like letting them have it's like the rock and roll hall of fame. You got to donate some pieces.
SPEAKER_02I might do that. They did a uh they did an exhibit for me for the costumes a few years ago. It was really, really cool. I was very appreciative. And I am in the history museum on the Denver LGBTQ history. So that was, and to have friends, friends told me first. Yeah, I didn't even know. They're like, you're in the history museum talking for Denver Pride. So it's cool. I am very appreciative. I am happy. Bye, Felicia.
SPEAKER_00You really are shedding both the responsibility, the clothes, everything. You are starting anew, kind of like what it isn't like snakes and stuff, they shed their skin.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, shed the skin. So and I'm very happy with that. It's time.
SPEAKER_00So you love turtles. So I'm curious now that you are getting rid of that shell, like, and you're coming out again. What is who is the martial now? Are you keeping the persona in a new avenue? Are you becoming a stand-up comedian? Or you're like, no, I want the world to see this version of me now.
SPEAKER_02Well, you know, in my day job, I'm a hospitality trainer. So I travel around giving seminars on guest service and etiquette. So that presentation or showmanship, I actually get paid for, will always be a part of my DNA. So I'm happy to keep that going. However, I don't know, I'm sure that I'll be called upon in the future. I told them don't look for me next year. I'm I'm happy to help out in a very small 30-minute way, but I just don't want it to be all of consume all of me anymore. I'm really, I'm just happy now. You ever get to that point where you just again, I like myself. I like everything about the life that Shane and I have created, and the Pride Coordination MC no longer needs to be a part of that. So I can hang out with the turtles. It's back, it's finally 80 degrees and plus every day now. So the turtles will go outside. They're in, they've been inside all winter. Yes. I got two tortoises. They have a summer resort. Yeah, they got a their summer their summer home. Yep. I just want to chill. I just want to be outside and chill and not think about who's got to be picked up. What's the, you know, who's got a confirmation number, who's, you know, what's traffic gonna be like, protesters, all of that stuff that's happening in the world. I'm happy to remove myself from and maybe find another way to contribute.
SPEAKER_01You also love transformers. They kind of gave an analogy of the turtle and the shell. You love transformers. You've talked a little bit about how you've sort of transformed or evolved over the last 20 plus years hosting this. What do you hope the transformation looks like after Pride this year?
SPEAKER_02Oh, what's the trans uh again? That transformation for me needs to just look like less relaxation, enjoying every aspect of what the summer could be. And I don't, it's almost like I don't know what I don't know because I start thinking about this in November.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02And you just the seed just little seeds are planted and they grow. And like I said, but I look forward to not talking to myself in the shower and going through routines and wondering what's gonna fit. The transformation is uh the transformation is positive change um and newness. And it's just celebrating, celebrating that I did it. Yeah and it's I mean, when I started, it was a half a day, maybe a couple thousand people, but now they estimate over half a million people over two days. And I've watched that the the arena of the bull where we perform, I've watched it just grow and it's packed, and they're so the kids, they're so dang young. Um and they hang out with me all day. They'll be at the base of the stage and they'll hang out all day and they'll sing and they'll dance and they'll cry and they'll clap. And it's just I feel good that I have done that. And I would like to sit back and just give myself a reset.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Well, I I'm so thankful and appreciative of like not only your friendship, but also like that you've like invited me into this space. Like even before I even knew you in the capacity that I do, that I do now, I felt drawn to what you had created. And now the last couple of years being able to hang out with you like backstage, shaded, which is really nice. I'm not directly in the difference, it's so nice, but also like just being able to see you up close and study you and learn from you. Like Diana Ross has informed you and who you are. And I was like, I I want to tell you too, is like you have informed who I am and how I show up and how I perform now as well, too. So I'm incredibly thankful, like not only for your friendship, but like also for the lessons that you've taught me. Wow, thanks. So yeah, thank you. I was like, I wasn't expecting to get like emotional about this, but like I really am. Like I'm so thankful for like you showing up authentically because I remember I came out in college in about 2005-2006 is when I came out to my parents, and the the world was really different then. Like the the societal views of queer people were we were actively hated, actively hated by the majority of people. And polling has shifted, where like the majority of people now in the United States support queer people being themselves. And so like I just I really admire you for like showing up in that, in that culture and in that environment as authentically you and as like as a as a queer person, a queer black person in Colorado. Yeah. So like I just wanted to tell you thank you.
SPEAKER_02I I hear and receive that, and I'm I'm appreciative. I'm really again because you just don't know the work that you're doing. You're just trying to be your best self in the moment, and then you reflect back and you're like, wow, I did that. And the stories, you know, like like what you shared. And I'll bump into young people who again they tell me it's their first writer, they'll I love the stories that people say, you know, you called me up on stage on you, or you pointed this was a really this is why we kept doing it. Someone said, You pointed me out in the audience and you complimented my outfit. And I was feeling so they they wrote this to me on the social media. They said, um, I was feeling so low that I was considering suicide and you changed my mind. You, you, you, you seeing me made me want to live and keep going. And it's just like, wow, how do you you don't plan that? I just I see I want people to know that they're seen. I want folks, it's it's about having it's about a safe space, it's about having a good time. And the fact that I've gotten a few things like that, and I don't do it for that. I do it because I just want people to have fun and feel safe. And if a compliment carries them, if uh the recognition validates them and makes them feel just a little bit taller, well, I'm I'm cool with that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I just want to say, you know, we've never met in person, but I've only heard great things about you. I know most people say giving people their flowers, but we're gay, so we're gonna say give you your glitter. Yeah, I'll take it. Give you your glitter because I think what we don't take in a lot is that there's an entire generation of LGBTQ plus ancestors that we lost and struggled for liberation. And so having someone like yourself who so directly contributed to, as David always says, your sphere of influence, it is an honor to be able to not just interview and talk to you, but to give you your glitter. Because when that 20 years goes and goes and goes, like you said, you don't always get to take it in and appreciate it. And it can be like weird to think like, wait, I did this, but I really hope that this next season of life you allow some of the glitter to not just fall down, but to see it and really take in all the vibrancy and the color and be happy because you did something that a lot of the ancestors didn't get a chance to do or won't ever get to see the impact of you made it to the promised land of sorts, it sounds like because I wasn't aware of the history of LGBTQ, you know, contention in Denver and Colorado at large. So to know that you were there digging the hole when it was just dirt land, and now seeing what you've built, I really, really hope that you take it, take a moment to let that sink. And of course, it wasn't an individual journey. And so I wanted to give you a moment to if there was anybody throughout this process and this time that really helped you in such an incredible way, of course, besides your husband, but who can also get a shout out. But who were some people that you really want to give glitter to the party as well?
SPEAKER_02You know, obviously, uh Shane, of course, and when I look back at when I started, I had two really good friends that I recognized I messed up the relationship. Um, however, uh Tim Black and Dakota, and they were my they were my ride or die when we started all of this, and they were there with me for a good decade before I I didn't communicate as well as I should have. And they're the ones who helped build it and kept me on track and gave ideas, and I could not have done it without Tim and Dakota. Um, and I I hope to see them again before we conclude this season. Uh, the DJs who've helped it to take all the music, DJ Christopher Fish, DJ Marky, DJ Black Girl. And I recognize them because they've given up their pride too to collect all the music, and they're on stage playing people's performance tracks all day. You know, they get a half an hour break for the headliner or band, but they're also giving their time too. And I couldn't have done it without their. They know how to do a show. My team, Justin and Taz and Ray and Patrick, all the folks uh backstage who helped me dress and you know, remind me who's next. Because again, once I put on a costume, I forget in half a second who the next performer is, what I'm supposed to say. Um, the costume designers over the years, Christine Marsh, who I started with, who's passed away, uh, Dr. Darlene C. Ritz and DCR Studios, they've all, it takes a village. It takes a village. And I've been very fortunate. I will, I work to say to to push my team, the team. It's not just me. I do most of the talking. They did the work.
SPEAKER_01I guess my last question is when are you starting your thank you tour?
SPEAKER_02Oh, you know, I saw Diana in Brooklyn what in February? Uh that was um my 299th show. And she called me on stage to dance for my 25th dance. And in that moment, and I watched the video back, and and I, you know, I didn't dance with Diana after COVID. She stopped calling people on stage. So the fact that I didn't think I was gonna get another one ever. There's a little kid, 11 years old, who fell in love with this woman and has been able to see her 301 times, danced on stage with her 25 times, done TV interviews with her. She invited me to the Oprah show to see her on that final appearance. So there's that side of Di Marcio. There's also the 11-year DiMarcio who knew he was different and never thought he would get married. Find a husband, a man to live a comfortable life with. That is amazing. And I have my toys, my transformers, my things that make me smile and giddy. So to have all of that, and I've been able to contribute to the city that has been good to me. Denver's been good to me. I know everyone's different, but it's worked for me. So I've given back something. I'm just in a really good space to be appreciative. And the the the thank you tour it starts, you know, the second I take the stage on the 28th of this month. And I will be appreciative. And again, I don't want to make a big deal about it on stage because it's not about me. It's about creating a safe space for the audience. And if I can do that, we're we're good. So the thank you tour uh will forever be in my heart. And if you want to go see her with me anytime.
SPEAKER_01Dates are coming up, and dates are coming up at the end of the year. Yes, Demarcia invited me to see Miss Ross in Louisville, Kentucky. And I also just invited myself to see her at Red Rocks last year, too. That's why you did the Red Rocks. Yes, I did the Red Rock show as well, which she said reminded her of Central Park because it was raining. So yes, in the wind. So yeah, but Denver Pride this year is on Saturday, June 28th, and Sunday, June 29th at Civic Center Park. There's also a parade. We'll put a link to the events in the show notes. But Demarcio, where can people follow you or support you?
SPEAKER_02You know, I'm on, oh my gosh, my my social media person, uh, Demarcio76 on Instagram. Yes, Demarcio76 on Instagram. I'm on Facebook. I'm not as social this month. I am. I'm really a private, you know, I'm a private person who has a public persona. Um, but I'm I do believe in kindness. So if you reach out and say hi, I will say hi back. It's all about, you know, spreading love and trying to make this world a better place. Yeah. If we can.
SPEAKER_01That's the goal, right? So well, thank you for doing this.
SPEAKER_02Thank you. Of course. So good to be and talk to you guys. Listen to so many different uh episodes and laughed with you. Well, thank you. This has been a treat for me. So thank you all.
SPEAKER_01Well, if you enjoyed this episode, feel free to share it with a friend. Rate us five stars on the platform where you listen. Get in touch with us at Call Me Limbo Pod on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok Threads, and RedNote. Subscribe to our Substack. Day just released another article. Call Me Limbo Pod. You can support the show financially by becoming a Patreon member, patreon.com slash call me limbo pod, or send one-time contributions on Venmo and Cash App. And, you know, Day and Demarcio. Like I always say, tell us. Yeah, I'm gonna tell you. I'm not crying, you're crying. I also, I've been also been sniffling because I had my nostril cauterized yesterday. And so I'm my nose is a little runny as well. So not only was I crying, I also have a little sniffles. Someone came to my door. I wanted to tell you this story earlier, but I'm just gonna tell both of you anyway. But it was like, the someone came to my door the other day and my roof is being replaced. So I thought it was related to the roof replacement. This was yesterday. But the it was some guy selling pest control, and I'm like literally sniffling because my nose is running because I just had this like thing conversation a couple hours before. And I like was explaining, he went to shake my hand, and I was like, I'm sorry. I was like, I don't want to shake your hand because I've been like rubbing snot on my fingers. And he goes, Can I be honest with you? I said, Yeah. And he goes, I thought you just did a line. And I was like, oh my god, no. So I was like, it's it's a medical, medical thing. So yeah, so I'm I'm not crying. I'm not crying.
SPEAKER_02So yeah, that's that is too much.
SPEAKER_01Phoebe wouldn't let you do that.
SPEAKER_00Never, never. So imaginable, like for him to be in that scenario. So for someone to say it's such a and yeah, it's such a me thing, but yeah. But you know, but as we always say, now I don't how not even how I say that. Now I'm confused. I don't know what I'm doing, I don't know how to end the show, anyways. Everybody, so remember when they go low, we come out and let the world know.
SPEAKER_01So call me limbo. Bye.