SPECIAL FEATURE What do you love about each other? JASON: Larmarques accepts me for who I am. I’ve had a lot of trust issues. My life could be a couple of novels from what I’ve been through. Now, I have somebody who actually cares about me. And it’s been a while since I’ve had that. I feel human again. Before, I didn’t. I was lied to from an early age about who my father was, so I had identity issues and always kept people at bay. But when you find somebody that really cares, it’s a good thing. I like having that feeling. LARMARQUES: Jason is intriguing. He is so different from the person that you see, or the front that he puts on. He puts on this really masculine, “I don’t give a fuck about the world,” persona, but he’s actually a big soft teddy bear, cuddling thing. He’s just as romantic and soft and caring as I am. He just doesn’t show it to others. In past issues of the Denver VOICE, you both have written about walks you’ve taken or places you’ve gone together. Can you tell me about one of your most memorable adventures? LARMARQUES (L) AND JASON (R). CREDIT: LARMARQUES SMITH LOVE ON THE STREETS: Larmarques & Jason BY ELISABETH MONAGHAN IN THE THREE YEARS since they first became a couple, Larmarques Smith and Jason Martin have lived together in an apartment, stayed at the same shelter, or spent their nights tucked away on the streets of Denver. Recently, they were part of a sweep, where city officials transported several individuals from an encampment to a nearby hotel that has been converted into a temporary shelter. Larmarques and Jason met at a party, and neither could deny the spark between them. Upon learning Jason was visiting from Wyoming and not exactly thrilled at the thought of returning, Larmarques suggested that Jason stay with him. What started as an instant attraction three years ago has grown into a loving and supportive partnership. For the second our Valentine’s Day-themed “Love on the Streets” profile, Denver VOICE spoke to Larmarques and Jason about how their relationship has grown while looking for places they can shelter together. Denver VOICE: How would you describe your relationship? JASON: Larmarques is my partner. We do everything together. Talk about how you met. JASON: I came to Denver with a guy from Wyoming. I’m a city boy, and I had been living in Wyoming for three or four months. When Larmarques presented an opportunity for me to move here, I took it. LARMARQUES: I understood why Jason wouldn’t want to go back to Wyoming. I jokingly commented that Wyoming is so exciting and a such great metropolis, that everybody loves to not go back there. I also let him know he was welcome to stay with me. How has your relationship changed since you first got together? JASON: We’ve gotten closer. We’ve gotten into a couple of big fights, but I respect him, and he respects me. Larmarques, you’ve been a vendor since 2016 and have spent most of that time without stable housing. What is the difference between living on your own, and now, with Jason as your partner? LARMARQUIS: I have a little more sense of security. I know that there is actually somebody who has my back no matter what. Sometimes, when you’re living on the streets, you miss out on that because as much as you want to, you can’t trust everybody. So, I’m thankful for him being there. Just having a second pair of eyes. I have his back, and he has my mine. I can see a situation totally differently than he can, so it’s nice to have his take on things. LARMARQUES: Mike Johnston had just become the new mayor, so when the city started sweeping encampments in Denver, they also started putting the people up in hotels. The buses had been free, so it was easy to go back and forth, but when RTD started charging again, we decided we should probably go back [to Denver]. It’s actually more convenient for us to be here because our methadone clinic, my doctor’s office, and all of our things are in Denver. JASON: It was more viable that way. Other than going on adventures, are there any routines you have or rituals you do together? LARMARQUES: We like to have coffee together. When I got back from traveling for Christmas, I bought a kettle and a French press so we could have coffee together in our hotel room. JASON: Larmarques makes great coffee – which reminds me of another reason I fell in love with him. He can cook. He cooks very well. Do you find people are less accepting of you as a gay couple or as individuals experiencing homelessness? LARMARQUES: Denver’s usually pretty good about accepting people who have different types of relationships. I don’t think we’ve had any issues with that part. As far as LARMARQUES: This past summer, we were staying in one of the local shelters. In the middle of the night, Jason got up to use the bathroom and was kicked out of the shelter for having a lighter in his hand. He wasn’t smoking, but they saw it and said “You’re outta here. He didn’t do anything, but he got kicked out. I left the shelter, too then, because I’m not going to let my partner go out there alone, and I’m going to stay with him in solidarity. We ended up staying outside, under the stars, and it was nice. JASON: After that night, we decided to take the bus up to Boulder to check out the shelter situation there. We probably stayed in Boulder for a month or so, and we went back and forth for a while. So, what brought you back to Denver? 10 DENVER VOICE February 2024
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