Presidential Proclamation on World AIDS Day

After the jump, check out a proclamation signed by President Obama today regarding World AIDS Day.
 On this World AIDS Day, as we approach the thirtieth year
of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we reflect on the many Americans and
others around the globe lost to this devastating disease, and
pledge our support to the 33 million people worldwide who
live with HIV/AIDS. We also recommit to building on the great
strides made in fighting HIV, to preventing the spread of
the disease, to continuing our efforts to combat stigma and
discrimination, and to finding a cure.

Today, we are experiencing a domestic HIV epidemic that
demands our attention and leadership. My Administration
has invigorated our response to HIV by releasing the first
comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States.
Its vision is an America in which new HIV infections are
rare, and when they do occur, all persons -- regardless of age,
gender, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity,
or socio-economic circumstance -- will have unfettered access to
high-quality, life-extending care.

Signifying a renewed level of commitment and urgency, the
National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States focuses on
comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to preventing HIV in
high-risk communities. It strengthens efforts to link and
retain people living with HIV into care, and lays out new steps
to ensure that the United States has the workforce necessary to
serve Americans living with HIV. The Strategy also provides a
path for reducing HIV-related health disparities by adopting
community-level approaches to preventing and treating this
disease, including addressing HIV-related discrimination.

Along with this landmark Strategy, we have also made
significant progress with the health reform law I signed this
year, the Affordable Care Act. For far too long, Americans
living with HIV and AIDS have endured great difficulties in
obtaining adequate health insurance coverage and quality care.
The Affordable Care Act prohibits insurance companies from using
HIV status and other pre-existing conditions as a reason to deny
health care coverage to children as of this year, and to all
Americans beginning in 2014. To ensure that individuals living
with HIV/AIDS can access the care they need, the Affordable
Care Act ends lifetime limits and phases out annual limits on
coverage. Starting in 2014, it forbids insurance companies from

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charging higher premiums because of HIV status, and introduces
tax credits that will make coverage more affordable for all
Americans. This landmark law also provides access to insurance
coverage through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan for
the uninsured with chronic conditions.

Our Government has a role to play in reducing stigma,
which is why my Administration eliminated the entry ban that
previously barred individuals living with HIV/AIDS from entering
the United States. As a result, the 2012 International AIDS
Conference will be held in Washington, D.C., the first time
this important meeting will be hosted by the United States in
over two decades. For more information about our commitment
to fighting this epidemic and the stigma surrounding it,
I encourage all Americans to visit: www.AIDS.gov.

Tackling this disease requires a shared response that
builds on the successes achieved to date. Globally, tens
of millions of people have benefited from HIV prevention,
treatment, and care programs supported by the American people.
The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria support
anti-retroviral treatments for millions around the world.
My Administration has also made significant investments and
increases in our efforts to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS at
home and abroad by implementing a comprehensive package of
proven prevention programs and improving the health of those
in developing countries. Additionally, the Global Health
Initiative integrates treatment and care with other
interventions to provide a holistic approach to improving the
health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Along with our global
partners, we will continue to focus on saving lives through
effective prevention activities, as well as other smart
investments to maximize the impact of each dollar spent.

World AIDS Day serves as an important reminder that
HIV/AIDS has not gone away. More than one million Americans
currently live with HIV/AIDS in the United States, and more than
56,000 become infected each year. For too long, this epidemic
has loomed over our Nation and our world, taking a devastating
toll on some of the most vulnerable among us. On World AIDS
Day, we mourn those we have lost and look to the promise of a
brighter future and a world without HIV/AIDS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in
me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do
hereby proclaim December 1, 2010, as World AIDS Day. I urge the
Governors of the States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction
of the United States, and the American people to join in
appropriate activities to remember the men, women, and children
who have lost their lives to AIDS and to provide support and
comfort to those living with this disease.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord
two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States
of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

Out on DVD: Lucky Lady

For the first time on DVD, make a toast to Liza Minnelli, Gene Hackman and Burt Reynolds as they star in Stanley Donen's prohibition comedy LUCKY LADY.

When three down-on-their-luck losers, Claire (Liza Minnelli), Kibby (Gene Hackman) and Walker (Burt Reynolds), come together in a Mexican border town to start a booze-running operation during Prohibition, egos, enemies and envy collide. But through some mysterious alchemy and a couple of gunfights, the three become immensely successful bootleggers and, even more surprising to them, a fully functioning ménage à trois.

A throwback to the great screwball comedies of the 1930s which Time Magazine described as "luxurious, sassy and a lot of fun,” Lucky Lady was written by Willard Huyck & Gloria Katz (American Graffiti), directed by the great Stanley Donen (Singin' in the Rain), and also stars Geoffrey Lewis, John Hillerman, and dreamy '70s heartthrob Robby Benson.

Statement by President Obama on DOD Report on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

President Obama has just released the following statement on Don't Ask, Don't Tell following a recent report:

As Commander in Chief, I have pledged to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law because it weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness and equality by preventing patriotic Americans who are gay from serving openly in our armed forces.  At the same time, as Commander in Chief, I am committed to ensuring that we understand the implications of this transition, and maintain good order and discipline within our military ranks. That is why I directed the Department of Defense earlier this year to begin preparing for a transition to a new policy. 

Today’s report confirms that a strong majority of our military men and women and their families—more than two thirds—are prepared to serve alongside Americans who are openly gay and lesbian.  This report also confirms that, by every measure—from unit cohesion to recruitment and retention to family readiness—we can transition to a new policy in a responsible manner that ensures our military strength and national security. And for the first time since this law was enacted 17 years ago today, both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have publicly endorsed ending this policy.

With our nation at war and so many Americans serving on the front lines, our troops and their families deserve the certainty that can only come when an act of Congress ends this discriminatory policy once and for all.  The House of Representatives has already passed the necessary legislation.  Today I call on the Senate to act as soon as possible so I can sign this repeal into law this year and ensure that Americans who are willing to risk their lives for their country are treated fairly and equally.  Our troops represent the virtues of selfless sacrifice and love of country that have enabled our freedoms. I am absolutely confident that they will adapt to this change and remain the best led, best trained, best equipped fighting force the world has ever known. 

It Gets Better: Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert joins the ranks of the It Gets Better Project.

Help Lady Gaga help us

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), announced today that Lady Gaga released an online video message directed to her supporters and followers to push for repeal in the senate lame-duck session.   

Re-tweet Gaga now: RT @LadyGaga A message from Gaga http://bit.ly/g8cI68.

Janet Jackson is a drama queen

Instinct is wrapping up the year as only they can, and they're starting things off on a very high note with our exclusive sit down with one of the gay community’s fiercest allies (and fiercest divas), Janet Jackson! After three decades of dominating the music world, Ms. Jackson made 2010 the year to really flex her acting muscles—and flex she did.

In “The Quiet Power Of A Drama Queen,” Janet talks candidly with Instinct’s editor in chief Mike Wood about her pair of emotionally charged roles this year, adding “author” to her multi-hyphenate talents and also clues us in on how she sees music fitting in with her growing and critically acclaimed acting career. And of course, being only the fourth female in 13-years to get her own Instinct cover, Janet also opens up about that long-standing connection to the gay community, as well as her commitment to HIV/AIDS advocacy.

Obama Administration to Commemorate World AIDS Day

On Wednesday, December 1^st, Obama Administration officials and leaders in the AIDS community will speak at a World AIDS Day event at the White House to reflect on the lessons learned and the path forward in the fight against HIV and AIDS in the United States and around the world.  The White House World AIDS Day Event will include keynote remarks as well as a panel discussion with HIV/AIDS researchers and advocates.

Throughout his career in public service, President Obama has been committed to fighting HIV/AIDS here at home and around the world.  With the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as a foundation, the President put forward an ambitious $63 billion Global Health Initiative (GHI) to combat HIV/AIDS, address other health challenges and assist partner countries to strengthen their health systems and build capacity to provide services sustainably.  Through the GHI, the President’s aim is to ensure our programs have maximum impact, as this Administration’s focus is on outcomes, such as lives saved -- not simply dollars spent. Since taking office, the number of those on antiretroviral treatment has nearly doubled to 3.2 million – up from 1.7 million in 2008, and under the GHI, the U.S. continues to be the global leader in funding for HIV/AIDS.  The President proposed the largest request to date for PEPFAR for FY 2011.  Additionally, in October, the Administration announced an unprecedented multi-year pledge of $4 billion for 2011-2013 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.  This pledge represents a 38% increase in U.S. support for the Global Fund, and is in addition to more than $5.1 billion provided to the Fund to date.   

Domestically, the Office of National AIDS Policy released the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Federal Implementation Plan for the United States with three key goals: reducing the number of new infections; increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes for people living with HIV; and reducing HIV-related health disparities.

McCain, Graham take to the airwaves to oppose military ban repeal

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., this weekend said Republicans will block a vote on repealing "Don't ask, don't tell." Graham told Fox News the effort was "not going anywhere," and McCain told CNN the drive to repeal the policy was little more than a political exercise to fulfill a campaign promise made by an "inexperienced" candidate, referring to President Barack Obama, who beat McCain in the 2008 election.

Senate hearings on "Don't ask, don't tell" set to begin this week

A last ditch effort to secure a legislative repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell" kicks into high gear this week, with Senate hearings set for Thursday and Friday, during which the nation's top military brass is expected to testify.

They'll likely be grilled about the results of the Pentagon's troop survey on the issue, which are due to be released Tuesday. President Barack Obama is aware of the results, and they should bolster the case for repeal, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday, while Obama met with Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Oval Office to discuss the issue.

Pentagon report proves gay should serve in the military

The Pentagon’s Comprehensive Working Group studying how to implement repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has found few hurdles to implementation of open service by gays and lesbians, according to their report released today. The news provides tremendous momentum for upcoming Senate action on repeal, said the Human Rights Campaign.

“This issue has been studied for fifty years, including by the military itself, and the results from over twenty-two studies are uniform: open service does not harm effectiveness,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “The small handful of Senators blocking repeal no longer have any fig leaves behind which to hide. The time for repeal is now.”

A survey of troops – while not a referendum on repeal but rather a tool to gauge attitudes about repeal – showed that seventy percent of service members thought having an openly gay or lesbian colleague in their unit would have either a positive, mixed or no effect. For those who believe they have already worked with a gay or lesbian service member, ninety-two percent say their unit’s ability to work together was very good, good or neither good nor poor.

“America’s men and women in uniform are professionals who already serve with gays and lesbians and repeal will do nothing to change their dedication to protecting our nation,” said Solmonese. “Senators who said they want to hear from military leaders and troops now have their answers. Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will allow every qualified man and woman to serve without sacrificing the high standards that have made our military great.”

Twenty-five nations allow open service by gays and lesbians and all of them have implemented repeal of their bans without major disruptions – including close allies such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Israel. Further, a failure of Congress to act now will tie the hands of military leaders who have asked for the power to implement the changes that today’s report lays out.

MileHighHotGuy: Matt Iseman

Denver native Matt Iseman is today's MileHighHotGuy.

You might recognize him from TV's 'Clean House' or the upcoming 'Sports Soup.'

The brawny Mr. Iseman is an M.D. who went to school at Princeton and Columbia and did his residency and internship in internal medicine at the University of Colorado Hospital before decided to give it all up for show biz.

The pics I've been able to find of Mr. Iseman really don't do him justice. And there's a disappointing dearth of shirtless pics of him available on the internet but that's more than made up for by the shirtless, homoerotic antics in the video below.

Holiday Music Extravaganza - Annie Lennox, Shelby Lynne, The Puppini Sisters

It's that time again ... time for the relentless onslaught of holiday music. Get ready to enjoy new stuff as well as the classics we all know and love from a variety of artists including:

Annie Lennox - one of the most successful, iconic and talented artists of the late 20th century -- is back like you’ve never heard her before with 'A Christmas Cornucopia'. A stunning collection of new and inspired interpretations of eleven traditional festive songs, the disc is rounded out by her new composition and first single, “Universal Child.” The CD will be released on Decca in the U.S. and everywhere else November 15th on Island Records.

“I’ve known these songs and carols all my life, and I’ve sung them since I was little,” says the songwriter and singer of such beautiful tracks as “The Holly And The Ivy,” “Silent Night,” “The First Noel,” and other, more unconventional songs such as “Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant,” and “Lullay Lullay.” “They’re just in me. They’re a huge part of my life. So it’s not an arbitrary selection. Those relationships with those pieces of music were there intrinsically before I approached the recording.”

The music on the album was mostly played by Lennox, in collaboration with co-producer Mike Stevens, and recorded in his southwest London studio – at the bottom of his garden. But to achieve the resonance and vibrancy that were integral to Lennox’s ideas, the pair also worked with a 30-piece orchestra at Pinewood Studios. They also traveled to South Africa and recorded with the African Children’s Choir, a remarkable organization with whom impassioned campaigner and activist Lennox has long had a relationship.

The Annie Lennox Foundation, the star’s own charity, raises money for charitable projects supporting and educating women and children in Africa with HIV/AIDS. “All the income that I earn from ‘Universal Child’ will be paid to the Annie Lennox Foundation,” commented the singer of her first single.Shelby Lynne offers up 'Merry Christmas' – the Grammy winner’s first holiday collection, coming out on her own Everso Records.

Swingin’ and rockin’, sexy and eccentric have never before described a Christmas album--until now. Then again, there has never before been an artist who claims both The Andrews Sisters and The Smiths as influences. Holiday music finally puts on red lipstick, slips into a silky cleavage-celebrating ballgown, and goes gorgeous and glamorous with 'Christmas With The Puppini Sisters' (below left).

A female vocal trio featuring ‘40s-style close harmony, backed by a fearless jazz threesome, the retro-futuristic Puppini Sisters put their signature sequined stamp on timeless songs of the season for the sensational group’s third album.

From a scorching cover of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas,” hyperspeed “Step Into Christmas,” oh-so-sexy “Santa Baby,” cabaret “Here Comes Santa Claus” and lilting “Last Christmas” to a weirdly wonderful “White Christmas,” scat-filled “Let It Snow,” ukulele oozing “Mele Kalilimaka,” uber-trad “Winter Wonderland” and divine “O Holy Night,” the Puppini Sisters deliver original twists rather than nostalgic flashbacks.

MilehighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Oasis 212

Oasis 212 is a gay-owned and operated healing sanctuary in Denver bringing practitioners together to offer various forms of therapies to enrich your life. Their mission is to provide affordable quality massage to those seeking relaxation and pain relief/management while helping people uncover their authentic selves.

December 8 is Colorado Gives Day

Dec. 8 is Colorado Gives Day, and for 24 hours starting at 12:01 a.m. that day, donations made through GivingFirst.org will get a boost from a special Incentive Fund that will increase the value of your gift.

In addition, the Gill Foundation will also match your donation, making your dollars stretch even further. To learn more and to donate, click here.

Follow MileHighGayGuy on Facebook and Twitter

Hey guys, please click here to become a fan of the MileHighGayGuy Facebook Fan Page.

And, while you're at it, could you also please follow me on Twitter?

Do it!

You know you wanna!

Black Swan

Check out this music video from the upcoming Natalie Portman/Mila Kunis starrer 'Black Swan.' From visionary director Darren Aronofsky ('The Wrestler'), 'Black Swan' takes a thrilling and at times terrifying journey through the psyche of a young ballerina whose starring role as the duplicitous swan queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect.

The film opens in select cities this Friday, December 3, before expanding wider through December.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack's message for the It Gets Better Project.

CGD Kick Off Party at JR's: 24 hours to benefit BCAP

Boulder Colorado AIDS Project is thrilled to be participating in Colorado Gives Day and is working hard to meet their goal of raising $30,000 in one day. The more money BCAP raises in the 24-hour period of December 8th, the more money they will get back in the form of a match from the Community First Foundation. Please make a donation through their website anytime on December 8th, and ask your friends to do the same.

There will be a kick-off party at JR's on December 7 beginning at 7pm as you can see from the poster above featuring a photo of yours truly from back in the day. 

I haven't been that skinny or that shaved in a while but anything for BCAP!

The Mission of Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) is twofold: to provide support, advocacy and education to those in our community who are infected with or affected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and to serve as an outreach and information center to prevent further transmission of HIV and the resulting Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). 

Black Eyed Peas - The Time (Dirty Bit)

 

 Six-time Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum recording artists The Black Eyed Peas' new recordThe Beginning, is out now and is the follow-up to the group’s blockbuster cd The E.N.D. Released in June 2009, The E.N.D. has sold more than 11 million copies world­wide, while spending 52 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 chart. It is also the first album in two decades by a duo or group to yield five Top 10 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, including the No. 1 hits “Boom Boom Pow,” “I Gotta Feeling” (which is the best-selling digital song in SoundScan history), and “Imma Be.".

The first single from The Beginning is “The Time (Dirty Bit),” which is built around a sample from the classic 1987 theme from Dirty Dancing, (“I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. 

“The song is a celebration of this amazing time in our lives,” says vocalist Fergie. “We’ve been on tour all over the world, and looking out at stadiums full of people who came out to see us — that’s as big as it gets. After the shows, we go out to the clubs and meet the fans; those are moments that we have to remember.” 

Kylie Minogue - Let It Snow

Kylie has premiered her new holiday single "Let It Snow" on PerezHilton.com.  The track will be available for download on iTunes on December 7th.

Kylie will perform "Let It Snow" at the NYC Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center tomorrow, Tuesday, December 30th, between 7pm and 9pm.  This will be broadcast live on NBC.

Also, Kylie will be giving away a few pairs of VIP tickets to the tree lighting on her Facebook page today.

Red Line Chemistry - Dumb Luck

Rock band Red Line Chemistry claimed victory of the MTVU Freshman weekly video of the week contest that is dictated by fan voting.  The quintet won by a wide margin with their performance-free clip for lead single “Dumb Luck,” which was directed by acclaimed actor and indie filmmaker Joshua Leonard.

Are you the next Mondo Guerra? Check out these opportunities for Denver fashion designers

Fashion Denver reports that there are a number of callouts coming up for Denver-area fashion designers. including a Holiday-themed Tinsel Ball benefiting the Women's Crisis Center and Outreach Center. 

Garments for this competition must be created out of tinsel, tape, and string. 

Sounds crafty!

Contact Genesiseventfactory@gmail.com  or call 303-902-6422 for more info.

Additionally, the Denver Style Expo will be taking place April 1-2, 2011 and offers a myriad of opportunities to get your designs seen. 

Produced by Dana Cain, creator of the Denver Modernism Show, designers can CLICK here for all of the details and to register.
 
When registering you will be asked "How did you hear about the Denver Style Expo." Go ahead and answer with "Fashion Denver or Brandi Shigley" to make sure they get the credit for helping spread the word about all things fashion in the Mile High City.

Who's to blame for gay suicides? American Family Association blames the gays!

Silver fox Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association is troubled by the recent spate of anti-gay bullying suicides that have claimed the lives of a number of gay youth, so troubled in fact, that he has dusted off Anita Bryant's old  "homosexuals cannot reproduce — so they must recruit" lie to blame gay groups like GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) for the deaths  instead of the true perpetrators. - via Hatewatch

It Gets Better: Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry

As part of the It Gets Better Project, Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry shares a message for victims of bullying.

Hey Colorado Springs, when did you choose to be straight?

This one's an oldie but a goodie.

Boing Boing recently featured this video from a couple of years ago where a couple of guys conducted street interviews in Colorado Springs asking people when they chose to be straight.

Definitely worth a look.

Things to do in Denver When You're Gay: Be Safe!

The Center wants the gay community to know that there has been increased attention recently regarding violence against the local LGBT community and they are currently working with community members and police officials to address anti-LGBT violence.

The Center will be hosting a community forum on issues of LGBT violence on Thursday, Dec 9, from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.  Please keep an eye out on their website for more information about this important event.

Nice Baskit: Jack Mackenroth

Hottie Jack Mackenroth - photographed by Frank Louis - is looking mighty fine in his Baskit underwear.

Didja know Baskit is headquartered right here in Denver? And it's gay owned!

Get you some Baskit drawers and you'll be supporting local and GLBT business.

Rockstar Aaron is a Westword coverboy!

 

Didja see the most recent issue of Westword? Our own Rockstar Aaron is a coverboy!

Join the Touch Team

The volunteer Touch Team are gay men from our own community, just like you. This Community Outreach Program promotes a vibrant message on Sexual Health, HIV Prevention and Education, and Community Building.

To register or for more info, contact Sean at 720-382-5900 or sean@thedenverelement.com.

December 8 is Colorado Gives Day

Dec. 8 is Colorado Gives Day, and for 24 hours starting at 12:01 a.m. that day, donations made through GivingFirst.org will get a boost from a special Incentive Fund that will increase the value of your gift.

In addition, the Gill Foundation will also match your donation, making your dollars stretch even further. To learn more and to donate, click here.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge

Gay-owned and managed Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge presents an authentic Jazz Club experience unlike anything in Colorado.

Named “One of the Top 100 Jazz Club in the World” by Downbeat magazine and “Best Jazz Club” by Westword, the gay-owned and operated Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge features a unique and eclectic menu that focuses on great American traditional cuisine with a twist and live performances seven nights a week.

Follow MileHighGayGuy on Facebook and Twitter

Hey guys, please click here to become a fan of the MileHighGayGuy Facebook Fan Page.

And, while you're at it, could you also please follow me on Twitter?

Do it!

You know you wanna!

Cher and Christina Aguilera discuss anti-gay bullying

Burlesque stars Cher, Christina Aguilera, Stanley Tucci and Cam Gigandet sat down with Towleroad.com recently to discuss anti-gay bullying.

Burlesque is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Daniel Radcliffe is the new face of The Trevor Project

Harry Potter himself - Daniel Radcliffe - is the new face of The Trevor Project and he's got some interesting things to say about being gay. He's not, but that's ok. His worldwide celebrity is sure to bring plenty of attention and support to this very worthwhile organization, a national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

Gorge yourselves on turkey and mashed potatoes like I'm about to go do.

I'm also going to be taking a wee little holiday break for the next couple of days so MileHighGayGuy will resume posting on Monday, November 29.

* I'm thankful for this amazing image by the incredible Joe Phillips.

A Thanksgiving poem for gay guys

A Thanksgiving Coming Out

By Matt Kailey

There’s a holiday coming on which we give thanks
For the wonderful things in our lives.
Not cell phones or new cars or what’s in the bank,
But our partners or husbands or wives.

We think of our loved ones as we plan our trips.
To see them will be a real treat.
And we know that the question on everyone’s lips
Will be, “When the heck do we eat?”

Now I’ve been through many a Thanksgiving feast
And lived to tell the story.
I can’t really rank them from most fun to least —
They all seemed a little bit gory.

There was one at my grandmother’s house, when she said,
“Let us each say what we’re thankful for.”
But before we could answer, my drunk Uncle Ted
Was sprawled out like a dog on the floor.

Another time everyone came to my place
With their offers to get in the way.
They crowded the kitchen and took up the space,
But at clean-up, they just couldn’t stay.

Then my sis tried her hand at the family feast,
With enough food to feed twenty-one.
But her poor old dog, Rover, that ungrateful beast,
Got there first and left us with none.

So, what’s really going on here? Are you excited? I mean —

Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends
Is supposed to be something quite dear.
But whatever your means and whatever the end —
Admit it. You’re quaking with fear.

There’s nothing exactly like gathering in thanks,
After wading through mountains of snow
With sweet Aunt Matilda and that slob Uncle Frank
And their passel of children in tow.

Then your psychotic brother
Arrives with his wife,
And you wish that he’d put down
That sharp carving knife.

And your parents announce
A Thanksgiving Day bet
That has something to do with
Why you’re not married yet.

And your nephew, who’s one,
Starts to laugh at his toes
And squirts mashed potatoes
From out of his nose.

And your cousin,
Who’s eighteen going on thirty-three,
Reaches under the table
And fondles your knee.

But the worst thing is going to somebody’s house
Who you’ve never laid eyes on before,
And eating strange food prepared by their spouse
And choking out, “Sure, I’ll have more.”

We all have our stories of Thanksgiving pain,
Of the sacrifice we’ve had to make.
Of the friends that we’ve lost and the weight that we’ve gained
And the turkeys that just wouldn’t bake.

Of the vegetables we couldn’t identify
And the rolls that were hard as a rock.
And the off-color jokes that we just let slip by
While our grandparents went into shock.

Even so, on Thanksgiving, there’s fun to be had.
You just have to know how to do it.
While you’re dealing with relatives, mother and dad,
You can do more than simply get through it.

Have some fun. I did. Here’s how.

One year, my grandmother confessed to me,
“I miss the old songs of my day.”
She sat at the piano, hands over the keys,
And she said, “Will you sing if I play?”

She started a melody, one that I know,
A song that began with a bang.
And I stood up and readied myself for the show,
Then I opened my mouth and I sang (to the tune of “Has Anybody Seen My Gal”):

Six foot two, eyes of blue,
Works on a construction crew.
Has anybody seen my guy?

Studly nose, knows the pose,
Has a million other beaus
Has anybody seen my guy?

If you see a fine dandy,
Handsome and slim
Diamond rings and all those things
You can bet your life it isn’t him

But could he love, could he woo
If you find him, you can, too,
Has anybody seen my guy?
(I really miss him)
Has anybody seen my guy?
(Come back to me, baby)
Has anybody seen my guy?

Well, my father jumped up and he started to scream.
My mother said, “Oh, no, oh, no.”
My aunts and my uncles turned six shades of green.
And my brother said, “I told you so.”

The house was in chaos, the family was crazed,
And nobody knew what to say.
Then my grandma said, “What’s wrong?” She seemed quite amazed
When my mom blurted out, “Oh, he’s gay.”

So my grandmother looked at me, up and then down,
And, at first, didn’t utter a thing.
Then she turned to my mother and said with a frown,
“He’s not gay. He can’t even sing.”

“And look at that hair! And those clothes!”

Though my Thanksgiving coming out could have been better,
There are some things we cannot foresee.
But I’m grateful my cousin, even though I would let her,
Has never again touched my knee.

And as for you —

If you feel like you’re getting the Thanksgiving blues
And fun things start feeling like chores,
And you’re dreading the sound of your relatives’ shoes
As they head up the walk to your door —

Just think of my story as you make your way
Through whatever the holidays bring.
And be glad that you didn’t find out, on Thanksgiving Day,
That your son, or your daughter …

can’t sing.

* I'm very thankful to have Matt Kailey as one of my best friends. He's nominated for Best Blog in the 2010 Transguys Community Awards. If you'd be so kind as to click on this link and vote for him I'd be very thankful to you as well. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Follow MileHighGayGuy on Facebook and Twitter

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President Obama Welcomes New HIV Prevention Research Results

Today, the National Institutes of Health announced findings on recent HIV prevention research.  The study finds that a daily dose of an oral antiretroviral drug taken by HIV-negative gay and bisexual men reduced the risk of acquiring HIV infection by 43.8 percent, and had even higher rates of effectiveness, up to 73 percent, among those participants who adhered most closely to the daily drug regimen.

“I am encouraged by this announcement of groundbreaking research on HIV prevention. While more work is needed, these kinds of studies could mark the beginning of a new era in HIV prevention. As this research continues, the importance of using proven HIV prevention methods cannot be overstated,” said President Obama.

One of the President’s top HIV/AIDS policy priorities was the development and implementation of a National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), which was released in July 2010. As underlined in the NHAS, no HIV prevention method is 100 percent effective, and a combination of approaches including, among other steps, consistent condom use, will be necessary to prevent HIV infection.  Nevertheless, the research results announced this past summer of an effective microbicide and today’s results fall directly in line with priority recommendations in the NHAS.  Moreover, today’s study suggests that antiretroviral medication may serve as one more valuable tool as we seek to develop the best combinations of effective approaches to prevent HIV infection.

The good news is ...

Syphilis may be on the rise but the good news is that gonorrhea rates are at an all-time low.

Whoo-hoo!

• Image via GiantMicrobes.com. Cute, huh?

It Gets Better: The Staff of Pixar

The people of Pixar have a message for gay youth and victims of bullying.

Freedom to Marry wants you to talk about marriage equality this Thanksgiving

This holiday season, do what matters most for marriage equality: Start a conversation about it with those close to you — family, neighbors, coworkers and classmates. Begin by seeking an opportunity, setting expectations, and keeping your ears and heart open.

Reaching out and talking about what’s important to you brings the conversation down to earth, and by sharing your experiences you can change minds.

5 Tips to Help the Conversation:

1. Create an emotional connection by emphasizing common ground. Reference key words used in talking about marriage like love, commitment and sharing a life together.
2. Focus on the fact that marriage matters to gay people in similar ways that it matters to everyone: Gay and lesbian couples want to get married to make a lifetime commitment to the person they love and to protect their families.
3. Imagine what it would be like to not be able to visit the person you love in the hospital, make medical decisions for them, or use family leave to take care of your loved one.
4. Allowing committed gay and lesbian couples to get married does not change the meaning of marriage. All couples who marry in the United States must get a license for a civil marriage, usually at a courthouse or city hall. These civil marriages would also be available to same-sex couples.
5. You may agree to disagree, but emphasize that this issue is important to you, and that you're always available to answer questions or talk further.

For more suggestions, visit Freedom to Marry's Talking About Marriage page.

 • Image by Joe Phillips

Things to do in Denver When You're Gay: Community Conversations with Element and Embrace

ELEMENT and EMBRACE are hosting two Community Conversations. One will be on Saturday, December 4 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The other conversation will be Wednesday, December 8 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Both conversations will occur at ELEMENT at 950 Logan, Garden Level. 

What’s happening?
Currently, there is an increase of syphilis in our community. Element and Embrace are working to develop messages around prevention and testing that are meaningful and nonjudgmental for our community.

What can we do?
Engage in our community conversation. Element and Embrace want men who are sexually active and use the Internet to hook up (however, all gay and bi men are welcome to attend). The nonjudgmental conversation will provide:

• Syphilis 101,
• Review of marketing campaigns for gay and bi men in other cities,
• Details on what is happening in Denver, and
• An opportunity to develop messages that are meaningful to our community to educate ourselves about our sexual health.

Please RSVP to Deryk at 303-725-6549 or deryk@sageriver.com. Lunch/dinner will be served (please let Deryk know if you have any specific dietary needs).

MileHighGayGuy Gift Guide: Tut's Treasures

Give tickets to King Tut this holiday season. The Denver Art Museum's Tut's Treasures gift package includes two adult tickets (valid anytime through January 9), two audio tours, and your choice of a Tutty Bear or Tutankhamun DVD.

How cute is that Tutty Bear?

Homo for the Holidays: Candlelight Tours of Bent's Old Fort

Reservations are filling fast for Candlelight Tours of Bent’s Old Fort as
part of the site’s Traditional Holiday Celebration, Friday, December 3 and
Saturday, December 4.  Reservations are needed to secure a place on these
tours.  Only a very few slots remain for Saturday evening’s tours.  More
spaces remain for Friday night.  Tours will be limited to 25 people.  To
make reservations for the candlelight tours, phone 719-383-5026.

The park’s Holiday Celebration begins on Friday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m.
with the guided candlelight tours of the fort.  Living history interpreters
will guide groups through rooms where people of the era will be preparing
to celebrate the holidays.   After the tours, everyone is invited to stay
for caroling and authentic treats from the 1800s.  The fort will close at
9:30 p.m.

Festivities will run all day on Saturday, December 4.  Scheduled activities
include toy making, children’s games in the plaza, frontier medicine,
trading scenes, storytelling, and other living history activities.  Events
will include a piñata break and a Yule log hunt.  No reservations are
needed for the daytime activities on Saturday.  The park will close to the
public at 4:00 p.m. and then reopen for another night of candlelight tours
and holiday treats beginning at 5:30 p.m.

A living history fee is charged for the candlelight tours or to attend the
daytime Holiday Celebration.  The cost is $3.00 for visitors 13 and older
and $2.00 for ages 6 to 12.  National Park pass holders are admitted free.
Visitors are asked to dress warmly and bring a flashlight for the evening
tours.  Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is located on Colorado
Highway 194, 8 miles east of La Junta or 15 miles west of Las Animas.   For
candlelight tour reservations, phone (719) 383-5026.  For other information
visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/beol or call the park at 719-383-5010.

Report finds gay community more at risk for hate crime than any other group

Gays and lesbians are more at risk for becoming hate crime victims than any other group, according to a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center. 

The overall number of hate crimes declined in 2009, compared with the year before; more than 18% of reported incidents were based on sexual orientation, according to FBI statistics.

Travel: Key West

The ever-popular Island House in Key West, rated as one of the best gay men's resorts in the world, is bringing back its Buy Four Nights and Get Three Free promotion. Visitors who buy four nights this winter earn a free three-night stay next summer.

To qualify, stay four nights at this world-renowned resort between November 8, 2010 and June 30, 2011. The free stay is available on weeknights between July 13, 2011 and October 20, 2011 subject to availability. A weeknight is considered to be Monday through Thursday and blackout dates apply over Labor Day from September 1 to 6. Your free room will be the same type as booked during your paid stay. You may upgrade your room at additional cost during your free stay (the free stay has no cash value).

This opportunity is a great way to visit one of the country’s top gay destinations twice,
both in the winter and in the summer, and to experience even more of the luxurious Island House facilities in a tropical paradise at no additional cost.

Historic Key West, America’s only sub-tropical island, is perfect to see in any season. Island House is well known for its gracious staff, lavishly appointed rooms with luxurious beds, private baths, hi-definition televisions with digital cable, and in-room refrigerators. You will be staying in the Island House compound with its twenty-four hour Café and Bar. You will also have free access to the professionally equipped Health Club with gym, spa, steamroom, sauna, two Jacuzzis and an enormous heated pool creating the perfect environment for your vacation.

Take advantage now of this money saving offer to have an extended vacation twice in the same year! To book rooms, call 1-800-890-6284; to read more about the award winning Island House facilities, visit www.islandhousekeywest.com (site NSFW). And for more about events in Gay Key West, go to www.gaykeywestfl.com.   

Pentagon urges "Don't ask, don't tell" repeal

Top U.S. military leaders want the Senate to act on a measure repealing the law that mandates the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. 

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said they preferred having Congress pass a repeal plan rather than allowing the courts to end the policy abruptly. Gates ordered his staff to make available the results of a massive Pentagon study of the issue a day earlier than planned so the Senate could have more time to review them during its lame duck session.

The first major prevention breakthrough of the AIDS era?

Gay men who stuck to a daily dose of an antiretroviral drug were 70 percent less likely to become infected with HIV, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"That's huge. That says it all for me," said Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health. The therapy would cost more than $12,000 per year in the U.S. currently, though generic versions of the drug are available in some developing countries for as little as 40 cents per day.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge

Gay-owned and managed Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge presents an authentic Jazz Club experience unlike anything in Colorado.

Named “One of the Top 100 Jazz Club in the World” by Downbeat magazine and “Best Jazz Club” by Westword, the gay-owned and operated Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge features a unique and eclectic menu that focuses on great American traditional cuisine with a twist and live performances seven nights a week.

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Hey guys, please click here to become a fan of the MileHighGayGuy Facebook Fan Page.

And, while you're at it, could you also please follow me on Twitter?

Do it!

You know you wanna!

Openly gay 14-year old on Ellen

Graeme Taylor, the openly gay 14-year-old who became an internet sensation with his impassioned and eloquent defense of a teacher at a recent school board meeting, was on 'Ellen' today. He's awesome. - via Buzzfeed

Travel: Only in San Francisco

San Francisco has always opened its golden gates to gay and lesbian visitors.  To reinforce this warm welcome, the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) has redesigned its gay travel website and developed a new marketing campaign to remind lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) travelers that “The Gate is Always Open for You.” 

The SFCVB’s enhanced gay travel website www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/gaytravel, which features a rainbow ribbon winding its way around the Golden Gate Bridge, allows visitors to easily find what to “See & Do,” where to “Shop,” “Drink,” “Eat” and “Stay” in three featured San Francisco neighborhoods; the Castro, SOMA (South of Market) and the Embarcadero.

Couldn't you just die?

Gay coffins are a thing.

Add your name to the petition to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

In the last week, 49,529 Americans -- including 8,561 veterans and their families -- have signed this urgent petition to Senate leaders launched by Iraq vet Congressman Patrick J. Murphy and the Courage Campaign. Now Iraq veteran Ashwin Madia (pictured) and VoteVets are adding their names to the list - and you can too, before it's too late.

Will you add your name now to the more than 600,000 signatures collected over the last year on behalf of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? 

IF YOU ARE A VETERAN, CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION

IF YOU ARE NOT A VETERAN, CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE CIVILIAN PETITION

HRC comments on President's Executive Order Reforming the Faith-Based Initiative

Last week, President Barack Obama issued an executive order instituting a series of reforms to the Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, incorporating recommendations made by the office’s Advisory Council last spring. Reverend Harry Knox, Director of the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion and Faith Program and former member of the Advisory Council issued the following statement:

“The reforms embodied in today’s executive order are important steps toward assuring all Americans, including LGBT people, that their government will protect all communities – religious and secular – as it seeks to serve the most vulnerable among us. As a former member of the Council, I am pleased to see our consensus recommendations put into action. Unfortunately, today’s order does not address the troubling Bush Administration policy allowing faith-based organizations to discriminate in hiring using taxpayer dollars. Until this administration makes clear that religious groups cannot circumvent federal, state and local antidiscrimination protections to discriminate against LGBT employees, the faith-based initiative will remain a deeply flawed program.”