Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains: Get Yourself Talking, Get Yourself Tested

Get Yourself Talking, Get Yourself Tested
by Daniel Ceballos, Vice President for Community Education, Professional Training and Organizational Diversity at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

As many as one in two sexually active people will contract an STD by age 25. According to the CDC, men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for 53 percent of the estimated new HIV infections in 2006. These startling statistics are a wake up call to us all! In many ways, we are failing to teach our young people the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent STDs.

Currently, members of the Colorado Senate are considering a resolution to recognize the need for science-based, comprehensive, medically-accurate, culturally relevant, and age-appropriate sex education. We applaud this resolution – but it’s not enough - we need to stress the importance of STD awareness and prevention in sex education that is inclusive of the LGBTQ community.

Today, many sex education programs focus primarily on preventing teen pregnancy. While these lessons are extremely important, STD prevention often falls to the wayside and does not receive the equal attention it deserves. Moreover, pregnancy prevention generally does not pertain to LGBTQ students. As a result of this neglect, scores of students and young adults, gay and straight alike, do not understand how STDs are transmitted and STD prevention is not made a priority. Additionally, myths related to STDs continue to flourish… and there is still a powerful stigma associated with simply being responsible and getting oneself tested.

Our goal should be to empower ALL young people to take control of their health and their sex lives-to be personally responsible with how they act in their sexual behaviors. In an effort to reach this goal, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains has joined with MTV, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a month long campaign to motivate youth to GYT — Get Yourself Talking and Get Yourself Tested. Components of the campaign include messages around talking with partners and healthcare providers about STDs and STD testing, low cost testing dates, and taking responsibility for one’s sexual life and sexual decisions.

This monthlong campaign should serve as a reminder to us all about the importance of STD prevention and STD testing. STDs do not discriminate! Everyone, young and old, gay and straight, who is sexually active (regardless of whether pregnancy prevention is one’s goal or not), should make GYT a regular part of their lives throughout the year. Let’s get talking- and let’s get tested!

Click here for more information about GYT.


Stevie Nicks - Secret Love

The video for Stevie Nicks' "Secret Love" is here!  "Secret Love" is the first single off of Stevie's new album In Your Dreams, available next week Tuesday, May 3rd.  The album is now streaming on RollingStone.com.

Moscow officials OK pride parade for the first time

Moscow municipal officials will allow an LGBT pride gathering in the city this May. Organizers secured the approval after agreeing to limit participation to 500 individuals. Such gatherings have been banned repeatedly in Moscow, which has never seen an officially sanctioned pride parade.

Proposition 8 supporters argue gay judge tainted case

Supporters of California's Proposition 8 have filed a motion arguing the federal judge who ruled that the measure was unconstitutional was unfit to hear the case because he is in a same-sex relationship and did not disclose that fact at the time of the trial. 

Proposition 8 opponents say that argument is absurd, and legal experts predicted it would fail to sway an appellate court that is considering the case.

HEIDECKER & WOOD - Life on the Road

In case you haven’t heard, soft-rock-legends-in-the-making Tim Heidecker, co-creator and star of “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!,” and Davin Wood, composer on “Tim and Eric…,” have released their debut album as Heidecker & Wood, called Starting From Nowhere. It’s available now on Little Record Company.

New Music: Matthew Morrison - Still Got Tonight

Matthew Morrison has released the song "Still Got Tonight" off his upcoming self-titled album, out May 10. 

See Matthew discuss the track here.

"Still Got Tonight" is now available on iTunes.

Hawaii Legislature passes Transgender Employment Protections

Equality Hawaii, the state's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, and the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization, today congratulated the Hawaii House for concurring with the Senate on a HB 546 SD1, a bill codifying prohibitions against discrimination in employment on the basis of gender identity, by a 45-4 vote with two absences. The bill moves to Governor Abercrombie’s desk for his signature. 

“Today is a great day for all residents of Hawaii,” said Alan Spector, Equality Hawaii Co-Chair.  “Providing employment protections to transgender people in Hawaii is a victory for civil rights.  The people of this state should be judged on the quality of work they do and not on who they are – that’s what this legislation guarantees.”

“The State of Hawaii is on a steady march to full equality for all its people,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.  “Being free from discrimination based on gender identity and expression, and to be judged on your merits and quality of work is a common-sense approach to employment policies.  We congratulate the legislature for recognizing everyone should be treated equally in the workplace, and look forward to Gov. Abercrombie’s signature.”

The Human Rights Campaign and Equality Hawaii have worked closely together to build both public and legislative support for this legislation. Through this joint effort, thousands of phone calls, emails and handwritten letters have been sent to legislators urging them to approve this legislation. 
Hawaii law already codified protections for transgender people in housing and public accommodations, and prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations. 

For an electronic map of nondiscrimination laws in the states, check out www.HRC.org/State_Laws.

Free music download: Dead Rider - Stop Motion and Mother's Meat

Chicago-based Dead Rider is an expectation-defying rock band whose live show takes their uniquely gritty sound to unexpected heights.  A confounding and delightful barrage that blends aggressive confrontation with layers of seduction, Dead Rider brings together former U.S. Maple guitarist Todd Rittmann (vocals, guitar, harmonica, drums), Andrea Faught (synth, vocals, horns), Noah Tabakin (saxophone, vocals, synth), Theo Katsaounis (drums) and Matt Espy (drums) to form a potent gang of sonic magicians.  They’re taking their show on the road in early May, be sure to catch them live so you too can bask in their afterglow. 

Dead Rider is also psyched to share “Stop Motion” from their forthcoming sophomore album The Raw Dents (out May 3 on Tizona).  The heavy vocals and eerie aural textures create a darkly psychedelic experience that borders on being uncomfortably sexy.  If you’re at work, listen at your own risk…

Listen to / download / share Dead Rider’s “Stop Motion” 

Listen to / download / share Dead Rider’s "Mother's Meat"

Free Stuff: Week of Unlimited Tanning From At The Beach

Denver PrideFest 2011 sponsor At The Beach has a fabulous special offer for all you freak'n Denver PrideFesters out there!

  

Just freak'n click here for a coupon for a free week of unlimited tanning or one free sunless tanning session.

Denver PrideFest 201 Announces Main Stage Headliners

Denver PrideFest Main Stage Headliners have been announced and among them are Grammy-winning Motwown diva Thelma Houston, the world's number one Cher impersonator Chad Michaels, world famous Michael Jackson impersonator Carlo Riley, and 'RuPaul's Drag Race's' Carmen Carrera (pictured).

Click here to find out more about the dazzling array of diverse entertainers and performances Denver PrideFest has in store for you!

The Lonliest Road in America

The Denver Film Society will host a screening of "The Loneliest Road in America" on Thursday, May 5^th at 7 pm at the Denver Film Center, followed by a question and answer session with the film's director Mardana Mayginnes and its star Colin Michael Day.

After graduating from the University of Denver, Day and his classmate, Mayginnes, made the trek from Colorado to Los Angeles where Maygines took a position at a commercial house and Day continued his acting studies. Both young men had plenty of friends who had tried to make a go of it as screenwriters and performers in Los Angeles, only to get frustrated, sidetracked, and jaded within a couple of years. "We had a plan that we wanted to begin our careers by making our own material," says Day. "We started to get restless, and one day, we went to a coffee shop, and we talked about an idea that would eventually become 'The Loneliest Road in America.'" They used connections forged through work and friends, including director of photography and editor Tony McGrath, to put together a talented team. Finding a way to make their own project and create their own success seemed like a more rewarding path to take. McGrath, like many of the other crew of "Loneliest Road" were commercial veterans looking to break into feature films.  Knowing they could rely on an eager, talented team made putting the production together that much easier.

Day stars as Jamie, a disillusioned recent college grad who finds himself strangely moved and changed by the road trip that leads him from his Colorado home, through the forgotten mining towns along Highway 50 in Nevada, to a friend's home in Los Angeles. Along Highway 50 in Nevada - "The Loneliest Road in America" - they encounter the ravages of the mining industry that has left skeletons of once-prosperous towns. Against this backdrop, Jamie confronts the recognition that freedom and exploitation are inextricably linked and that his own personal relationships have followed the same road.

            Tickets are available online at www.denverfilm.org.

Indestructible Noise Command (I.N.C.) - God Loves Violence

Indestructible Noise Command - Headbangers Ball - MTV Shows

Music to bang your head to.

Matthew Morrison and Elton John Duet

RyanSeacrest.com has your first listen to the Matthew Morrison and Elton John duet. Taken from Matthew's upcoming solo album (available on May 10), the song is a mash-up of Elton’s hits “Mona Lisa And Mad Hatters” and “Rocket Man.”

The full song will be available for purchase tomorrow, April 19, exclusively on Amazon.

HRC to Law Firm King & Spalding: Defense of Discriminatory DOMA Law is “Shameful”

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today called the decision of the law firm King & Spalding to take up the House Republican leadership’s defense of the Defense of Marriage Act a shameful stain on the firm’s reputation.  Earlier today it was revealed that firm partner Paul Clement would represent House leaders in their quest to preserve discrimination against loving married couples.

“The firm of King & Spalding has brought a shameful stain on its reputation in arguing for discrimination against loving, married couples,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.  “No amount of taxpayer money they rake in will mitigate this blemish on the King & Spalding name.”

Reports indicate that Clement’s hourly fees could top $1000, making his role in defending DOMA a pricy proposition.  In fact, it has been reported that Clement received a $5 million signing bonus at the firm, showing just how expensive this kind of representation is. Given that there are as many as nine lawsuits in federal court challenging the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA, the bill to taxpayers could reach the tens of millions of dollars.

“Now we know why Speaker Boehner signed on to the right-wing plan this morning to strip money from the Justice Department to defend DOMA.  The price tag for this elite representation is going to be staggering and he’s got to try and find the money somewhere,” said Solmonese.  “This move is a jobs plan solely for high-priced lawyers bent on defending discrimination.”

King & Spalding had most recently scored a 95 percent on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index – a measure of a company’s workplace policies and practices as they relate to their LGBT employees.  On the firm’s own website they even promote their LGBT diversity initiatives: www.kslaw.com/About-Us/Diversity/LGBT.  Last month, HRC sent a letter to the nation’s largest law firms urging them not to take up DOMA’s defense (http://bit.ly/fConJn). Noting that the legal sector has the largest number of top-scoring companies in HRC’s corporate ratings, Solmonese wrote: “It is critical that your organization not undermine that laudable record by representing the House in its defense of this discriminatory and unconstitutional law, which denies loving gay and lesbian couples the fair and equal treatment that they deserve from their federal government.”

“In taking up DOMA’s defense, the firm is aiding and abetting an effort to score cheap political points on the backs of same-sex couples,” said Solmonese.  “King & Spalding was not required to take up this defense and should be ashamed of associating themselves with an effort to deny rights to their fellow citizens.”

Lt. Dan Choi to speak at Metro's Queer Symposium today

On March 19, 2009, Lt. Dan Choi announced that he was gay on 'The Rachel Maddow Show'. Then his life changed forever. Despite being valued for his ability to communicate with the Iraqi people, Lt. Choi was notified that the military had begun discharge proceedings against him.

On March 19, 2010 Lt. Choi chained himself to the White House fence in an attempt to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that prevented him from serving openly.

Today, Lt. Choi will come to Metro State's Auraria campus to speak about his inspirational story as part of the campus' Queer Symposium in St. Cajetan's at 12:30pm.

Click here for more information or to RSVP.

Sam Waterston is a New Yorker for Marriage Equality

Sam Waterston, the long-time star of Law and Order, is the latest voice in the Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – “New Yorkers for Marriage Equality” campaign.  In a new video, Waterston says, “Let’s make the system fair and end institutionalized bigotry.”  The campaign, which raises the public profile of marriage equality in the Empire State, can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/NY4marriage.

ELEMENT presents monthly EMBRACE Heart Circle

Heart Circle is one of the central traditions of created by the radical faerie community. Faeries come together in a circle to speak from the heart, and to listen to one another through our hearts. Usually a talisman of some kind (a talking stick, a shawl, a day-glo bubble wand) is used to identify the faerie who is speaking as long as that faerie holds the talisman, that faerie speaks, without interruption or feedback, and everyone else listens, with as much attention and compassion as we can muster. In some heart circles the talisman is passed around the circle and each faerie has that opportunity to speak or to pass the talisman. In other circles when one faerie is done speaking, any other faerie may ask for it. Either way, passing the talisman is an intimate exchange, often accompanied by a hug or a sign of gratitude.

Speaking from the heart is difficult to define, but we know when we're doing it, and when we're not. The quality of a heart circle comes as much (or more) from the listening as from the speaking. Many of us have had some or our most deeply emotional, healing, transformative experiences in heart circle. A heart circle can go on for a long time. It's generally okay to join the circle in progress (between speakers, as the talisman is passed), to take a break, or to leave entirely, although the reason they go on so long is that they're so wonderful nobody wants to leave.

Please join ELEMENT as they host a monthly EMBRACE Heart Circle. Space is limited, so please call or email your decision to participate. 720.382.5900 ext 10 or email: michael@thedenverelement.com.

CSU student looking for stories from the gay community

CSU student Alexandra Sieh is working on her honors thesis. For this project, she would like to write articles centered on GLBT issues, events, profiles and features. The articles will be compiled in the form of a local community magazine.

As a centerpiece of this thesis magazine, Alex would like to do a profile/feature article on a member of the community. She's hoping to be able to tell "a great story that maybe hasn't been told yet and [that] would also perhaps signify a certain issue or success in the GLBT community" or with relevance to a community issue.

She would need to interview the subject(s) the week of April 18 or April 25, although it would be helpful if the subject were available before then.

If you have a story you would like to share with Alex for this project, please e-mail her here to arrange an interview session with her! - via Lambda Community Center

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day in Colorado

This year, more than one billion people are expected to participate in Earth Day 2011, making it the largest act of civic obedience in the world, in which Colorado will take part. Coloradans know that natural beauty makes their state an ideal place to live and work, inspiring them to be eco-friendly and preserve the state’s dramatic landscape for generations to come. Below is a sampling of some of the many ways to “go green” in Colorado on Earth Day and beyond.

Read all about 'em after the jump. 
 


Colorado Earth Day Celebrations:

* Pikes Peak Earth Day Celebration (April 16) is a community event that showcases all things environmental in the region through eco-friendly exhibitors, workshops, children’s activities, entertainment, food, art and much more. www.PikesPeakEarthDay.org

* Denver’s 2011 Earth Day Fair (April 22) aims to inspire visitors to honor the Earth and make efforts toward conservation and preservation of the planet. The fair showcases numerous organizations that strive to make the world a better and cleaner place for current and future generations. www.DenverGov.org

* Earth Day Fort Collins (April 23) encourages the community to honor the Earth each and every day by celebrating the planet through a combination of activities and events for the entire family, featuring informational booths and displays, arts and crafts, live music, speakers, local food and a beer garden. www.SustainableLivingAssociation.org

* Western Botanical Gardens Earth Day Celebration (April 23) invites locals and visitors alike to enjoy a fun-filled day and celebrate Mother Earth with kids programs, organic food, wine and beer, and a realm of live concerts. www.GJEarthDay.com

* Boulder’s 9th Annual Earth Day 5k (May 1) offers an opportunity to dust off the running shoes and start spring training the green way. The run/walk starts at the University of Colorado’s Research Park with all proceeds going to the Center for ReSource Conservation, a local non-profit committed to leading the community toward a more sustainable future. www.ConservationCenter.org

Eco-Adventures Across the State:

* Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. Colorado is home to 54 fourteeners (mountains with an altitude of 14,000 feet or more) each offering adventurous hikes, breathtaking panoramic views and spiritual renewal to its 500,000 visitors each year. The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative invites visiting hikers and nature enthusiasts to volunteer time and funds to help protect and preserve the integrity of these incredible mountains. www.14ers.org

* Southwest Wilderness Outfitters provides unique eco-conscious, backcountry llama-trekking excursions into the untouched south San Juan Wilderness of southwestern Colorado. As a sure-footed, low-impact animal, the llama has been used to transport supplies through the region for thousands of years and provide a great way to enjoy the scenery without the burden of a load. www.SouthwestWildernessOutfitters.com

* Zapata Ranch: A Nature Conservatory Reserve. Live like the cowboys did in the Old West by visiting Zapata Ranch, a 103,000-acre bison and guest ranch located on the eastern wall of the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado. Guests enjoy hiking to Zapata Falls, fly fishing on the Rio Grande River or taking a tour of a 2,500 bison herd. www.ZRanch.org

* The Continental Divide Trail Alliance invites volunteers to build the trail that unites North America through some of Colorado’s most rugged landscape. With varying degrees of difficulty, this project gives volunteers an opportunity to build part of Colorado’s history through abandoned ghost towns, wilderness areas, National Parks and 14,000 foot peaks. www.CDTrail.org

* The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center just outside of Cortez is a great place to get your dig on. Nestled in a canyon and shadowed by the La Plata Mountains, this facility is dedicated to exploring and preserving the Ancestral Puebloan culture embedded in the Mesa Verde region of the state. www.CrowCanyon.org

* The Colorado Trail Foundation. The Colorado Trail is Colorado’s premier long distance trail, stretching nearly 500 miles from Denver to Durango through the spectacular Colorado Rocky Mountains amongst peaks with lakes, creeks and diverse ecosystems. Trail enthusiasts and visitors are invited to participate in the foundation to protect the trail from everyday wear and tear. www.ColoradoTrail.org

Eco Educational Opportunities:

* The National Center for Atmospheric Research near Boulder offers guided tours to learn about one of the most important research centers for studying climate change and pollution. www.NCAR.UCAR.edu

* The National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden is the country’s primary facility for research and development relating to renewable energy offering guided tours and exhibits about the Earth’s climate. www.NREL.gov

* The Environmental Learning Center in Beaver Creek is dedicated to promoting education and awareness among guests, employees and area residents. The center showcases interactive displays and a continuous-loop video portraying the resort’s environmental efforts. www.BeaverCreek.com 


Gay Facebook co-founder changes status to 'Married'

The Advocate profiles Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and his fiance, Sean Eldridge, political director at Freedom to Marry. 

The couple, who met in college, are busy planning their wedding and exploring how they can use their wealth to support causes that matter to them both. 

"I know it might sound crazy, but we both feel the clock ticking. There's only so much time, and there's so much stuff to do," Hughes said.

Homosexuality caused the fall of ancient Rome!

Not really but Roberto De Mattei, vice president of Italy's Centre for National Research, has sparked outrage after suggesting the fall of ancient Rome was caused by "the spread of homosexuality." 

De Mattei has also come under fire for saying the recent deadly tsunami in Japan was "divine punishment." 

Other - more reasonable - historians dismissed De Mattei's theory of the downfall of the Roman Empire.

Record support for marriage equality in New York, poll finds

Legalizing marriage for same-sex couples is favored by a record 58% of registered New York voters, according to a poll by the nonpartisan Siena Research Institute. Marriage equality advocates say now is the time to attempt to pass a marriage equality bill, while support is high and Gov. Andrew Cuomo is popular.

Meanwhile, over 72% of Coloradans support for legal recognition of same-sex unions.

Travel: ExperienceLA.com

Renowned as the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” Los Angeles is a global city with a wealth of world-class entertainment. At any time, day or night, the city offers endless cultural and recreational options. To help locals and visitors navigate through this plethora of riches, LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched www.ExperienceLA.com, an easily navigable free calendar that provides convenient one-stop shopping for everything happening in the City – from museum exhibitions to live theatre, film festivals, cultural events and much more.

2011 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

Denver Botanic Gardens and the Swallow Hill Music Association, the Gardens’ concert promotions partner, today announced the 2011 Summer Concert Series lineup.

Situated inside one of the nation’s top botanic gardens, the 2011 Summer Concert Series at Denver Botanic Gardens’ UMB Bank Amphitheater will offer an unrivaled ambience of thousands of blooming plants and the crystal clear music of some of the world’s most sought-after artists.

June 1               Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings                ($50 members, $55 non-members)

June 14             Dr. John & the Lower 911                        ($56 members, $61 non-members)

                        & Mavis Staples

July 8                Chris Isaak                                            ($67 members, $72 non-members)

July 14              Natalie MacMaster                                 ($53 members, $58 non-members)

                        & Great Big Sea

July 15              Allen Toussaint  &                                 ($56 members, $61 non-members)

                        The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

                        & Buckwheat Zydeco

July 21              India Arie & Idan Raichel                         ($52 members, $57 non-members)

July 22              Chris Botti                                             ($61 members, $66 non-members)

July 24              Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers          ($51 members, $56 non-members)

                        & Béla Fleck & the Flecktones

                        Chatfield Green at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield

                        *Show starts at 6 p.m.; gates open at 4 p.m.

July 29              Roseanne Cash w/ Nina Storey              ($54 members, $59 non-members)

Aug. 4               k.d. lang & The Siss Boom Bang             ($65 members, $70 non-members)

Aug. 7               Keb’ Mo’                                               ($57 members, $62 non-members)

Aug. 9               David Sanborn, George Duke                  ($53 members, $58 non-members)

                        & Marcus Miller

Aug. 21             B.B. King                                              ($78 members, $83 non-members)

                       

All shows start at 7 p.m.; gates open at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Ticket sales for Denver Botanic Gardens members begin on April 25, 2011. Six tickets per membership, per show are allowed. Membership to the Gardens does not guarantee availability of tickets.

New music from the Pet Shop Boys

Click the link to hear the Pepptalk remix of the new Pet Shop Boys track 'Together'.

This Tax Day gay couples Refuse To Lie

A new campaign called “Refuse to Lie” has been launched to assist legally married gay couples who plan to ignore the government’s requirement that they lie on their taxes by filing as “single.”

 

The Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) not only denies legally married gay couples the 1138 legal protections and benefits of marriage, but the IRS also uses DOMA as a justification for telling couples to disavow their spouses.

 

“Refuse to Lie is a grassroots campaign that aims to make visible the impossible choice gay married couples have in choosing between the truth and the law,” said Nadine Smith, one of the organizers and the executive director of Equality Florida.

 

“As long as we quietly comply, our friends, neighbors, families and co-workers have no idea what is being done to us in their name,” said Smith. “As long as we are silent, they won't understand how humiliating, dehumanizing and plain wrong it is to force legally married couples who are gay to lie and deny our spouses.”

 

The risks of taking this stand are unclear and the rules murky. DOMA has been deemed unconstitutional by two trial courts and those decisions are being appealed. Recently, President Obama and the US Department of Justice announced that they too found portions of DOMA unconstitutional and would no longer defend the discriminatory law.

 

Nina E. Olson is the United States Taxpayer Advocate and is tasked with helping taxpayers solve their problems with the Internal Revenue Service. She is the only IRS employee authorized to make legislative proposals directly to Congress. In her annual report to Congress, Olson identified the confusion over legal filing requirements for gay couples as a major problem.

 

“The IRS has not provided answers to these questions, requiring many taxpayers to file returns without knowing which rules apply and potentially subjecting them to audits and penalties, as well as costs for tax advice.”

 

According Olsen’s report to Congress, the populations of individuals in same-gender marriages and domestic partnerships were 63,658 and 174,760, respectively, in 2008, when only three states authorized same-gender marriages and ten recognized domestic partnerships, according to the report. Nationwide, more than a million individuals are estimated to be living as same-gender couples (whether or not registered), over 20 percent of which are raising children.

 

In addition to highlighting this injustice, the Refuse to Lie campaign provides resources on what other couples might face if they to “refuse to lie” on their tax returns. The campaign also provides an opportunity for individuals and gay or straight married couples to sign a petition and stand in solidarity with those who are risking their freedom to demand their equality.

 

Visit RefuseToLie.org to sign the petition and learn more.

Chris Meloni is a New Yorker for Marriage Equality

Christopher Meloni, star of Law and Order SVU, joins the Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – in a new video in the “New Yorkers for Marriage Equality” campaign.  In the video, Meloni says, “I believe in love, in family, and in fairness.  That’s why I’m a New Yorker for marriage equality.”  The latest video come as the debate over marriage equality once again takes center stage in Albany and across the state.  The campaign, which raises the public profile of marriage equality in the Empire State, can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/NY4marriage.

Free video download: Stevie Nicks - Cheaper Than Free

The music video of Stevie Nicks & Dave Stewart's “Cheaper Than Free” is the video of the week on iTunes right now.

And it's available for FREE!  Click the link to get it.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains responds to budget cuts

Statement by Vicki Cowart, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, on Upcoming State and National Vote to Take Away Cancer Screenings and Birth Control from Colorado Women:

The most conservative members of Congress are not focused on jobs or on the economy, but on taking away women’s access to basic health care — cancer screenings, birth control, and annual exams.

Having failed last week to eliminate breast exams, cancer screenings, and birth control that millions of American women count on, these extremists insist on pushing another attack on these critical health services with a new vote against Planned Parenthood this week.

The attack has been copied by conservative members of the Colorado Senate who introduced an amendment targeting abortion providers in the state’s budget bill. This amendment would have hurt women, while doing nothing to reduce the deficit or fix the economy. It would have denied thousands of Colorado women access to life-saving screenings and birth control. While the Senate version of this amendment was voted down, it will likely be debated again by the House.

Colorado is facing serious fiscal issues that demand the full attention of our elected officials.

Attacking Planned Parenthood and other providers' ability to administer preventive care hurts women. No state or federal funding goes towards abortion, as mandated by law.

Doctors who provide essential health care services for women like PAP tests, breast cancer screenings, STI testing, and contraceptive services should not be denied state funds to provide these services simply because they also provide safe, legal, abortions.

This is just one more indication of how far out of the mainstream the Conservative leadership is, and how they would sacrifice the health and well-being of women to pursue their extreme political agenda.

The fact is that 93 percent of the health care Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides is preventive, and every federal dollar Planned Parenthood receives goes toward providing preventive health care to women.

Any elected official who votes for this extreme proposal is voting against access to lifesaving cancer screenings and birth control.

Planned Parenthood does not want one woman to be diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer, when our health centers could have caught that cancer through early screening.  Every year Planned Parenthood provides nearly one million screenings for cervical cancer and 830,000 breast exams nationwide.  We also provide affordable birth control to nearly 2.5 million patients and nearly four million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV testing.

The continued misleading attacks on Planned Parenthood expose a cynical and coldhearted willingness to further a divisive political agenda even if it will deny women access to lifesaving cancer screenings and birth control.

Thankfully, in Colorado and nationally, our champions are standing firmly in support of Planned Parenthood and have made clear this extreme proposal is unacceptable, and we are confident they will stand firm in their commitment to American’s women and reject this extreme proposal.

Hurray for Hawaii!

Equality Hawaii, the state's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, and the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization, yesterday congratulated the Hawaii Senate for passing a bill codifying prohibitions against discrimination in employment on the basis of gender identity by a 22 to 2 vote. The bill moves to Governor Abercrombie for his signature.

“The march towards full equality in the Aloha State continues,” said Alan Spector, Equality Hawaii Co-Chair.  “Providing employment protections to transgender citizens in Hawaii is a victory for civil rights and equal treatment under the law for all residents of our great state.”

“Following the passage of civil unions for Hawaii’s gay and lesbian residents, the enactment of employment protections for the state’s transgender people is another step forward in our fight towards equality in the Aloha State,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.  “No one should be denied employment possibilities because of who they are, regardless of their gender identity or expression.”

The Human Rights Campaign and Equality Hawaii have worked closely together to build both public and legislative support for this legislation. Through this joint effort, thousands of phone calls, emails and handwritten letters have been sent to legislators urging them to approve this legislation.

Hawaii law already included these protections in Housing and Public Accommodations. Employment Protections based on sexual orientation were passed in 1991.

A gay man's life is on the line

Why would the United States deport an openly gay man to Uganda, where he could be murdered because of his sexual orientation?

 

That’s exactly what’s happening in San Diego, where U.S. immigration officials could send Joseph Bokombe back to Uganda any minute, where he could face violence, torture, or the prospect of being executed -- just because he is gay.

Time is running out. But Joseph’s friends aren’t giving up without a fight.  

They’ve started an urgent petition on Change.org asking Rep. Susan Davis, Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein to stop Joseph’s deportation. Please click here to sign it now, before it’s too late.

Voxhaul Broadcast - Leaving on the Fifth

Check out the new video from "Fast-rising soul-pop quartet” (LA Times) VOXHAUL BROADCAST's debut full-length, 'Timing Is Everything'.

GLAAD's mad about Kobe's gay slur

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today issued the following statement in response to Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant's use of a gay slur:


"Discriminatory slurs have no place on or off the court," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. "Professional sports players need to set a better example for young people who use words like this on the playground and in our schools, creating a climate of intolerance and hostility. The LA Lakers have a responsibility to educate their fans about why this word is unacceptable."

GLAAD has reached out to the L.A. Lakers and will provide updates on GLAADBlog.org as they become available.

Recently, GLAAD has worked with sports groups including the New York Yankees, the World Wrestling Federation (WWE) and the Hershey Bears to address issues of homophobia in sports. The Hershey Bears, top minor league affiliate of the Washington Capitals, told GLAAD this week the team would be taking steps to put a stop to anti-gay taunts from fans. 

Social conservatives want to re-brand "gay"

Attendees at The Awakening, a conference for social conservatives held last weekend, proffered new terms to refer to gays and lesbians, calling the word "gay" a "left-wing socio-political construct," and claiming that gay identity doesn't exist. Proposed alternatives included "unnatural vice," "sodomy" and "same-sex intercourse."

How DOMA affects same-sex couples

Though some believe recent developments signal the end is near for the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law still has the power to inflict damage on same-sex couples in the U.S, experts say. 

Surviving partners can lose substantial income after the death of a loved one whose pension is not transferable under federal law; bi-national couples can face decisions about moving abroad to be able to stay together; and some couples' tax burden is double that of other married couples because they don't qualify as legal spouses under federal law, experts note.

Wild Beasts - Albatross

Check out the new video for Wild Beasts’ “Albatross” off the forthcoming album, Smother, out May 10 on Domino. Filmed in London by the distinctive Dave Ma, the video is a beautiful, dreamlike sequence of images featuring the band alongside a female dancer, capturing the high abstraction and intensity of the song. The video emits a sense of reflection about loss and an underlying hope of being free, and continues to embody the spirit of Smother in its tone and texture.

Arkansas Supreme Court strikes down adoption ban

Arkansas' high court recently ruled that a blanket ban on adoptions by unmarried couples is unconstitutional, calling the law an invasion of privacy. Mississippi and Utah still have similar laws on the books. The ban's supporters in Arkansas are now considering launching a drive to amend the state's constitution to reinstate it.

Michigan student president files harassment suit

Chris Armstrong (pictured), the openly gay student president at the University of Michigan, has sued Andrew Shirvell, a former Michigan assistant attorney general who lost his job in connection with an anti-gay campaign against Armstrong. 

"We want to set the record straight," said Armstrong's attorney.

Companies who want business in Nashville, Tenn., can't discriminate

The Nashville Metro Council has passed an ordinance requiring city contractors to have employment policies that forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

One of the bill's sponsors said the vote sent a signal that Nashville is a welcoming community, but detractors called it a "travesty" and worried it would unduly burden local businesses.