On Friday night, July 29th, "Denver's Favorite Drag Queen" Nuclia Waste was crowned Miss Denver County Fair at the National Western
Complex. Seven contestants competed in a county fair contest like no
other – for drag queens.
"I think it's great that Denver's first county fair reflects the
diversity of the entire city. From funnel cakes and corn dogs, to a
freak sideshow and vegan edibles, the Denver County Fair is a
melting pot of all the makes Denver unique," explains Nuclia, the
Princess of Plutonium.
The contestants competed in the areas of Beauty, Talent, Best County
Fair Attire and Congeniality. For talent, contestants sang live
music and performed a 4-H science project. Nuclia stike the show
trick roping like a Dale Evans version of Will Rogers.
"I slept with my crown on my night stand so it would be the first
thing I saw in the morning. I wanted to make sure winning Miss
Denver County Fair was not a dream," said Nuclia the next morning.
The Denver County Fair has attracted national attention for it's
eclectic blend of traditional and modern sensibilities. From a pie
eating contest and midway carnival, to a speed texting contest and
animal pavilion, people across the country are intrigued by Denver's
embracing of it's city's diversity.
Check out this free music download from Sydney producer Beni. "It's a Bubble" (feat. Sean Delear & Turbotito)is the first cut from his debut release House of Beni, which is due out digitally in the U.S. on September 27. On House of Beni, Beni collaborates with a diverse roster of musicians such as Sam Sparro, Mattie Safer and Nomi Ruiz.
Dixie Longate is back – and fresher than ever. Her food is fresh, too – and so is ours, thanks to Dixie’s Tupperware Party, the hit show featuring Dixie Longate, the fast-talking Tupperware Lady who brings an actual Tupperware Party with her wherever she goes.
A few years ago, Dixie packed up her catalogues, left her children in an Alabama trailer park and took Off-Broadway by storm! Now she travels the country throwing good ol' fashioned Tupperware Parties filled with outrageously funny tales, heartfelt accounts, free giveaways, audience participation and the most fabulous assortment of Tupperware ever sold on a theater stage.
See for yourself how Ms. Dixie Longate became the #1 Tupperware seller in the U.S. and Canada. Just head for Dixie’s Tupperware Party from July 27 through August 21 at the Garner Galleria Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $30 and performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Let Dixie educate you on the many alternative uses she has discovered for her plastic products on. And get ready to purchase the absolute latest products while you’re there. Yes, this is a real Tupperware Party – so clean out those cupboards and prepare to stock up on freshness!
Matt: Dixie, you were a big hit in Denver when you were here last. Tell those who were crazy enough to miss your show what a Dixie's Tupperware Party is all about.
Dixie: Remember when your momma and all her friends got together and locked themselves in the living room so they could laugh and drink and talk about plastic bowls and drink and play some games and laugh with their friends and drink some more? Well, it is kind of exactly like that, but now your momma ain't gonna lock the door. Instead, I'm inviting you to join your momma and me and some other neighbors to laugh yourselves silly while learning about the best food storage crap on the planet and see what you were missing all those years. And you can drink without spilling in our adult sippy cups.
What's new and hot in Tupperware for 2011?
Well, it is the summer grilling and barbecue season, so of course we have some of the old classics – like the hamburger press and the meat marinader to keep your meat all nice and moist and delicious – but we also have some great new things to serve all that food with and take it to the park in so you can ditch those old margarine tubs and Chinese takeout containers. Tupperware has got you covered! I've got things for the kitchen, new things for the bedroom, and plenty of gadgets so that case of wine goes from being held captive in your trunk to cup-holder ready in the time it takes for that light to turn from red to green!
Everyone I know complains that there are too many bottoms and not enough tops. I assume they're talking about their food-storage systems. How can Tupperware solve the problem of the disappearing tops?
Oh, Lord, have you said a mouthful! I have had more people come up to me with that same complaint. Just the other day, my friend, Judy-Lynn, was passing the collection plate and practically fell to her knees right there at church, screaming, “I need more tops! I need more tops!” Well, again, Tupperware to the rescue. I can always help you fortify the number of tops you had so that each bottom has something that fits snugly on it, and Tupperware also has the coolest little gadget called “The Place for Seals” where you can store all your tops once I help you get them all matched up, so that you will never have this pesky, irritating, painful issue again.
If a person could only have one piece of Tupperware, which one should it be and why?
That is almost a cruel question. Having only one piece of Tupperware is like having one lung. It is almost impossible to live with that and still function fully in society, but if I had to pare down my collection to just one thing, it would have to be my Can Opener. It is the most amazing thing in the world. It is as though the Baby Jesus himself came down and placed heaven right in your hands – and then told you to open a can with it. But then took it back from you so that he could open the can for you, ’cause it is that good that Jesus wanted the opportunity to use it. And then he handed the opened can back to you. And then gave you back the can opener. It is THAT good!
What's the most creative use of Tupperware that you have ever seen?
I actually saw this lady who uses the Jell-o Molds to make pendant lights. I want one for my trailer. I think they are the coolest thing. I mean, I have used my Tupperware for all sorts of things and in every room in the house, from the kitchen to the car to the flowerbed to the compost heap, but to rig it up and use it to light the way from the front door to the bedroom is just ingenious.
I have a gazillion old food-storage containers and they all fall out on my head when I open my cabinets. I have recently moved, and now I don't even have the space to store them all. I want to throw them all out and buy a nice, convenient set of Tupperware that doesn't take up a lot of space and is versatile. Which set or particular pieces do you recommend?
I saw that one commercial which shows that lady with the same problem that you have. Well, I mean, she sort of had a spastic episode when she opened her cupboards to make all the crap fall on her head, but I get the concern. I mean, your concern, and other Homosectionals like yourself. I don't think most people actually go rummaging through their cupboards for containers when they feel a spastic episode coming on, so she might have just been an isolated case that they caught on camera, but whatever your case, we have you taken care of. We have these bowls called the Flat Outs that literally collapse down to a Frisbee looking disc that you can store anywhere at all. They expand to put your food in and then when you are finished – squash! Like magic, it's tiny and manageable. You can throw it into your briefcase or gym bag and away you go. No spastic episode required!
The holidays are a ways away, but there's no reason people can't stock up on gifts now. What are the best pieces to buy for others as gifts?
The Wine Bottle Opener makes a great stocking stuffer. Think of the little one's eyes when they see a shiny new corkscrew instead of lumpy old coal again this year. Of course, I will have a ton of great specials to get your mind racing. You will be able to get some fine quality food storage solutions and then knock several people off the list at once. And when grandma sees a set of Tupperware bowls under the tree, she will be completely convinced that you still care about her and just lavish you with kisses, praise, and reindeer-shaped cookies that take like cinnamon and denture adhesive. Oh, it is a great Christmas after all!
What else would you like to say?
Lots of people think that Tupperware Parties are just for ladies. They couldn't be more dead-wronger! Come to my Tupperware Party and I promise you that you will laugh yourself silly, play some games, learn some stuff, and maybe even win some of the Best Food Storage Solutions on the planet. And just in time to take it to your Labor Day Party and be drooled up on by absolutely everybody.
Out has named Jerry Portwood as the brand’s new
Managing Editor. Portwood, who
joins Out after
three years as Editor in Chief of New York
Press, will be based in Out’s New York office and report
directly to Out Editor
in Chief Aaron Hicklin.
“Jerry is a very accomplished and able editor who
compliments our talented and dedicated team,” said Hicklin. “As Out continues to
evolve, his insights and perspective will be put to great use.”
As Managing Editor, Portwood will develop,
implement, and maintain effective communication systems to ensure efficient and
timely editorial production. He will also be involved in long-term editorial planning,
including working with Senior Editors on features and special editorial
packages.
Portwood most recently served as the Editor in Chief of
the alternative newsweekly New York Press,
a position he held since 2008. Before that, beginning in 2006, he was the publication’s
Managing Editor and Arts & Entertainment Editor. Additionally, he is the Founding
Editor of CityArts, a bimonthly
arts and culture publication in New
York City. He was also an editor at Creative Loafing in Atlanta from 2001 to 2003. He has lived in Barcelona, Spain,
and Okinawa, Japan.
The
Human Rights Campaign today praised the inclusion of
data on domestic partner benefits at part of the Department of Labor’s
National Compensation Survey (NCS). This is the first time that a
federal government survey has asked employers about domestic partner
benefits. HRC President Joe Solmonese released the following statement:
“As with so much about our community – from the health disparities we
face, to simply how many of us there are – we can’t begin to fully
understand and address the challenges that LGBT people face until major
surveys and studies actually ask about them. Thankfully, the Obama
administration is taking critical steps to ensure that questions about
LGBT people and our families are finally asked. We are grateful to
Secretary Solis for her leadership at the Department of Labor as part of
that effort.
“Offering domestic partner benefits has increasingly become a standard
best practice in America’s workplaces, with nearly 60% of Fortune 500
companies offering them. The data released today reflects that
progress, but also reminds us that, despite the advances in corporate
America, many American workers still lack access to equal benefits for
their families. For example, the NCS shows that only 29% of private
sector workers have access to health insurance benefits for a same-sex
domestic partner, and that number drops to around 20% in the South and
Midwest. It also indicates that lower wage earners are much less likely
to have access to these benefits.”
Check out the brand new remix video for Kat Krazy's take on Rye Rye and Robyn's "Never Will Be Mine." Kat Krazy rose from the alley in 2011 remixing some of the hottest artists in the world including Nicole Scherzinger, Far East Movement Feat Snoop Dogg & Mike Posner.
Paul Evans Aidoo MP (pictured), Ghana's Western Region Minister, has ordered police to arrest knownhomosexuals and called on citizens to inform on neighbors they suspect are gay or lesbian.
The move follows a pressure campaign by a conservative religious group that has demanded
politicians denounce gays and lesbians.
"All efforts are being made to get rid of these people in
the society," Aidoo said.
University of Kansas political scientist Donald Haider-Markel says his research shows that the presence of openly LGBT lawmakers in state legislatures leads to a greater number of pro-equality bills being introduced and adopted. "It helps push these issues forward," said Haider-Markel. The number of LGBT candidates running for political office has begun to rise significantly, according to this article.
And of course here in Colorado the LGBT community is lucky to have such openly gay lawmakers as Sen. Pat Steadman, Rep. Mark Ferrandino, Rep. Jared Polis working for (among other things) LGBT equality.
The GLBT Community Center's long-awaited Rooftop Happy Hour series kicks off tomorrow night with amazing views, tasty things to eat and drink, fabulous people to schmooze with and DJ Gary Givant. I recently had the opportunity to chat with DJ Gary Givant and find out the secrets of his success as one of Denver's hottest DJs for over 30 years, the songs he never gets tired of and the time he met Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Beyonce!
DW: How'd you get into DJing and how long have you been doing it?
GG: I used to sneak into clubs with my fake ID when I was 16. It was the late 70's when Disco was at it's peak. I used to go up to the DJ, Woody, at this club in Des Moines, Iowa, called Uncle Sams. I'd ask him song titles and started buying 12" club remixes ... OMG! 34 years! Wow! I'm very blessed.
To what do you attribute your longevity? What is your claim to fame?
I'm one of the few DJ's around that has been spinning consistently since the 70's through today, and I always play the newest club mixes available. I've been a Billboard Magazine nightclub reporting DJ since 1993. That means me, plus the other DJ's (there are 140 or so of us in the US) help to compile the weekly Club Chart in Billboard Magazine. For doing that, I have had the opportunity to meet Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Beyonce. I don't get paid for charting with Billboard but the perks are worth the time that I put in reviewing the latest club music for them.
What's the best part about DJing? What's the worst part?
The best part of DJing is the instantaneous crowd reaction and the energy the kids on the floor give me back!
The worst part of DJing is when a customer asks you to play a song, and you don't have it, you tell them to request something else, and instead, they go back to their table and have their posse of friends come up, one by one and request the song they asked for that I didn't have.
Where do you currently spin (in addition to The Center's Rooftop Patio)?
I'm spinning at:
Juke Ultra Lounge (1400 Market St in LoDo) - Thurs. and Sat. nights
Minibar (Cherry Creek) - check my Facebook/DJGaryGivant page for upcoming dates
Beautybar Denver (608 E. 13th Ave Capitol Hill) - Sun. 11:00 am brunch time
Hapa Sushi Bar and Grill (Cherry Creek) - Every other Sunday late night
Maloney's (LoDo) with award-winning DJ Kelly Insinna, alias DJ Sinna G, every other Sunday late night.
What song do you never get tired of? And what song would you like to never hear again?
Never get tired of "Good Life" by Inner City
I wouldn't miss hearing "Tardy For The Party" by Kim Zolciak.
Why should gay Denver come hear you at the rooftop on Friday?
Well, first of all, it is the kick off event for The GLBT Center Of Colorado's monthly happy hour event,the space is just fantastic! Secondly, I'll be playing a little bit of the history of dance music, from the 70's through today,it will be fun!
What's the craziest thing that ever happened during one of your sets?
OMG there has been so many! I guess one thing I do not like is when there is a mechanical malfunction and the sound stops, everyone points to the DJ, and usually, you don't have any control over it ... it's slightly embarrassing, but you laugh it off and start again!
Where can we find out more about DJ Gary Givant?
Google me! Haha! Facebook.com/DJGaryGivant. I update postings with my current playdates.
What message do you have readers of MileHighGayGuy?
Keep your mind open when it comes to music, and have a GR8 Summer!
The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – is calling on the GOP candidates for President to disavow the dangerous “ex-gay” or “reparative” therapies endorsed by Michele Bachmann and her husband Marcus. Last week Bachmann signed her name to the far-right group the Family Leader’s pledge “The Marriage Vow: A Declaration of Dependence upon Marriage and Family” as did Rick Santorum.
The statements with which Bachmann has now aligned herself include the falsehood that being gay is a choice and dangerous to public health. The pledge cites a 1997 study from the International Journal of Epidemiology and presents the data in a way that claims nearly half of gay and bisexual men won’t reach the age of 65. The publication issued a statement years ago saying the data is regularly taken out of context by anti-gay groups.
“Michele Bachmann’s homophobic views are out of step with mainstream America, and it’s time for her fellow GOP presidential contenders to publicly denounce them,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “The past few years we’ve seen a surge in support for equality and have made important legislative progress. Bachmann’s support for things like reparative therapy signals just how fringe a candidate she really is.”
Michele Bachmann’s husband, Marcus, has called LGBT Americans “barbarians” who “need to be disciplined.” His clinic, Bachmann and Associates, also reportedly practices conversion therapy – based on the theory that being gay can be cured or prayed away. One activist from the group Truth Wins Out took an undercover camera into the clinic that shows a Bachmann associate claiming a man can change his sexual orientation. This dangerous practice has been strongly denounced by leading medical organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association. Learn more about the lies and dangers of reparative therapy at www.hrc.org/reparativetherapy.
HRC’s Call it Out campaign will be tracking the homophobic activities and positions of Bachmann and her husband. As the first in a series of actions, HRC is calling on all other GOP presidential hopefuls to publicly denounce Bachmann’s support for reparative therapy and the dangerous homophobia behind it. Supports can add their voice to HRC’s petition. Learn more at www.hrc.org/callitout.
Sassy Gay Friend is back to save the day with another historical video. This time Sassy Gay Friend, known for his iconic orange scarf and sassy demeanor, is partnering with MiO to help Odysseus find his way home from the Trojan war.
Watch his latest video, Sassy Gay Friend: The Odyssey, where he promptly helps Odyssey board a ship to get home safely.
Tomorrow, the Matthew Shepard Foundation is hosting a chat to discuss "gaps" among the LGBT community and how to bridge them.
Stop by MatthewsPlace.com at 12:30pm to see what LGBT community leaders have to say, or feel free to join in and make your voice heard. Yours truly took part in the last chat about Denver PrideFeat and it was a hoot so I'll be back for tomorrow's - you should join us!
Join the Denver Film Society this July 14-17 as they celebrate queer cinema with the third annual Cinema Q Film Festival taking place at the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax July 14th - 17th. Cinema Q presents the best of the best in film that covers every aspect of the LGBTQ community and introduces new visionaries, pays tribute to iconic staples, tells stories from around the world and connects us all with a common message of identity and understanding.
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved an amendment to a defense appropriations bill reaffirming the Defense of Marriage Act, which limits federal recognition of marriage to unions between a man and a woman. Six Republicans crossed party lines to vote against the measure, but 19 Democrats backed it. Meanwhile the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hear testimony on repealing DOMA in the next few weeks.
16-year-old pop singer BERA recently premiered the video for his debut single, “Favorite Things." Produced by Rob Fusari (Lady Gaga) the single is a mid-tempo love song that gives fans a glimpse into the soul of BERA. “I really love ‘Favorite Things’ because it shows who I am,” says BERA. “In three minutes it shows my universe. Everything I say in my songs comes from something real.”
Today the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, praised Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy’s announcement that the panel would soon hold a hearing on the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA bans the federal government from recognizing legally married same-sex couples and denies loving and committed families equal benefits and equal dignity.
“The federal government shouldn’t be in the business of picking which marriages it likes and which it doesn’t, but that’s exactly what DOMA does,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “With New York soon joining the other five states and DC that treat all couples equally, the federal government needs to level the playing field for all families.”
This is the first time the issue of repealing DOMA will have a hearing in Congress since its enactment nearly 15 years ago. Additionally, under Sen. Feinstein’s leadership this Congress marks the first time a DOMA repeal bill has ever been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
“We thank Sens. Leahy, Feinstein and Gillibrand for their leadership in ending federal marriage discrimination as well as Rep. Nadler for his advocacy in the House,” said Solmonese. “We look forward to continuing to work with them on this upcoming hearing and until all marriages are treated equally in the eyes of the law.”
DOMA prevents any of the over 1,100 federal rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage from being afforded to legally married same-sex couples. These include Social Security survivor benefits, federal employee health benefits for spouses, protections against spouses losing their homes in cases of severe medical emergencies, the right to sponsor a foreign born partner for immigration, the guarantee of family and medical leave and the ability to file joint tax returns, among many others.
“In 1996, DOMA was just hypothetical discrimination because every state excluded same-sex couples from marriage,” said Solmonese. “Today we see it in much more concrete terms – as tangible, heart-wrenching, real-life discrimination.”
One of Denver's most glamorous men, Charlie Price (pictured left), creative director of 303 Magazine and artistic director for the 35th Anniversary Gala had this to say about what is sure to be one of the highlights of Colorado's LGBT social season,
"I am honored to participate in the 35th anniversary of The Center! It will a beautiful sleek red carpet experience where everyone feels like a VIP - think modern Hollywood glamour spiked with a sexy, modern and forward thinking sensibility."
The Center is looking for a few additions to their Board of Directors. Successful candidates will have experience in finance(CPA/Accounting experience preferred), health, technology or marketing/communications as well as a commitment to furthering the rights of LGBT people in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region.
A longtime member of The Center's Board of Directors, Dr. William Haas (pictured left) of Caring Hands Chiropractic recommends the experience to anybody who would like to make a positive difference for Colorado's LGBT population.
"I think it's really important to give back to the community," says Dr. Haas. "Anybody can give money but it takes a special person to give of their time and energy in this way and really work on behalf of the LGBT community."
Click here for more information or to fill out a Board of Director's Candidate Application. Deadline for applications is July 31, 2011.
Natalia Kills is unleashing the brand new video ‘FREE’ , featuring none other than will.i.am, who joins her on this little ditty that tells the tongue-in-cheek taleof being broke but feeling fabulous.
Join the Denver Film Society this summer as they celebrate queer cinema with the third annual Cinema Q Film Festival taking place at the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax July 14th - 17th. Cinema Q presents the best of the best in film that covers every aspect of the LGBTQ community and introduces new visionaries, pays tribute to iconic staples, tells stories from around the world and connects us all with a common message of identity and understanding.
“GLEE”THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON comes to Blu-ray and DVD September 13th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment packed with all 22 episodes and never-before-seen bonus features sure to incite fans everywhere to “Gleek Out.”
Award-winning American Indian artists Eddie Morrison, Nelson Garcia, Carol Snow and Pahponee will create works of art on-site at Denver Botanic Gardens. This artist in residence program is part of the Gardens’ year-long look at modern, contemporary and traditional American Indian arts. The centerpiece is the Gardens’ outdoor sculpture exhibit, Native Roots | Modern Form: Plants, Peoples and the Art of Allan Houser, on view at the Gardens through November 13, 2011.
Through a partnership with Tesoro CulturalCenter in Morrison, CO, these noted artists will produce work in sculpture, jewelry, mixed media, paint, collage, print and pottery at Denver Botanic Gardens as follows:
Eddie Morrison (Cherokee) - July 6-10
Born in Tahlequah, OK, Morrison specializes in creating three-dimensional works from wood, stone and bronze. His work is in numerous private collections throughout the United States and several public collections.
Nelson Garcia (Santo Domingo Pueblo) – Sept. 1-5
Garcia is a gold and silversmith from Santo Domingo Pueblo. His business is located in downtown Phoenix, where customers from all over the United States come to see him and buy his exquisite jewelry.
Carol Snow (Seneca) – Sept. 18-24
Residing in Loveland, CO, Snow is a certified tribal artisan of the Seneca Nation of Indians. She uses various combinations of oil paint, ink, dyes, watercolor, acrylic and hand-embossed metals on canvas and tea-dyed watercolor paper.
Pahponee (Kickapoo/Potawatomi) – Sept. 24-28
A descendent of the Kickapoo and Potawatomi Nations, originally from the Great Lakes, Pahponee is a self-taught clay artist who has learned the traditional methods of her Woodland culture as well as contemporary pottery techniques. She lives in Elizabeth, CO. Her Kickapoo name translates into “Snow Woman.”
“Being able to see and talk to these artists first-hand allows the public an opportunity to view art and culture as a living, breathing thing,” said Lisa Eldred, director of exhibitions, art and library collections at Denver Botanic Gardens. “We’re extremely excited to bring these prominent artists to the Gardens.”
Native Roots | Modern Form features more than 20 bronze works created by American modernist Allan Houser (Warm Springs Chiricahua Apache, 1914–1994). This pioneering 20th century personality opened doors for future generations of Native artists, and is one of the most important American artists of the last century.
"I think what you’re seeing is a profound recognition on the part of the American people that gays and lesbians and transgender persons are our brothers, our sisters, our children, our cousins, our friends, our co-workers, and that they’ve got to be treated like every other American." - President Barack Obama, speaking at an LGBT Pride reception at the White House lastweek, as quoted by The New York Times
Last week Colorado's own openly gay Sen. Pat Steadman and Rep. Mark Ferrandino, said New York succeeded in passing a marriage equality bill this year because New York's GOP is more savvy and vowed to reintroduce the Colorado civil unions bill that recently failed in the state house. According to Ferrandino, New York Republicans were willing to stand up to fringe elements within their party.
Below, Steadman and Ferrandino - among other Colorado politicians - appear in a video by Matt Kailey taken during Denver PrideFest 2011.
On Friday night, July 29th, "Denver's Favorite Drag Queen" Nuclia Waste was crowned Miss Denver County Fair at the National Western
Complex. Seven contestants competed in a county fair contest like no
other – for drag queens.
