When Bearracuda finally made it to Denver this past August, it was one of the nationally renowned party's biggest debuts ever.
And since when it comes to bears, bigger is always better, Bearracuda will return to Denver the night after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 25. So eat that turkey, take that nap, and get ready for the return of Bearracuda Denver - proudly sponsored by MileHighGayGuy!
Prepare to enjoy the sugar-coated, honey-roasted, chocolate-dipped sounds of DJ Brent - The Saskatchewan Sensation - when he makes his American debut at SWEET on November 12.
Cartoon kid Allen Gregory has gay dads? But I guess one of them is straight? That's kind of dumb. Did anybody watch the show last night? I had it on in the background and it seemed mildly amusing. (FOX)
According to Equality Matters, while Fox News consistently rails against efforts to reduce anti-LGBT
bullying, the network is virtually silent when it comes to actually
reporting on cases of bullying-related suicide.
According to an Equality Matters analysis, Fox largely underreported the recent suicide of a bullied gay
teen in New York. While CNN and MSNBC have made efforts to combat and
cover the growing problem of anti-LGBT bullying, Fox has instead chosen
to promote stories that reinforce right-wing talking points.
"This is why there are no gay protesters in Zuccotti Park. Because there's no place to change, and no closets."- Joan Rivers, on a perceived lack of protesters at Occupy Wall Street (Huffington Post)
Pernod
Ricard's Absolut vodka is unveiling a campaign celebrating the brand's
30th year in reaching out to gay consumers in the U.S., an appeal which
began in 1981 when Absolut ran ads in two magazines read by gay men. The
$4 million yearlong anniversary campaign is dubbed "Absolut Outrageous," and will have online and social media elements, as well as
print and outdoor ads. The ads were produced by shops inside the TBWA
Worldwide agency, which has handled Absolut creative since 1980.
Have you ever been discriminated against on the job for being gay?
Freedom
to Work, a new organization whose sole aim is passage of a federal law
protecting U.S. workers from anti-LGBT discrimination, said it plans to
disband as soon as it accomplishes that goal.
The
report recommends that LGBT families be treated equally in health
insurance and medical decision-making, and that social safety net
programs be more inclusive.
Servicemembers
Legal Defense Network last week filed a lawsuit in federal court
seeking spousal benefits for gay and lesbian troops who are legally
married under state laws. The suit takes aim at the Defense of Marriage
Act, which prevents the Pentagon and other federal agencies from
offering the same benefits that are available to married heterosexual
service members to families of openly gay troops.
"The case we are
bringing is about one thing, plain and simple. It’s about justice for
gay and lesbian service members and their families in our armed forces
rendering the same military service, making the same sacrifices and
taking the same risks to keep our nation secure at home and abroad,"
said Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN’s executive director.
Over
2,600 executives, human resources and diversity professionals, employee
resource groups and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
people and allies gathered in Dallas, Texas, October 25-28, to share
their best practices and ideas for creating workplaces where all people
are safe, accepted, and valued, inclusive of all sexual orientations,
gender identities, characteristics, and expressions.
Out & Equal's Founding Executive
Director Selisse Berry applauded attendees and supporters for their
talent, strength, and determination in creating safe and equal
workplaces around the world. Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary for
Disability Employment Policy, blended humor with her important
message: "I'm a walking affirmative action checklist - I'm a woman,
Latina, lesbian and blind!" she said.
Sander van't Noordende, Group Chief Executive, Accenture, shared
his experience of coming out at work, offering the audience some great
advice: find a mentor to connect with, take a risk at least once a week,
but go at your own pace.
Andy Cohen, Bravo’s Executive Vice
President of Original Programming and Development, applauded the large
number of gay and lesbian people at Bravo TV and expressed his pride for
Bravo's diversity. "[My colleagues] are on TV not because they are gay,
but because they have amazing talent, “said Cohen. Actress Candis Cayne
then participated in a conversation with Cohen, and shared that her
courage to come out and transition was bolstered by her parents' love,
and closed the event with a performance.
At the Wednesday plenary event, Golden
State Warriors President Rick Welts and actress/activist Meredith Baxter
discussed their very public coming out stories.
"Before the story came out in the New York Times on the front
page, I had no idea what to be prepared for. I certainly was not
prepared for the absolutely overwhelmingly positive response I got,"
said Welts.
Baxter shared her story of coming out
on the Today Show. "When my partner and I left the NBC studio that
morning, I felt free, unburdened, and so calm. I had faced the devil and
I had survived quite nicely,” she said.
Openly gay ESPN anchor and CNN correspondent LZ Granderson also appeared, and engaged in conversation with Welts on stage.
Thursday afternoon's plenary session
featured Out & Equal Founding Executive Director Selisse Berry, who
talked about the importance of coming home to yourself. Mike Ullman,
Chairman and CEO, JCPenney, and Liz Sweeney, Senior Vice President of
JCPenney, discussed inclusion and social engagement. "People work for
people, not for companies," said, Ullman. "Our diversity is our
strength."
Donna Brazile, renowned political
strategist and commentator and Vice Chair of Voter Registration and
Participation, Democratic National Committee, rounded out the plenary
with an engaging speech.
"Things have changed but we're not done
changing yet," said Brazile. "Those of us that seek a future of full
equality for all can never become comfortable. We cannot become weary
because civil rights cannot become the domain of those who seek to turn
back the proverbial clock and deny those rights to people just because
of their sexual orientation."
The Thursday evening Gala Dinner was
hosted by political humorist and entertainer, Kate Clinton. The dinner
opened with Dallas ensemble, the Turtle Creek Chorale, as they serenade
guests with its 120-person chorale.
Out & Equal welcomed special guests, activist Broadway
superstar, Wilson Cruz, who shared his story about working as an out gay
actor for 19 years, and Margaret Cho, who energized the audience with
her comedy.
“Everyone should have rights. And by rights, I mean bi
rights,” Cho said, underscoring the important of equality in the LGBT
community.
The evening also captured remarks by Chairman, CEO and President
of Northrop Grumman, Wes Bush, as well as local politician, Ft. Worth
City Councilman, Joel Burns.
For more information about Out & Equal and the Out &
Equal Workplace Summit, please visit the conference website at http://outandequal.org.
The
Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today praised Sen. Kristin
Gillibrand (D-NY), who announced she will introduce the Every Child
Deserves a Family Act (ECDFA) in the Senate. This legislation would
remove barriers to LGBT people serving as adoptive and foster parents,
as well as address the need to find loving homes for the
disproportionate number of LGBT youth in foster care. The Act would
deny federal adoption and foster care assistance dollars to states which
discriminate in adoption or foster care placement based on the sexual
orientation, marital status or gender identity of the potential parent,
or the sexual orientation or gender identity of the child. In May,
Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) reintroduced the ECDFA in House as H.R.
1681.
Following Sen. Gillibrand’s announcement, HRC President Joe Solmonese made the following statement:
“HRC is pleased that Senator Gillibrand will introduce the Every Child
Deserves at Family Act in the Senate. We thank her and Rep. Stark for
their leadership in combating discrimination against LGBT people in
adoption and foster care. With more than 120,000 children in this
country waiting to be adopted right now, it is inexcusable to bar
qualified LGBT parents from providing loving homes to children in
need.”
HRC is proud to support the Every Child Deserves a Family Act as one
part of our work to expand the pool of qualified adoptive parents. In
addition, HRC’s Family Project has the “All Children – All Families”
initiative, launched in 2007, which promotes policies and practices that
welcome LGBT foster and adoptive parents. The program seeks to enhance
LGBT cultural competence among child welfare professionals and educate
LGBT people about opportunities to become foster or adoptive parents to
waiting children. To date, ACAF has 50 participating agencies across
the country, and has awarded 16 seals of recognition. In September HRC
launched a “50 state strategy,” with the goal of securing at least one
ACAF-recognized adoption agency dedicated to working with LGBT families
in every state. More information about the initiative can be found at www.hrc.org/acaf.
Cyndi Lauper’s True
Colors Fund (www.truecolorsfund.org) today
announced a star-studded benefit concert on December 4that New York City’s historic Beacon
Theatre to help raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
youth homelessness. “Home for the Holidays,” presented by Deutsche Bank, will
feature a night of music from Cyndi Lauper as well as special appearances by
Norah Jones, Amy Lee, Rosie O'Donnell, Wanda Sykes, Carson Kressley, Chely
Wright, Skylar Grey, Vanessa Carlton, Angelique Kidjo, Harvey Fierstein, Deluka,
Debbie Harry, Alan Cumming, Clay Aiken and Jon Secada. Tickets
will be available to the general public at LiveNation.com starting
on Friday, October 28th at 10am.
“When I first learned
that up to 40 percent of all homeless youth in this country identify as gay,
lesbian, bisexual or transgender I was shocked and saddened,” remarked Lauper,
co-founder of the True Colors Fund. “For far too long homeless youth have not
received the attention, resources and funding necessary to bring an end to this
epidemic. My hope is that through this inspiring evening of music and comedy we
can raise awareness and much needed funds to help these young
people.”
It is estimated that 20 percent to 40
percent of all homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender,
yet of the general youth population, only 3 percent to 5 percent do the
same. The True Colors Fund is committed to doing what
it can to raise awareness about this issue and develop resources to help these
young people, most of whom are homeless due to family conflict.
Lauper was inspired to help after meeting
an extraordinary group of young homeless gay and transgender people in New York
City several years ago. She had an opportunity to include them in a photo shoot
for Interview magazine to help spread a message of acceptance and diversity. A
longtime advocate for the LGBT community and equality, Lauper co-founded the
True Colors Fund in 2008 as a first step in this effort. Last year, the True
Colors Fund launched the Give a Damn Campaign (www.wegiveadamn.org) to educate the straight community about
the many issues, especially youth homelessness, impacting the LGBT community and
inspire them to get involved.
From Times Square, to LAX and all the way to the White house – millions of Americans celebrated Spirit Day on October 20 by 'going purple' to stand up against bullying and send a message to LGBT youth that it's okay to be who you are.
Spirit Day 2011 was not just a success, but a national phenomenon.
Hosts of The View, Good Morning America, Ellen, and Conan; the NBA;
Seventeen magazine and Ricky Martin were just a few of the supporters
GLAAD worked with to help share messages or support and encouragement
with millions.
Do you like drag queen bingo? Do you like pie? It's best of both worlds
when Nuclia Waste hosts "Pie In Your Face Bingo" at Lannie's Clocktower
Cabaret on Sunday, November 6th at 7:00 p.m.
Today, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) announced the filing of landmark federal litigation, suing U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, on behalf of current and former service members seeking equal recognition, benefits and family support for equal sacrifice and service in the U.S. Armed Forces. The plaintiffs, each legally married, want the armed services to recognize their families and seek the same family support and benefits for their same-sex spouses that the services and Department of Veterans Affairs provide to opposite-sex spouses.
The case, filed in the District of Massachusetts, challenges the constitutionality of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), as well as provisions in Title 10, Title 32, and Title 38 of U.S. Code, which preclude the military from providing same-sex married couples with the same benefits and family support as their straight, married peers.
“This case is about one thing, plain and simple. It’s about justice for gay and lesbian service members and their families in our armed forces rendering the same military service, making the same sacrifices, and taking the same risks to keep our nation secure at home and abroad,” said Army Veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis. “These couples are in long term, committed, and legally recognized marriages, and the military should not be forced to turn its back on them because the federal government refuses to recognize their families.”
Together, the plaintiffs represent 159 years of military service; serve in the Army, Air Force, Navy and National Guard; and as couples, have been together for a total of 79 years.
“We’ve been serving our country too long, working too hard, and sacrificing too much to see our families denied the same recognition, support and benefits as our straight, married counterparts,” said lead plaintiff, Major Shannon McLaughlin of the Massachusetts National Guard. McLaughlin and her spouse, Casey, are the parents of ten month old twins, Grace and Grant.
Currently, federal law requires the military to ignore these marriages and, therefore, prevents it from providing vitally needed benefits to these legally married spouses, including housing; health care; surviving spouse benefits; the issuance of military identification cards; and morale, welfare, and recreational programs. These inequities were recently spotlighted when Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charlie Morgan of the New Hampshire National Guard, announced today as a plaintiff in this case, was forced to seek intervention from elected officials and the Pentagon in order for her spouse, a part-time special education teacher, to be permitted to attend a yellow-ribbon reintegration ceremony following CW2 Morgan’s return from a deployment to Kuwait.
“As plaintiffs, we are fighting to receive the same benefits and opportunities as our married heterosexual counterparts. This discrimination causes undue financial and emotional hardship for our families. As a cancer survivor, who has been recently diagnosed with a recurrence, I worry every day that my health may take a turn for the worse, and Karen would be unable to receive the survivor’s benefits to help take care of our daughter. We are only asking for fair and equitable treatment as a recognized family,” Morgan said today.
Abbe Lowell and Christopher Man of Chadbourne & Parke, SLDN’s pro bono co-counsel in the case, explained that providing all service members equal benefits is about more than just ensuring equality. They said this case promotes national security.
“Securing benefits for a service member’s spouse allows the service member to do his or her job for the nation with the confidence that they’re not putting their families at risk. It takes the worry out of the equation and allows them to serve with dignity and honor,” they said.
Sarvis pointed out this is not about special rights, as some critics have argued.
“We are not advocating any special treatment for the families of gay and lesbian service members or veterans, but we want to underscore that all military families should be treated the same when it comes to recognition, benefits and family support,” said Sarvis.
The Plaintiffs
Major Shannon L. McLaughlin, ARNG
MAJ Shannon McLaughlin is a United States Army Major in the Massachusetts National Guard and serves as a Judge Advocate General (JAG). Her current military assignment is Chief of Legal Assistance for the Massachusetts Army National Guard. She has served for 13 years and is married in the State of Massachusetts to her partner of more than three years, Casey McLaughlin. They are the proud parents of ten-month old twins, Grace and Grant McLaughlin. MAJ McLaughlin has been mobilized and deployed overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and served stateside in various roles during her military career as a JA. Prior to becoming an officer, MAJ McLaughlin attained the rank of Sergeant as an enlisted soldier.
Captain Steve M. Hill, USAR
CAPT Steve Hill is an Army reservist with 18 years of service currently on active duty at an undisclosed post in the Middle East. He is also a veteran of Operation Desert Shield. He is married to Joshua Snyder, his partner of more than a year, and they reside in Columbus, OH, where CAPT Hill is a Director of Public Health for Franklin County. CAPT Hill recently drew national interest when he submitted a video via You Tube that was used during the Fox News/Google Republican Presidential Debate in September to question the candidates about the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) Charlie Morgan, ARNG
CW2 Charlie Morgan currently resides in New Hampshire, where she is married to her partner of more than 14 years, Karen Morgan, a part-time special education teacher, whose primary responsibility is caring for their four-year old daughter Casey Elena. With more than sixteen years of service, she now works full time as an Active Guard Reserve Education Officer in the New Hampshire National Guard. In 2010, she was deployed to mobilization training at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, followed by Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, before returning home to New Hampshire in August 2011. Karen’s lack of spousal recognition means she is unable to gain access to health and dental insurance, causing the family to purchase it at full cost with no discount. In addition, her inability to receive a military identification card prevents her from taking their daughter, who is a dependent with her own ID card, on post to take advantage of facilities and services otherwise available to families. CW2 Morgan is a cancer survivor who recently has been diagnosed with recurrent cancer. She worries every day that if her health takes a turn for the worse, her military survivor benefits will not be conferred.
Lieutenant Gary Ross, USN
LT Gary Ross has served in the U.S. Navy since 1995 and is currently stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he works for the Joint Interoperability Test Command’s Warfighter Support Division. His duties include standing watch as both the critical and routine Hotline Support Officer for the 24/7 operational, contingency, and routine inoperability problem technical support task team. He also provides support for joint, inter-agency, and coalition communication exercises. He married his partner of more than 11 years, Dan Swezy, in the State of Vermont at 12:01 a.m. on September 20, 2011 as the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” took effect.
Lieutenant Colonel Victoria A. Hudson, USAR
LTC Victoria A. Hudson has served in the U.S. Army Reserve for more than 32 years, including four years enlisted service. She is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Joint Endeavor (peace enforcement mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina), two Operation Noble Eagle domestic tours of duty following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., and one tour in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. She has held a variety of command and staff positions including military intelligence company commander, civil affairs company commander, brigade operations officer (G3) and two battalion commands. She is married to her partner of ten years, Monika Poxon, and they live in Hayward, CA, with their two-year-old daughter.
Airman First Class (A1C) Daniel Henderson, USAF
A1C Daniel P. Henderson joined the U.S. Air Force in November of 2010 and is currently stationed in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he works as a member of the 90th Security Forces Group, providing continuous security for the 90th Missile Wing’s most vital assets. The mission of the 90th SFG includes the protection of F. E. Warren AFB, 15 Missile Alert Facilities (MAFs) and 150 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) on constant 24-hour alert throughout a 9,600 square-mile area spanning three states. The 90th SFG also sustains a combat-ready force deployable worldwide in support of wartime and peacetime tasks. He is married Jerret Henderson, his partner of more than 3 years. They plan to start the adoption process within the next few years and become parents.
Captain Joan E. Darrah, USN (Retired)
CAPT Joan E. Darrah joined the Navy in 1973 and served as a Naval Intelligence officer until her retirement in 2002. Her assignments included Deputy Director of the Human Resources Directorate at the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Intelligence Community Senior Detailer and Community Manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel. From June 1997 until July 2000, she was assigned as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander at the Office of Naval Intelligence. Her final assignment was on the staff of the Director of Naval Intelligence where she was the Officer and Enlisted Community Manager. She is married to Lynne Kennedy, her partner since 1990, and they live in Alexandria, Virginia.
Colonel Stewart Bornhoft, USA (Retired)
COL Stewart Bornhoft served in the U.S. Army from the time of his West Point graduation in 1969 until his retirement in 1995. He completed two tours of duty in Vietnam before serving in Europe for three years and commanding two districts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In his final tour of duty, COL Bornhoft was the Director of Public Works at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, during which time he was called to Oklahoma City by the Commander of the Third Army to be the Secretary of the Army’s Defense Coordinating Officer on-site during the rescue and recovery efforts following the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in April 1995. He is married to Stephen McNabb, a former Navy Lieutenant with eight years of active duty service and his partner of 15 years, and they live in Bonita, CA.
The Starz Denver Film Festival (SDFF) today announced that Judy Greer will receive
the Festival's John Cassavetes Award on November 4 followed by a clips
program honoring her work. Greer will be present to receive this award.
The
John Cassavetes Award was established in 1989 in collaboration with
Gena Rowlands, his widow. It is presented annually to an individual who
has made a significant contribution to the world of filmmaking and whose
work reflects the spirit of the late John Cassavetes. The first
recipient of this award was Steven Soderbergh and recent recipients
include Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, William H. Macy, Kevin Bacon, Tim
Robbins, Bill Pullman and J.K. Simmons.
"We are delighted to pay tribute to Judy Greer - a gutsy, hard-working actor who has appeared
in 39 movies and has stolen scenes at every turn from some of
Hollywood's best and biggest leading men," said Britta Erickson, SDFF
Festival Director. "It takes a tenacious sprit and unwavering integrity
to survive as an artist and Judy has done it with aplomb making us laugh
and cry with her characters along the way."
I
am thrilled to be receiving this year's Cassavetes Award. It's an honor
to be the recipient of this prestigious recognition. I look forward to
attending the Starz Denver Film Festival, where two films I am so proud
to be a part of are screening, The Descendants and Jeff Who Lives at Home." said Judy Greer.
SDFF
will unravel a clips program highlighting Greer's work followed by the
Cassavetes Award presentation. Denver Post film critic Lisa Kennedy will
then go one on one with Greer. The event begins at 8:30pm at the Denver
Film Center/Colfax. Attendees will have a rare opportunity to spend the
evening with the charming actor.
Tickets for the Cassavetes Award program
followed by One on One with Judy Greer are available to both members
and the general public. To purchase tickets to the program, visit http://www.denverfilm.org/festival.
The 50 Gayest Ads of All Time - #4 comes from my friends at Philadelphia Tourism. (AdWeek)
Will gay doctors and nurses turn your kids gay? No. But numbskull Linda Harvey says YES! (Fark)
The Official Gay Rights Timeline! (Time via Reddit)
Fresh off of
touring the globe with Britney Spears on the Femme Fatale Tour (and sounding quite a bit like her) and then making
waves on the electronic IDentity Festival tour, Jessie and The Toy Boys will
release LET’S GET NAUGHTY, the highly anticipated new single
& video off her full length debut THIS IS HOW RUMORS START
[Available
early 2012].
The
Human Rights Campaign yesterday condemned remarks
made by psychologist Paul Cameron in
Moldova, where he is speaking out against proposed non-discrimination
legislation that would include sexual orientation.
During a press event in Moldova today, Cameron repeated some of his
most vicious and false remarks about gay people, including likening
homosexuality to pedophilia. Cameron said: “While no one can say
precisely how dangerous a homosexual teacher is; no one can say exactly
how dangerous a homosexual priest is; it is clear that they are many,
many more times dangerous to their charges – to the children they
oversee … whoever is pushing this thing [non-discrimination legislation]
wants to sprinkle homosexuals throughout your society.” Watch Cameron’s remarks.
“Paul Cameron’s remarks aren’t only false and offensive, they’re also
incredibly dangerous,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “We saw in
Uganda the dangerous impact that Lou Engle’s anti-LGBT rhetoric had on
citizens there, and Cameron’s incendiary and blatantly untrue lies put
gay Moldovans at the same risk. Cameron has been roundly disgraced by
his colleagues here at home – but when he takes his hate abroad,
government officials are often unaware that his purported science is a
sham.”
The American Psychological Association expelled Cameron in 1983 for
grossly misrepresenting research. And both the American Sociological
Association (ASA) and the Canadian Psychological Association say Cameron
misuses research to fit his rhetoric. In a 1985 resolution, the ASA
said of Cameron: "Dr. Paul Cameron has consistently misinterpreted
and misrepresented sociological research on sexuality, homosexuality,
and lesbianism…Dr. Paul Cameron has repeatedly campaigned for the
abrogation of the civil rights of lesbians and gay men, substantiating
his call on the basis of his distorted interpretation of this research."
Cameron founded the Institute for the Scientific Investigation
of Sexuality – later renamed the Family Research Institute – and used
the organization as a platform to publish his propaganda by buying space
in publications. In addition to linking homosexuality to pedophilia,
Cameron has called AIDS a “godsend,” advocating for placing those who
are HIV positive or living with AIDS in “detention centers,” and has
called being gay a “crime against humanity.”
The
number of reported anti-LGBT hate crimes in Scotland nearly doubled
from 2007 to 2010, reflecting a trend across Britain of increasing
anti-LGBT violence, according to this article. Some believe the trend is
tied to the growing willingness of people to be open about their sexual
orientation or gender identity.
Dan Savage is an award-winning author, journalist, newspaper editor and political commentator. He launched the “It Gets Better” video project to combat bullying and prevent LGBT teen suicides.
The Denver Film Society (DFS) will host an open house celebration and sneak peek of the 34th
Starz Denver Film Festival for the public at its new administrative
offices, Oct. 26 from 6-10 p.m. The new office is located at 1510 York
St., 3rd Floor, just a few blocks from the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax, home to the society's year-round marquee film programming.
DFS' staff of 15
full-time employees will occupy 3600 square feet of third floor office
space in what was originally known as the Hand Building at East Colfax
and York immediately following the conclusion of the Starz Denver Film
Festival, November 2-13, 2011.
"We welcome the
opportunity to become more involved in the East Colfax business
community and neighborhood associations," said DFS executive director
Tom Botelho. "Since moving to the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax last November
we have seen a significant increase in our business and membership and
look forward to continued growth for the Denver Film Society."
DFS leased the
former Neighborhood Flix space at East Colfax and Elizabeth in October
2010 and is currently engaged in a capital campaign to purchase the
facility.
"Over the course of the past year, DFS
has enjoyed success in every measurable business category - from ticket
sales and overall attendance, through sponsorships, partnerships,
operational revenue and programming growth," said DFS Board Chairman,
David Charmatz. "The Denver FilmCenter/Colfax location has proven to be
the right move at the right time for our organization and we're excited
to have this opportunity to combine our full operations in the East
Colfax business area."
The Denver
FilmCenter/Colfax showcases a fully remodeled lobby and theaters
offering Denver's first and only cinematheque with year-round
opportunities to engage with more than 600 art house revival and
first-run films from around the world.
Denver
FilmCenter/Colfax also features numerous series and symposia-including
DocNight, Keith Garcia's The Watching Hour, Women + Film, Tattered Cover
Free Classic, and the GBLT-themed Cinema Q-as well as regularly
scheduled filmmaker Q&As and receptions.
Servicemembers
Legal Defense Network (SLDN), along with Chadbourne & Parke,
serving as co-counsel in the case, will hold a news conference tomorrow to announce the filing of what they are calling "landmark litigation on behalf of
married gay and lesbian service members and veterans".
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service
members with questions are urged to contact the SLDN hotline to speak
with a staff attorney: Call 1-800-538-7418 or 202-328-3244 x100. SLDN’s
Freedom to Serve: The Definitive Guide to LGBT Military Service, may be found here.
Academy
Award winning actress Mo’Nique has partnered with the Human Rights
Campaign (HRC) – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender civil rights organization – in a video for its Americans for Marriage Equality campaign.
In the video, the comedienne and actress states, “Gay and lesbian
couples believe in commitment, family and love. Join me and support
marriage equality. It’s the right thing to do.”
“We’re so grateful to Mo’Nique for lending her voice for this important
effort,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “American public opinion
only moves one direction on marriage equality—and that’s toward it.”
About 53% of Americans support same-sex marriage, according to a number
of nonpartisan, respected polls. Support has increased a whopping 20
points since 1996, according to the Pew Research Center.
Americans for Marriage Equality is a public education campaign
that launched last week with Newark Mayor Corey Booker. Over the
coming months, HRC will roll out targeted videos playing off of the Americans
brand, including Republicans for Marriage Equality, African-Americans
for Marriage Equality, Latinos for Marriage Equality and Elected
Officials for Marriage Equality.
Sneaky Sound System's hit single 'Big' was handed over to Nicolas Jaar for re-creation, and his stark, atmospheric take on the track is now being offered as a free download via the Modular Facebook for a short time only.
The 'Big' EP is available worldwide today, and in addition to the Nicolas Jaar version, features remixes by John Dahlback, Oliver, and Goodwill & Black Angus.
Rep.
Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., has said that Congress could forbid the
federal judiciary from hearing cases related to marriage for gays and
lesbians, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich suggested Congress
could effectively de-fund the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit over its supposed radical leanings. These claims and similar
rhetoric are playing well on the campaign trail, especially among Tea
Party activists, according to this article.
School officials across the country are responding to recent media attention about anti-LGBT bullying and teen suicides with new policies aimed at encouraging bullied students to report harassment. Students are also getting involved, according to this article.
"It's an issue that has taken over the public consciousness since last fall. People realize it doesn't have to be this way. We can make it better," said Jill Marcellus, spokeswoman for the Gay-Straight Alliance Network.
Ryan Murphy is an award-winning film and television director, writer and producer. He is best known for creating the television series “Glee.”
Murphy grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, in an Irish Catholic family. His mother was a writer. His father was a newspaper circulation director. At 15, after coming out to his parents, Murphy saw a therapist, who said he was just “too precocious for his own good.”
At Indiana University in Bloomington, Murphy worked on the school newspaper and performed with the “Singing Hoosiers,” the university’s show choir.
Starting out as a journalist, Murphy worked for the Miami Herald, the Los Angeles Times and Entertainment Weekly.
He began scriptwriting in the late 1990’s. In 1999, he made his first foray into television, creating the teen comedy series “Popular.” He wrote most of the show’s episodes.
In 2003, Murphy created “Nip/Tuck,” winner of the 2005 Golden Globe for best TV drama series. Murphy wrote and directed many episodes and served as executive producer for the show, which ran for seven seasons. “Nip/Tuck” earned him his first Emmy Award nomination for directing.
“Glee,” a groundbreaking musical comedy series created by Murphy, premiered in 2009. In its second season, the show became a pop culture phenomenon and one of the top-rated programs on television among young adults. That season, “Glee” received four Emmy Awards, including one for Murphy for outstanding directing for a comedy series.
For its honest depictions of LGBT characters and story lines, “Glee” also received the 2010 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Murphy serves on the National Advisory Board of the Young Storytellers Foundation, a Los Angeles area educational program that brings entertainment professionals into the classroom.
Denver Center Attractions proudly presents some of the most popular touring productions currently on the road. The 2011 Denver Center Attractions season is no exception with titles that include West Side Story and the much anticipated return of Disney’s THE LION KING.
With all productions presented by Denver Center Attractions, customers are able to purchase their tickets through the only authorized online ticket seller, www.denvercenter.org, by calling 303.893.4100 or in person at Speer & Arapahoe in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex.
Due to the popularity of these touring productions, ticket buyers often find that tickets are available through secondary ticket agencies or brokers, but the Denver Center for the Performing Arts cautions consumers that www.denvercenter.org is the only online authorized seller of tickets for Denver Center Attractions.
“We have seen instances of great disappointment when patrons find themselves with invalid tickets, says President and COO of The Denver Center for the Performing Arts Randy Weeks. “Using our website will guarantee this won’t happen.”
Here is how to purchase tickets for Denver Center Attractions:
·
Visit www.denvercenter.org
· Call the box office at 303.893.4100 10am-6pm, Mon-Sat
· Visit the box office in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, Speer & Arapahoe
For more information about Denver Center Attractions entire 2011 season, visit www.denvercenter.org.
The daily fines against a tube site
company responsible for the likes of JerkYourTube, GayForIt, and ItsAllGay continue to rack up fines to the tune of $1,000 a day in a copyright case brought against it by porn studios Corbin Fisher, Titan Media, and Channel One Releasing.
Festus Mogae, who was president of Botswana for two terms and now heads the country's AIDS Council,
has called for the decriminalization of homosexuality in an effort to stem the country's HIV
infection rate.
"I look at women. I don't look at other men. But there are men who look at other
men. These are citizens," Mogae said.
Facebook and Twitter users, celebrities, government officials and even corporate America
donned purple last Thursday to show support for LGBT youth and opposition to bullying.
The
second annual "Spirit Day," organized by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation,
was founded last year by Brittany McMillan, a teenager who wanted to express solidarity with
LGBT youth in the wake of a string of suicides by gay teens.
Adoptions
by gays and lesbians in the U.S. nearly tripled in the past 10 years,
according to Census data analyzed by the Williams Institute at UCLA
School of Law.
More than 32,000 adopted kids in the U.S. live
with a same-sex couple.
Still, most gay or lesbian parents are raising
their biological children, said Gary Gates, a Williams Institute
demographer.
Constance McMillen became a poster child for LGBT rights after asking permission to bring her girlfriend to the prom. When her school responded by cancelling the prom, McMillen took legal action.
As a senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi, McMillen challenged the prom rules forbidding same-sex couples from attending and girls from wearing tuxedos. When the school cancelled the prom, students responded by harassing McMillen.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit requesting that the court order the school to hold an inclusive prom. The case was settled when a U.S. District Court ruled that McMillen’s First Amendment rights had been violated. The Itawamba County School District consented to a judgment in which it paid McMillen $35,000 and $81,000 in attorneys’ fees.
After the settlement, the school held a prom. Only McMillen and seven learning disabled students attended. Parents organized a separate prom that all other students attended, but to which McMillen was not invited.
The school district agreed to implement policies that would prevent future discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity for extracurricular and educational activities. This was groundbreaking for a Mississippi school district.
McMillen’s story received national attention. Glamour magazine named her Woman of the Year Award in 2010, and she appeared on national television shows including “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” where she received a $30,000 scholarship.
She was invited to the White House and served as Grand Marshal of the New York Gay Pride Parade.
McMillen transferred to a school in Jackson, Mississippi, and graduated in 2011. She enrolled at Northeast Mississippi Community College to study psychology.
"For
me, DJ-ing originally started as simply a way to put together all the music
that I wanted to hear over and over again, music that made me move,” explains
DJ Brent. Then came CDs for friends,
followed by gigs DJ-ing parties, and a popular podcast (djbrent.podbean.com).
And now, DJ Brent is thrilled to make his professional debut on November 12 as
the first-ever guest DJ at Sweet - Denver’s premier dance party for bears.
A lifelong
music aficionado from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, DJ Brent grew up immersed in the
Canadian club and rave scene.
“The music in Canada was more like European dance
music than American circuit,” says Brent. “Progressive House, without a lot of
lyrics - mostly rhythm and groove-based. I still love that kind of music. A
killer baseline will always make me move.”
Influenced by the likes of DJ Chus, DJ David Penn, DJ Paulo, and DJAbel, DJ Brent has also been influenced by Denver-based, internationally
renowned DJ Craig C.
“I got involved with Sweet through Craig C, who has been a
friend and mentor of mine for a long time,” explains Brent. “He decided it was
time for me to break out of my basement and share my music with the masses. He
got me the gig as guest-DJ at Sweet and I’m thrilled to be spinning there. It’s
a great party in a great space - dark, sexy, sweaty, masculine - and I hope
that I do as good a job bringing that same kind of energy as a DJ that I felt
when I just come to dance my ass off.”
Yesterday, the White House joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
(GLAAD), celebrities, corporations, media outlets, landmarks and
millions of Americans across the nation in supporting lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth by ‘going purple’ on Spirit Day.
For more information, visit: www.glaad.org/spiritday.
The White House turned its official Facebook and Twitter photos purple
in honor of Spirit Day, and posted a message of support on the official
White House Blog. The link to that blog post is here: www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/20/october-20th-spirit-day
The
Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – responds to the Senate
HELP Committee’s failure to address the prevalence of bullying against
LGBT students in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
reauthorization bill markup:
“We are disappointed that the Committee did not adopt anti-LGBT
bullying amendments that enjoyed bipartisan, majority support,” said HRC
President Joe Solmonese. “This major reauthorization bill was the best
opportunity the Senate will have in this Congress to address the
problem of bullying faced by LGBT students. It is imperative that the
Committee revisit this issue and acknowledge the consequences bullying
has on the youth in our community.”
With over
2,500 participants from 29 countries expected to attend, the Out &
Equal Workplace Summit deserves its international reputation as the premier conference on LGBT issues in the workplace. The Workplace Summit, now in its 12th year, features plenary events, featured panels, workshops, leadership seminars, a Gala Dinner, and more.
“I
love coming to the Summit every year to recognize people and companies
doing groundbreaking work for workplace equality,” said Selisse Berry,
Out & Equal Founding Executive Director. “It is so empowering to
witness inspiring speeches, fabulous entertainment, and educational
workshops; and to network with our colleagues and friends. All of our
efforts focus on how to create workplaces in which all people can be out
and equal every day.”
The
Out & Equal Workplace Summit has a proud legacy of keynote addresses
from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally celebrities and
business leaders.
This
year, Out & Equal will welcome Andy Cohen, Bravo’s Senior Vice
President; Donna Brazile, renowned political strategist and commentator;
LZ Granderson, ESPN anchor and CNN correspondent; Rick Welts, President
of the Golden State Warriors; and celebrities/activists Meredith
Baxter, Margaret Cho, Candis Cayne, and Wilson Cruz.
Dynamic business and political speakers will include Mike
Ullman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, JCPenney; Wes
Bush, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Northrup
Grumman; Sander van ‘t Noordende, Group Chief Executive, Accenture; Paul
Bell, President of the Public & Large Enterprise Business Units,
Dell; Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment
Policy; and Joel Burns, Ft. Worth City Councilman.
Special
topic luncheons include the Human Resources Luncheon with Ambassador
Barry L. Wells, Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity,
and the Women’s Leadership Luncheon with Geri Jewell, author of I’m Walking As Straight As I Can and “cousin Geri” on the Facts of Life.
The Out & Equal Workplace Summit takes place at the Hilton Anatole, from October 25th-28th.
“We are very excited to be hosting the Workplace Summit in Dallas, Texas this year.” said Berry. “And, with a city slogan like Live large. Think big.™ we're know we're in for a grand time.”
Dave Kopay made headlines in 1975 when he became the first NFL payer and one of the first professional athletes to come out. His autobiography, now in its fifth printing, was a New York Times best seller.
The second of four children, Kopay was born in Chicago into a strict Roman Catholic family. When he was in grammar school, the family moved to North Hollywood, California.
Kopay began his football career at Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles, a school known for its championship athletics. He was named to the all-Catholic conference all-star football team. He enrolled at the University of Washington and as team co-captain led the Huskies to the PAC-10 conference title. The following year, he was named an All-American running back.
In 1964, Kopay was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. He was the team’s leading rusher in his rookie year. He played for five NFL teams in his nine-year career, including the Detroit Lions, the Washington Redskins, the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers.
While playing for the Redskins, Kopay had relationships with women and men, including teammate Jerry Smith, who died of AIDS in 1986. At the suggestion of his therapist, Kopay married a woman to try to fix what he perceived as a problem. The marriage lasted a year.
Three years after retiring from the NFL, Kopay came out publicly in an interview with the Washington Star. He shared details about his struggle with homophobia and sports in “The David Kopay Story,” published in 1977. Kopay pursued coaching positions with NCAA and NFL teams, but believes he wasn’t hired because he is gay. Since 1982, he has worked in his family’s business.
Kopay is one of the founding Gay Games Ambassadors, and has been present to support participating athletes and artists at every edition of the Games.
A champion of gay rights for more than 30 years, Kopay has given hundreds of speeches and media interviews. In 2007, he donated $1 million to the University of Washington’s LGBT center.
Despite suffering serious injuries during his football career, Kopay still misses the thrill of playing for the NFL. “There’s nothing like the rush of playing on Monday Night Football,” he says. “There’s nothing that will ever fill that void.”
Kopay resides in Los Angeles.
The
International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association’s 31st Annual Global
Convention will be held in Madrid in May 2014. This will mark the
inaugural appearance of IGLTA’s premier educational and networking event
in Spain – a country known for its progressive legislation on LGBT
rights.
“We’re thrilled to be returning to
Europe for our 2014 convention, especially to the beautiful city of
Madrid,” said IGLTA Board Chair Tanya Churchmuch. “Not only is Madrid
home to one of the most important Pride events in the world, but it also
has an extremely active local LGBT community that worked hand in hand
with local tourism offices to create their wonderful conference bid.”
Promoción Madrid (the Madrid City
Council’s Tourist Board), Turespaña (the Spanish Tourism Board) and
Turismo Madrid (Tourist Board of the Region of Madrid) have pledged
support for the convention. The capital city is also headquarters for
the United Nations World Tourism Organization, a key organizational
partner of IGLTA.
"This convention, undoubtedly, will
help consolidate Madrid among the top destinations in the world for the
LGBT segment," said Miguel Angel Villanueva, the Councilor of the
Department of Economy, Employment and Citizen Participation of the
Madrid City Council and Chair of Promoción Madrid.
The Secretary-General of Domestic Trade
and Tourism of Spain, Joan Mesquida, highlighted the way in which the
IGLTA Annual Global Convention is a perfect fit for the country: "Spain
is a unique country with six consolidated LGBT destinations – Madrid,
Barcelona, Ibiza, Sitges, Gran Canaria and Torremolinos – where LGBT
tourism has a very important and specific weight, accounting for over 10
percent of the overall number of visitors.”
Diversity Consulting and DiversMad
(Madrid’s Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) will coordinate and
manage the 2014 Convention. For more information, visit www.esmadrid.com.
A federal judge has given the operators
of JerkYourTube.com, GayForIt.com and ItsAllGay.com (all NSFW) until the end of
business day today to hand over their websites to a receiver or face
$1,000-a-day fines.
Last week, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director John Berry toured the GLBT Center of Colorado in Denver and spoke with members of the local gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community about the importance of the American Jobs Act.
The Human Rights Campaign recently launched Americans for Marriage Equality,
a public engagement campaign featuring prominent Americans who support
committed gay and lesbian couples getting married. The campaign will
draw from a cadre of supportive professional athletes, film and music
celebrities, political and civil rights leaders– and will have a special
emphasis on Republicans, African-Americans, Latinos and elected
officials.
Today, millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people
and allies are participating in Spirit Day by wearing purple. Wearing
purple on this day symbolizes support for LGBT youth and taking a stand
against bullying. For more information, visit: www.glaad.org/spiritday.
This morning #SpiritDay was trending worldwide on Twitter.
For photos and listings of participating celebrities, organizations,
media outlets and corporations updated in real time, visit www.glaad.org/spiritday/partners.
