Thursday, October 23, 2014

Matt Zarley - Constantly

Matt Zarley has debuted the video for "Constantly," the second track from his forthcoming album and musical short film hopefulROMANTIC, a universal story about loving, letting go, and holding onto faith that there's somebody for everybody.

First-of-its-Kind AIDS Monument Announced in Southern California

Southern California residents will soon have a new monument built to honor HIV/AIDS activists, caregivers and community leaders, and to memorialize the devastation and impact of HIV/AIDS on a local and national level. The Foundation for a National AIDS Monument has been working with the City of West Hollywood and local community members to plan for the development of an enduring physical and interactive testament to the historic and future fight against HIV and AIDS. Last night, the City Council unanimously approved the selection of internationally-acclaimed artist Daniel Tobin to design the Monument.

“Our Board members' personal experiences motivated us to establish a landmark work of art and a one-of-a-kind digital monument which allow people not only to remember their friends and loved ones, but also to recognize the people and organizations who cared and advocated for the sick,” said Mark Lehman, the Foundation’s Board Chair. “We want to make sure that these inspirational and emotional stories are captured, shared and passed down to younger generations.”

The online component of the monument will invite visitors to submit videos, photos and stories and will be an unprecedented collection of materials relating to the more than 650,000 Americans who lost their lives to the disease. In addition, the online component will share the stories of the activists, caregivers, community leaders and organizations who fought the epidemic, as well as serve as a curated collection of information on the state of HIV/AIDS via links to resources from leading AIDS services organizations around the country.

“In many ways the story of AIDS and the story of West Hollywood are intertwined,” said West Hollywood Mayor John D'Amico. “Right from the beginning, the people of West Hollywood wept for the dying, cared for the sick, and protested for more action. Our ongoing commitment to caring and optimism is coupled with our strength as we continue to act. Today, with this monument, and all that we have become, we mark our history while we prepare for new challenges, new protests and new celebrations.”

"The creation of an AIDS monument in West Hollywood is deeply personal for those of us who lived through the horror. This project will bring us together as a community to grieve, remember, honor our heroes and teach about what happened when plague hit Southern California,” said Councilmember John J. Duran.

CYNDI LAUPER’S TRUE COLORS FUND ANNOUNCES 4th ANNUAL “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS” BENEFIT CONCERT

Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund today announced the 4th annual “Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays” benefit concert on Saturday, December 6th at New York City’s historic Beacon Theatre to help raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth homelessness and funds to support the True Colors Fund’s work to address the problem.

Cyndi Lauper will be joined on stage this year by 50 Cent, Natalie Maines, Patty Griffin, Salt-N-Pepa, Sufjan Stevens, Emily West, STRFKR, Liv Warfield, Hoda Kotb, and co-hosts Rosie O’Donnell and Laverne Cox. Additional guests will be announced soon. T

“For the fourth year in a row, ‘Home for the Holidays’ will feature an amazing night of performances in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth experiencing homelessness," said Lauper, co-founder of the True Colors Fund. "I am astounded by the artists who continue to give of their time and talent each and every year and I am so excited by the line-up who are joining us in December. The concert plays such an important role in supporting the True Colors Fund’s work to ensure that no young person is homeless again because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

OUT on DVD: Last Summer

Breaking Glass Pictures will be releasing the drama Last Summer on DVD and VOD (iTunes, Amazon Instant) on December 2, 2014. Last Summer was directed by Mark Thiedeman and stars Samuel Pettit as Luke and Sean Rose as Jonah.

Last Summer tells the story of two high school sweethearts, Luke and Jonah, who spend their final months together over the course of a long, quiet summer in the rural South, contemplating their uncertain future and the uncertain future of America. Jonah, sensitive, quiet and artistic, prepares to leave his small town for college, leaving Luke behind, but all he wants is for Luke to ask him to stay. But Luke, an athlete struggling through summer school, knows that his boyfriend needs to experience the world beyond their home. Though he is somewhat aimless and unsure of his place in the world, he begins to find solace in an old camera that he finds in an antique store. Last Summer positions their love story against a world of baseball fields, bicycles, church, and seemingly conservative values, though the boys never face adversity from their community; instead, they fit directly into the fabric of their all-American town.

HRC: 10 Things You Should Know About the Beleaguered National Organization for Marriage

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has suffered a great many defeats recently.  The group was founded in 2007 to help pass Proposition 8, California’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples. However, now that the issue of marriage appears to be on a one-way path toward nationwide equality in America, NOM has expanded its war against basic civil rights and human dignity to touch virtually all aspects of life for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

What’s more, NOM has begun exporting its personal brand of anti-LGBT advocacy abroad, working with governments around the world to pass legislation targeting LGBT people for unfair treatment under the law.  NOM’s mission and work have changed over the years; take a look at 10 things you might not have known about the organization:
  1. NOM uses racially motivated tactics as part of its official strategy. From the group’s internal memos: “The strategic goal of the project is to drive a wedge between gays and blacks - two key Democratic constituencies.” They’ve also tried to make opposition to equality a “key badge” of Latino identity in yet another attempt to divide.
  2. NOM thinks businesses like grocery stores, restaurants and hotels should be able to deny service to LGBT customers if they believe LGBT people are immoral.
  3. NOM’s Brian Brown says LGBT advocates are “bullies” and has compared the “persecution” he faces to that of Jesus Christ.
  4. NOM pushes discredited and harmful “conversion therapy,” even though practices aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation have been condemned by every major medical and mental health organization in the country.
  5. NOM’s Brian Brown says families headed by gay and lesbian parents aren’t “normal,” and he even traveled to Russia to support a draconian bill banning adoption by same-sex couples.
  6. Though NOM tries to portray itself as a grassroots organization, they aren’t. In reality, NOM is primarily funded by a few large donors who hide behind a wall of secrecy.
  7. NOM is so hell-bent on operating secretly; the organization is willing to break the law to avoid exposing its deep pockets.  In May the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices voted to fine NOM to the tune of over $50,000 after a four-year investigation exposed “a significant violation of law” by the national anti-LGBT organization.
  8. This isn’t about partisan politics. In 2014, facing a string of legal defeats, NOM has decided that the best use of its remaining funds is to attack Republicans just for being pro-equality.
  9. NOM hosted a rally and invited speakers who likened the marriage equality movement to slavery, and other terrible comparisons.
  10. NOM is losing support and donors fast as more people stand up for civil rights and against discrimination. Maybe that’s why Brian Brown is travelling all over the world looking for countries more hostile to equality and more open to NOM’s outdated views.

Bebe Rexha - I Cant Stop Drinking About You [Chainsmokers Remix Video]

Taken from the remix package for her new single “I Can’t Stop Drinking About You” featuring remixes from The Chainsmokers, Quintino, Dawin, Felix Snow and Jumpsmokers. Fans can download the single and remix EP via iTunes now.  Preview the remixes HERE

Lesbian Veteran Will be Buried with Her Late Wife in Idaho Cemetery

A 74-year-old Navy veteran who challenged Idaho’s marriage equality ban so she could be buried with her late wife in Idaho’s state-run veterans cemetery will have her wishes respected after Idaho state officials agreed to allow the couple to be interred together.

Today, Madelynn "Lee" Taylor went to the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery to make arrangements to have both her ashes and those of her late wife, Jean Mixner, interred together at the cemetery. Idaho officials agreed to Taylor’s request following the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ (NCLR) recent victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which found that Idaho’s ban on marriage equality violated the U.S. Constitution. The court ordered marriages to begin on October 15, 2014, and directed the state to recognize the marriages of couples who married in other states.

Taylor served in the Navy from 1958 to 1964. In late 2013, Idaho officials denied Taylor’s request to be buried in the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery together with her late wife, citing Idaho’s laws prohibiting marriage by same-sex couples. NCLR and Boise attorneys Deborah A. Ferguson and Craig Durham of Ferguson Durham PLLC filed a lawsuit on Taylor’s behalf, challenging the exclusion as a violation of the due process and equal protection guarantees of the U.S. Constitution.

“Words can’t describe how incredibly grateful I am for all the work that went into making our wishes possible,” said Taylor. “Idaho is where some of our best memories together are and it’s where I want to spend eternity with Jean.”

Earlier this year, NCLR, Ferguson, and Durham filed separate lawsuits on behalf of Taylor and four same-sex couples arguing that Idaho’s laws banning marriage equality violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and due process. The Ninth Circuit heard the case brought by the four same-sex couples on September 8, 2014. On October 7, 2014, the Ninth Circuit ruled 3-0 that Idaho’s ban on the freedom to marry is unconstitutional and ordered marriages to begin on October 15, 2014.

Said NCLR Legal Director Shannon P. Minter: “Today’s decision by Idaho state officials to allow Lee and Jean to be buried together corrects a serious indignity caused by Idaho’s former ban on marriage by same-sex couples. Now that Idaho must respect all legally married couples, Lee and other same-sex spouses have the security of knowing that the state will treat their relationships equally throughout their lives and beyond.”
Said Ferguson: “Lee deserves credit for shining a powerful light on the injustice and indignity caused by Idaho’s former exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. Her persistence, visibility, and refusal to accept inequality are a model for us all.”

Learn more about the case
.

Lambda Literary Announces Partnership with San Diego Unified School District

Lambda Literary, the nation's leading nonprofit organization advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender literature, is proud to announce an historic partnership with the San Diego Unified School District to make its LGBT Writers in Schools Program available to the city's high school students.

Approved by the San Diego Board of Education last week, Lambda Literary will introduce San Diego Unified high school students to the program by uniting LGBTQ authors with District classrooms via video Skype or in-class visits to discuss the author's work and LGBTQ issues.

"I am excited about our partnership with Lambda writers to provide high school students with the opportunity to learn as critical thinkers and engage authors through Skype," said Kevin Beiser, President of the San Diego Unified School Board. "This aligns with our vision of providing quality schools in every neighborhood."

LGBTQ Writers in Schools was founded in 2012 as the newest initiative of Lambda Literary. Designed for teachers of high school classes, universities and colleges, and student organizations, the LGBTQ Writers in Schools program is an opportunity for writers to discuss their work openly with students and to encourage diversity not only in the students' reading and writing lives, but also in society at large. This initiative broadens the foundation of experience for students of literature, creative writing, English, secondary education, history and social studies.

While Lambda Literary's LGBT Writers in Schools Program is available to teachers in any city, this is the first such partnership adopted by a major U.S. school district.

"We're thrilled to be working with San Diego Unified to introduce great LGBTQ books to their high school students to enrich their reading lives and further their understanding of the LGBTQ experience," said Tony Valenzuela, Lambda Literary's Executive Director. "This is an historic partnership advancing Lambda Literary's work with young people that we hope will be a model for school districts across the country looking to take San Diego's lead."

Pet Portraits By Maurice Becnel

Immortalize your furry friends with a pet portrait by Maurice Becnel. Clients admire Becnel's ability to capture the essence of a pet's personality in his work.

Says Becnel, "Painting animal portraits, for me, is more fun than it is work. I began painting them several years ago. The first one I did was for a friend on her birthday. Because it was a gift it never dawned on me that other people would commission me to do more. Word got out and before I knew it more and more of the emails I was receiving from my website were going to the dogs! And cats!"

Supreme Court declines to issue stay of Alaska marriage ruling

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to issue a stay on a court ruling striking down Alaska's marriage equality ban

State officials had submitted a request for the stay to Justice Anthony Kennedy, who referred to request the entire court. A stay put in place by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals expired at 3 p.m. Friday, allowing same-sex couples in the state to wed immediately.

Obama: U.S. Constitution supports marriage equality

President Barack Obama recently told The New Yorker that he believes same-sex couples have a right to marry under the U.S. Constitution, a change from previous statements asserting that the issue should be left to the states. 

"Ultimately, I think the Equal Protection Clause does guarantee same-sex marriage in all fifty states," Obama said.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Stonewall Fitness: By, For, and About Denver’s Gay Community!

David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness, holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal Trainer and Group Fitness.

Smith specializes in exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes, personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars and workshops.

His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to make it accessible for everybody.

The Gay Vegans: Accepted violence at animal non-profits

By Dan Hanley

We all have our favorite animal non-profit. Whether that is our local pound or a far-away animal sanctuary whose work we love and respect, most of us financially support groups that are helping animals in some way.

In Colorado we have a variety of such groups. They are a diverse lot, many companion animal groups saving the lives of mostly dogs and cats, some with huge operations and smaller ones with all volunteer fosters. I have worked with and/or fostered animals for many of these groups. I love that there are so many organizations here working to end animal cruelty and working to support companion animals who have been abused.

As a side note, the first time I met a cow, and fell in love with pigs, was at a sanctuary here in Colorado, one that is no longer around. I remember loving on the cow and being a little surprised about how big she was. And strong. And how much she loved it when I scratched her neck.

So many organizations. So many wonderful people working against animal cruelty.

Several months ago an activist friend of mine asked me if I would help with asking a local animal shelter to stop serving meet at their fundraising dinners. It is a fundamental problem that I have always thought about: Why do I have to order a vegan-specific meal at a fundraiser for a group whose mission is to end violence towards animals and to love and support animals? My point being that, in my head, all of these groups would of course be serving only vegan meals at their fundraisers.

I passed on helping for the same reason that I have passed on other actions: time. I have never in my life felt as crazy busy as I feel now. It has a lot to do with my day job, a job I am hugely passionate about, but nonetheless I simply do not have time to jump onto another campaign.

And I haven't stopped thinking about it.

Gay Help Wanted: MileHighGayGuy Is Hiring

Do you like working in and for the gay community? 

Are you friendly and outgoing?
 

Award-winning MileHighGayGuy.com is seeking advertising sales reps. The position requires someone who is self-motivated, detail-oriented and who, preferably, is familiar with the GLBT community. This is a contract position and pay will be commission-based.
 

To apply, email resume and references to Drew Wilson at Drew@milehighgayguy.com.

Judge affirms marriage equality in Wyoming

A federal judge last Friday ruled that state officials in Wyoming cannot block same-sex marriages after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Wyoming, ruled in favor of marriage equality. Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead announced later the same day that the state would not appeal.