Lambda Literary Selected as Grantee of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Arts Innovation and Management Program

Lambda Literary today announced that it is a grantee recipient of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Arts Innovation and Management (AIM) program. Through the two-year initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies is providing $30 million across 262 small and mid-sized nonprofit cultural organizations around the country to help strengthen their operational and programming efforts, including training in fundraising, audience development and board member engagement.

"We're thrilled to be one among an impressive group of arts nonprofit organizations receiving critical support from Bloomberg Philanthropies," said Tony Valenzuela, Executive Director. "Lambda Literary is growing and with that growth come new challenges that the Arts Innovation and Management Program will help us address smartly and directly."

 

The invitation-only program supports nonprofit cultural organizations based in six cities: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles and San Francisco. All organizations are locally or internationally recognized nonprofits that have been in existence for at least two years. The grantees are required to participate in a management training program; secure matching funds; ensure 100% board participation in fundraising; and maintain up-to-date information in the Cultural Data Project, an online financial & data collection platform that assists arts organizations across the country to collect, learn from, and use data effectively. The grants are unrestricted so that recipients can use them to address their greatest needs.

 

Lambda Literary will be using the two-year grant to develop and strengthen its audiences and constituents across four key programs: the Lambda Literary Review web magazine, the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices, the Lambda Literary Awards and LGBTQ Writers in Schools.

 

Bloomberg Philanthropies is partnering with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland to develop curricula and conduct trainings for the AIM program in each city. The comprehensive workshops engage organizations around activities that strengthen their long-term health and goals and include consultations and implementation support for arts managers and their boards.

First piloted in New York City, Bloomberg Philanthropies supported 245 grantees through AIM from 2011-2013. Participating organizations reported improvements in audience development, board engagement and fundraising over the two-year program.

OUT on VOD/DVD: In The Grayscale

Greetings. Wolfe Video's latest release, Chilean bisexual drama of sexual discovery IN THE GRAYSCALE will be released November 3rd on DVD and VOD.

This sophisticated, powerfully acted romantic drama puts a nuanced twist on the classic coming-out story. Set in Santiago, Chile and starring two of Chile's sexiest television heartthrobs, IN THE GRAYSCALE follows a journey of sexual discovery for Bruno (Francisco Celhay), a successful married architect with a loving wife and son. After he has a sexual encounter with Fer (Emilio Edwards), a hunky, openly gay young man, he undertakes an unexpected and passionate romance. He begins to question his sexuality and the complicated paths life may take us on. First time feature director Claudio Marcone reveals new and surprising depths in this adult coming-out tale by focusing on fine-grained emotional shadings and performances in this lushly shot film.

Supreme Court Plaintiff Jim Obergefell Heads to Capitol Hill to Lead Lobbying Effort for the Equality Act

Today, U.S. Supreme Court marriage equality plaintiff Jim Obergefell will head to Capitol Hill to lead dozens of advocates in a day of lobbying for the Equality Act on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign, (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization. HRC also announced today that it will bring more than a dozen of the top U.S. companies together to launch a coalition later this month to advocate for passage of the Equality Act.

Today, HRC members and supporters have scheduled more than 100 meetings with members of Congress to discuss the Equality Act, which was introduced in July with a record number of original co-sponsors.

The Equality Act provides basic protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, access to public spaces, housing, education, jury service, credit and federal funding.

“LGBT Americans can get legally get married but remain at risk of being fired or denied services for who they are or who they love because the majority of states in our country still lack comprehensive non-discrimination protections,” said David Stacy, HRC Director of Government Affairs. “HRC members and supporters will bring a simple message to the Hill that everyone should have a fair chance to earn a living, provide for their families, and live without fear, including people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, which is why we need Congress to pass the Equality Act.”

HRC Members will also ask members of Congress to oppose the First Amendment Defense Act, which would allow discrimination with taxpayer funds, and to support other LGBT issues.

A majority of Americans support extending non-discrimination protections to LGBT Americans. HRC has found strong bipartisan support for the Equality Act. By an impressive 78 percent to 16 percent, voters support protecting LGBT people from discrimination, including a 64 percent majority of Republicans.

Moreover, the Equality Act is pro-business; an unprecedented number of America’s top companies joined the Human Rights Campaign in support of the Equality Act in July -- including Apple, Dow Chemical Company, IBM, General Mills, Levi Strauss & Co, Microsoft, Orbitz, Symantec and Target.

As part of its work to support the Equality Act, HRC is committed to launching a Business Coalition later this month to rally even more support for the Equality Act in the business community.

HRC polling in March showed that nearly two-thirds of LGBT Americans have experienced discrimination in their personal lives, and that nearly half have experienced discrimination in the workplace.

Gay Travel is Headed to Las Vegas and You Might Be Able to Join Them

Gay Travel Celebrity Gurus Davey Wavey, Bria & Chrissy, Willam and more are heading to Las Vegas, and you might be able to join them.

Are You Gay With Something To Say? Bloggers Wanted For Denver's Best Gay Blog!

Are you a new or experienced writer or blogger? Do you want to be? Or maybe you're just some gay guy with something to say? Well, what better forum for you than MileHighGayGuy?

MileHighGayGuy is looking for regular and guest bloggers to write about local news and events, do music and movie reviews, or write opinion or feature pieces from a gay perspective.

These are unpaid positions but offer the opportunity to be published in Colorado's Best Gay Blog (2010, 2011, 2012 OUTstanding Awards, Denver 2012 #WebAwards), expand your audience and gain valuable experience. There's also swag available in the form of free movie and concert tickets, music, books and other cool stuff.

If interested, shoot an email over to Drew Wilson at drew@milehighgayguy.com. And if you've got column or story ideas to pitch, this is the place to do it.

Denver Limo – The Hottest Limousines in Denver!

Denver Limousine offers the hottest stretch limousines in Denver Colorado! Whatever the occasion, Denver Limousine’s team of professional drivers and top-of-the-line fleet of vehicles is waiting to serve you.

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.

HRC Responds to Reports of Papal Meeting with Kim Davis; Urges Church to Embrace LGBT Catholics

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, weighed in on news reports that indicate Pope Francis met privately last week with Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Ky., public official who continues to violate the law by openly discriminating against same-sex couples seeking to marry in the community they call home.

“We hope that this is just a troubling mistake, but if these reports are true, this is a disappointing end to a historic trip,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “It would come as a shock to all those who were inspired by Pope Francis’s call for greater tolerance and inclusion if he were to lend support to a public employee who has become synonymous with discrimination against LGBT people. And, it would be most disappointing to the dozens of LGBT faithful who gathered to welcome Pope Francis to Washington, D.C., and whose request for a meeting was declined.”

This morning, Griffin called Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, to express disappointment that Pope Francis declined to meet with LGBT faithful, particularly in light of the reported meeting with Davis. Although the Archbishop was not available, Griffin left a message expressing that the invitation remains open and reiterating the hope that Pope Francis will act on his message of tolerance and inclusion by ensuring that LGBT Catholics are embraced and respected by the Church.

HRC invited Pope Francis to meet with LGBT Catholics during his recent visit to Washington, DC. The Pope, who participated in a prayer service across the street from the organization’s headquarters last Wednesday, was asked to join more than 100 LGBT Catholics and staff who gathered to welcome him to the city. HRC also hung a banner on the side of its building asking Pope Francis to embrace LGBT Catholics and put a stop to Archdioceses and Bishops in the United States that have fired capable, faithful LGBT employees. The banner read: “We Are Your Children, Your Teachers, Your Faithful. Welcomed by God. Dismissed By Our Bishops. Pope Francis, Will You Welcome Us Home?”

One such victim of discrimination by the Catholic Church was Margie Winters, who was fired from her job as Director of Religious Education at Waldron Mercy Academy in Merion Station, Penn., just outside Philadelphia. The school took the disappointing action of terminating Margie after a parent wrote a letter to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, disclosing that Margie is married to a woman. Because of the school’s policies on same-sex marriage, Margie was told that she could either resign quietly, or be fired. She chose to be fired. Winters and her wife, Andrea Vettori, attended the welcome ceremony for Pope Francis at the White House, and joined dozens of others to greet Pope Francis as he passed the Human Rights Campaign building en route to the Cathedral of St. Matthew last week.

Margie and Andrea together issued the following statement today: “We are greatly disappointed about reports that Pope Francis met with Kim Davis while he was in the United States. Many members of the Catholic LGBT community reached out to him, but our voices were not heard. If this meeting occurred, it would seem inconsistent with his many messages of pastoral openness, respect for the dignity of the human person, and gratitude. For, in the Pope’s own words, ‘anyone who wants to bring into this world a family which teaches children to be excited by every gesture aimed at overcoming evil - a family which shows that the spirit is alive and at work.’”

Pope’s Kim Davis Meeting Sends Alarming Signal About LGBTQ Discrimination and Rule of Law

The Pope’s meeting with Kim Davis — the Kentucky government official who discriminated against same-sex couples and ignored a Supreme Court Order to follow the law — is being condemned by the National LGBTQ Task Force.

“The Pope’s meeting with Kim Davis breathes the oxygen of publicity and unwarranted credibility into the idea that discrimination against LGBTQ people and having contempt for the law is acceptable. We can only hope that Pope Francis was badly advised about the implications of such a meeting. Clearly it sends an alarming signal and it runs completely at variance with his now increasingly less credible ‘who am I to judge’ comments and his speech to Congress about practicing the Golden Rule. We urge Pope Francis and the Catholic hierarchy to unequivocally condemn discrimination against LGBTQ people and to support the rule of law. We respectfully suggest that the Catholic Church update its teachings to welcome and affirm all LGBTQ Catholics and to better reflect the views of the vast majority of Catholics on a whole range of issues including reproductive rights,” said Russell Roybal, Deputy Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force.

Call To Action Supports LGBTQI Community Amidst Kim Davis/Pope Francis Controversy

"Call To Action is troubled by today’s reports regarding a meeting between Pope Francis and Kim Davis, a polarizing elected official who has refused to obey the law and issue same-sex marriage licenses. Kim Davis’ understanding of Christianity and her vision of Church is not congruent with Call To Action’s mission to build a Catholic Church of inclusion and justice.

Call To Action will continue to stand with our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI) siblings to cultivate a Church in which all are welcome, embraced, and empowered for the gifts they offer the Catholic community. The strong majority of Catholic laity are joining with us to create inclusive communities of faith and justice," says Jim FitzGerald, Executive Director.

Logo TV Announces New Transgender-Themed Web Series

Logo TV

Logo TV today announced the new digital web series, Beautiful As I Want To Be, which spotlight transgender youth. The series consists of four original episodes, each introduced by transgender supermodeal and Gender Proud founder Geena Rocero, who also serves as the series’ executive producer. The web series will premiere on October 28 on LogoTV.com and Logo’s YouTube channel, with a new epside each debuting each Wednesday.

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!"

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Good Chemistry – Denver’s Gay-Friendly Dispensary

Good Chemistry, Denver’s gay-friendly dispensary, is guided by four core principles:

SCIENCE – Good Chemistry believes that Cannabis has significant therapeutic benefits and work to support and expand its study.

ACCESS - Good Chemistry believes that many barriers exist which fundamentally restrict access to safe reliable medical grade cannabis and search for meaningful ways to remove them.

DIGNITY - Good Chemistry believes in the fundamental and inalienable right of a person to choose their medical treatment. Recognizing that often patients who take cannabis are subjected to unfair treatment under the law, Good Chemistry is committed to defending and protecting the rights of their patients.

COMPASSION - Good Chemistry recognizes that medical cannabis is a potent and effective medicine for many patients who cannot afford it and is dedicated to providing for those in need.

Federation of Gay Games Receives $23K Donation from Michael Ancil Clarke Living Trust

The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) board of directors has announced a $23K bequest from Michael Clarke the Michael Ancil Clarke Living Trust received in August 2015; Clarke passed away in 2010 and continues his legacy of support of the LGBT community to this day. Along with being one of the founding members and Honorary Life Members of the FGG, Clarke has an esteemed history with many other LGBT organizations including the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, Gay Men’s Chorus Los Angeles and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. 

“On behalf of the Federation of Gay Games, member organizations, volunteers and Honorary Life Members," stated Joanie Evans, FGG Co-President, “we are honored by this bequest and will continue honoring Michael’s legacy through promoting equality in sport and culture to foster and augment the self-respect of the LGBT community.”