Lambda LitFest Los Angeles Call for Proposals

The first annual Lambda Literary Festival is a celebration of contemporary voices honoring and expanding on the rich, diverse tradition of LGBTQ writers and letters in the Southland.

Lambda is seeking literary programming proposals (readings, workshops, etc.) for the events that will take place during the week (March 6-10) as well as for the Sunday, March 12 QueerLit Pop-ups. Selected events will be included in the official program guide. If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please note the following: 

• Event Description- Please be as detailed as possible and include names of participating authors, readers, workshop leaders, etc. Participants' commitments and contact information required.
•  Diversity- Priority will be given to events that reflect the racial, ethnic, gender and geographic diversity of Los Angeles.
• Location- Although not required, proposals in *historical locations significant to LA's LGBTQ and literary history as well as locations near public transportation are encouraged.
• Time- Events should last approximately 1-1 ½ hours. 

Submit your Proposal at Submittable

Marching Church - Lion's Den

Next week sees the release of Marching Church’s enthralling new album, Telling It Like It Is, the Danish collective’s second full-length and easily their sharpest work. 

After releasing debut singles, “Heart of Life” and “Lion’s Den,” they now present the latter’s visual accompaniment. Featuring the core Marching Church band -- Iceage’s Elias Bender Rønnenfelt and Johan S. Weith, Lower’s Kristian Emdal and Anton Rothstein, Jakob Emil Lamdahl and Hand of Dust’s Bo Høyer Hansen -- the “Lion’s Den” video was filmed between Copenhagen, New York and Tokyo. 

Rønnenfelt comments, “Directed by a man they thought to be dead, it's a metropolitan video for a metropolitan beat; taking cabs in the middle of the night, driving as if to save your soul. Dancing in slow motion because the air is made of oil, and everyone's a criminal because the world is a crime."

Koelbel Urban Homes: The New Modern in Denver

Koelbel Urban Homes (KUH) has quickly emerged as a leader in creating urban neighborhoods that promote community and synergy by integrating life, work and play.

As the newest division of legendary developer Koelbel and Company, KUH is focused on in-fill properties, designing and building innovative homes tailored to each unique site.

Offered homes run the gamut of detached single-family homes to svelte modern attached designs featuring today's popular spaces, such as rooftop decks and open-plan concepts. All KUH homes, of course, are designed for optimum living and with respect for the surroundings.

Logo's Finding Prince Charming, Now Casting Season 2

Casting is now underway for season 2 of Logo's gay dating show, Finding Prince Charming. They're looking for someone who is charismatic, gorgeous, successful, and genuinely looking for love. Submit yourself or nominate someone you know at www.findingprincecharmingcasting.com. All applicants must be 21+ and legal US residents.

State of LGBTQ Equality in Eight Colorado Cities Detailed in HRC’s 5th Edition of the Municipal Equality Index

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute, released its fifth annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), assessing LGBTQ equality in 506 cities across the nation, including eight in Colorado.

The 2016 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), the only nationwide rating system of LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law and policy, shows that cities across the country, including in Colorado, continue to take the lead in supporting LGBTQ people and workers, even when states and the federal government have not.

For LGBTQ Americans, legal protections and benefits vary widely depending on location -- states and cities have markedly different laws governing discrimination. 20 states have non-discrimination laws that include protections for LGBTQ people in employment, and 19 states have laws that protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in places of public accommodation. But cities are leading the way: more than 24 million people live in cities that have more comprehensive laws for transgender people than the states do. And that’s an important part of how 135 million Americans -- 42 percent of the population -- are covered under LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination laws. The effort to achieve full equality continues, and the MEI remains a crucial tool in evaluating the patchwork of LGBTQ policies and practices in cities and towns across the nation.

The average score for cities in Colorado is 64 out of 100 points, which falls above the national average of 55.

“This year, dozens of cities across the nation showed they are willing to stand up for LGBTQ people in their communities even when some state governments are not,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “This builds on a trend we have long observed: that local governments are at the forefront of our fight for equality. Unfortunately, our opponents have witnessed this progress too, and in recent years, anti-LGBTQ lawmakers have pushed spiteful legislation aimed at pre-empting local protections. That’s why it’s so important that we continue to not only fight for equality at the state and local levels, but to enact comprehensive federal protections for LGBTQ people under the Equality Act.”

"Despite another year of legislative attacks on LGBTQ equality, we are not merely holding our ground; we also continue to make significant gains across the country,” said Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of the Equality Federation Institute. “The opportunity for further progress is huge, and we are proud to partner with HRC on the Municipal Equality Index, a powerful roadmap for elected officials and community advocates who want to continue down the path to full equality.”

"The Municipal Equality Index demonstrates that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Coloradans and their families face different barriers in their jobs and communities depending on where they live,” said Daniel Ramos, Executive Director of One Colorado. “We will continue our work to advance equality – not only at the state level, but also in cities and towns across Colorado – until every LGBTQ person can live openly and honestly in every corner of the state.”

Since the MEI’s debut in 2012, the number of cities earning perfect scores has more than quintupled, and today at least 24 million people now live in cities that have more comprehensive, transgender-inclusive non-discrimination laws than their state or the federal government. And cities that have been rated all five years of the MEI have improved their scores by about 20 points over that time.

Progress on transgender equality has been particularly noteworthy in cities across America this year, continuing a positive trend that the MEI has tracked -- and encouraged -- since 2012. Transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits are offered to employees of 86 municipalities this year -- up from 66 in 2015 and 5 in 2012 -- and the growth of cities offering those benefits to their employees outpaces the growth in the number of cities rated. The MEI’s Issue Brief on Transgender-Inclusive Health Benefits is available here.

For the first time this year, the MEI deducted points from the scores of cities that have non-discrimination protections containing carve-outs prohibiting individuals from using public facilities consistent with their gender identity. It also created a new category of points to recognize cities that are offering transgender-specific city services.

Two special reports are also included in the 2016 MEI: Power Struggles and Preemption details efforts by anti-equality officials at the state level to pass discriminatory legislation like North Carolina’s HB2 law that strip municipalities of their ability to protect their residents and workers with non-discrimination measures. Inclusive and Innovative Approaches to Citywide Bullying Prevention lays out the serious public health issue of bullying, how it disproportionately affects LGBTQ youth, and innovative ways municipalities can protect its young people from bullying. The 2018 MEI will change the way it assesses anti-bullying issues, as described in this brief.

LGBTI Inclusion in the Domestic Implementation of the New Urban Agenda from HUD

Today in Quito, Ecuador, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro will lead the United States delegation to the United Nations (UN) Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador. Secretary Castro will represent the U.S. in several key events at the conference, including a conference-wide plenary session and roundtables with global leaders, as well as conduct bilateral meetings with key U.S. partners. Most public events will be webcast (see below for links).

The Conference is intended to renew international commitment to sustainable urban development, address poverty and identify and address emerging global challenges. In preparation for the Conference, HUD recently released The U.S. 20/20 Habitat III Report. The report outlines the agency’s work since the previous Habitat II conference 20 years ago, and reflects on the critical themes that will define the U.S. Habitat agenda for the next 20 years.

The session will feature a series of presentations delivered by international advocates for LGBTI rights and Heads of Delegations for Member States who are committed to ensuring that LGBTI persons are included in the domestic implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

Follow @SecretaryCastro, #NewUrbanAgenda, and #Habitat3 for updates during the conference.

Emma Stone in-person at Opening Night of the Denver Film Festival!

Academy Award nominee Damien Chazelle (Whiplash) wrote and directed La La Land, a song-and-dance romance set in contemporary Los Angeles, where Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a dedicated jazz musician and aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) struggle to make ends meet against the backdrop of a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Meet Chazelle and Stone at Opening Night of the Denver Film Festival!

Award-Winning Filmmakers and Influencers Launch New Salon Series on Inclusion in Hollywood

An award-winning collective of storytellers, educators, and thought leaders are coming together to promote equal representation for people of all backgrounds in media content. Hosted by Neuehouse Hollywood – a private community of leading entrepreneurs and creative teams located in the former CBS Broadcast Building at Columbia Square – the launch of this new salon series, Storytellers United, begins at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, October 27th. ‘Pink’ carpet and celebrity arrivals are at 6:30pm. The general public is invited to request an invitation at www.storytellersunited.com. Facebook and YouTube live broadcasts of the event can be watched on Storytellers United and It Gets Better social pages, and will be available to instructors as educational curriculum resources.

Filmmaker, educator, and executive producer of Storytellers United, Damien S. Navarro explains, “Storytellers United was a movement and event-series I had been conceptualizing for a very long time. It can’t be argued that our country and communities are in desperate need of healing from the defacing and misrepresentation of millions of minorities. I was therefore compelled to implore and empower the entertainment industry to take matters into its own hands.”

Entitled “The New Face of LGBTQ Youth in Entertainment,” the launch event will include an elegant evening of surprise performances, provocative content, cocktails, and conversation with a cause. Celebrating the charitable achievements of It Gets Better and other non-profit organizations, the evening will also feature an enlightening panel discussion about LGBTQ representation in media. Industry leaders Catherine Hardwicke (“Twilight,” “Lords of Dogtown”), Academy-Award Winner Dan Jinks (“American Beauty,” “Big Fish, “Milk”), Peter Paige (“The Fosters,” “Queer as Folk”), Dan Bucatinsky (“Scandal”, “Marry Me”), and Scott Peters (“Eyewitness,” “The 4400”) will be joined on the panel by rising talent Carmen Carrera (The Advocate’s 40 Under 40) and Tyler Young (“Eyewitness,” “The Avatars”). Breakthrough gay country artist Brandon Stansell will also perform.

Storytellers United’s October 27th event will also feature renowned non-profit organizations that are relevant to the evening’s focus. It Gets Better will showcase clips from their latest docu-series, “It Got Better”, produced in partnership with L/Studio, created by Lexus. Other content highlighted will include clips from OUTFEST’s 2016 Outset: The Young Filmmakers project – short films produced by the next generation of young filmmakers between the ages of 16 and 24 – as well as – recognition of GLAAD’s work and service to the industry.

Storytellers United events will most importantly premiere ‘Best-in-Show’ content that fits the theme of the evening. The launch evening’s featured case-study will be “Eyewitness,” USA Network’s groundbreaking new anthology series created by Adi Hasak (“Shades of Blue”). Centered on two teenage boys, Philip (Tyler Young) and Lukas (James Paxton), who witness a murder in a small town just moments after they kiss for the first time, “Eyewitness” innovatively delves into issues of sexuality and self-discovery. The show features a critically acclaimed lead performance by Julianne Nicholson as Sheriff Helen Torrance, which The New York Times has called a “perfect” role for her.

“I am thrilled to launch such an innovative, inspiring event that will spark a long-overdue conversation and action,” said Adi Hasak, Creator of “Eyewitness.” “Storytellers United provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate the hard work and social progress I've always wanted to represent – and to promote the type of inclusive, character-driven content that we need more of in Hollywood.”

Do You Want To Reach Denver's Gay Community? Advertise With Denver's Best Gay Blog!

Do you want to advertise to Denver’s gay community? Of course you do, it’s the 7th largest in the United States! And the best way to reach them is with MileHighGayGuy – Colorado’s Best Gay Blog.

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ACLU of Colorado Announces 2016 Ballot Positions

As ballots are being mailed out starting today to every Colorado voter, the ACLU of Colorado announced positions on three statewide initiatives and one Denver charter amendment. The ACLU of Colorado also created a voter information page with key dates, information on registration, ballot return, and the voting rights of students, overseas voters, people who are homeless and people who are currently or have been incarcerated.

The following are the ACLU of Colorado’s official positions on the 2016 Colorado ballot:

SUPPORT Proposition 106 – End of Life Options Act
The ACLU has historically been and remains a strong advocate for the right of individuals who are terminally ill (defined as having six months or less to live) to decide how to spend their final days, how to manage or avoid pain and suffering, and how to face death, including the right to seek physician assistance in ending one's own life.

While the ACLU supports aid in dying, it also recognizes the need for protections from abuse of these laws. The ACLU of Colorado fully supports Proposition 106, but advocates strong reporting practices to ensure no one acts under lack of alternatives, misunderstanding or undue pressure, and the ACLU encourages all Coloradans to carefully consider the concerns of the disability community. Under no circumstances should the lives of people with disabilities be devalued, and it should never be suggested that living with a disability means living with anything less than full meaning and dignity.

For more information, please read ACLU of Colorado Supports Aid in Dying, and As a Civil Libertarian, I Struggle with Colorado’s Aid in Dying Ballot Initiative.

OPPOSE Amendment 71 – Requirements for Initiated Constitutional Amendments
The ACLU has long maintained that fundamental Constitutional rights should not be subject to majority vote, and shares concerns that the Colorado Constitution is too easy to amend. But Amendment 71 goes too far. By requiring a percentage of signatures from all 35 state senate districts, Amendment 71 would essentially shut off access to a vital part of the democratic process to all but the most highly-resourced special interests. The signature requirement would make it extremely difficult to get rid of past amendments to the Constitution, and it would give veto power to a single district to block a vote on matters of statewide significance. Equal access for all citizens to the democratic process is an ACLU value, and for these reasons we urge voters to reject Amendment 71.

SUPPORT Amendment T – Remove Slavery from the Colorado Constitution
Even though Colorado was never a slave state, our state Constitution still contains language allowing slavery — as a punishment for crime. Words matter and slavery in any circumstance is immoral. Amendment T was placed on the ballot unanimously by both houses of the Colorado legislature. By voting Yes on T, Colorado voters can remove that archaic language from our Constitution and send a clear message that whatever our criminal justice system is, it should not be slavery.

For more information, read Take Out Slavery – Vote YES on Amendment T.

SUPPORT Amendment 2B (Denver Ballot) – Include the Independent Monitor in the Denver Charter
The Office of the Independent Monitor is a critical police accountability tool that is primarily responsible to the people of Denver. The Independent Monitor currently only exists in City ordinance, which means it could easily be dissolved by the Mayor or City Council. By placing the Independent Monitor in the City Charter, it could only be removed or dissolved by a vote of the people. The Independent Monitor would be solidified by Amendment 2B and further empowered to protect the rights of the citizens of Denver by holding law enforcement accountable.

Denver Zoo and CH2M employees clean South Platte River

Denver Zoo and CH2M, presenting sponsor of the Zoo’s traveling art exhibit, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, joined forces Saturday, October 15, to clean up trash that had “washed ashore” the South Platte River. Employees from both organizations worked to collect and recycle debris, supporting the mission of Denver Zoo’s current art installation: to raise awareness about plastic pollution and minimize the amount of debris left on beaches and in water sources.

Washed Ashore features 15 giant sculptures of marine life, made almost entirely from trash collected from beaches. Though Denver is far from any ocean, it is estimated that 80 percent of ocean pollution originates from activities on land and flows down rivers to oceans.

Denver Zoo partnered with CH2M because of the firm’s commitment to sustainability and resiliency, including deep expertise in water, transportation and environmental services. CH2M helps clients and communities around the world solve complex challenges by advancing sustainability in the development of infrastructure and industry, balancing social, economic and environmental priorities. CH2M is sponsoring the exhibit and cleanup to promote awareness, education and community involvement, protecting natural resources and ensuring public access to safe, reliable water supplies.

Your Ballot is on the Way, a Reminder from One Colorado

You should be receiving your ballot in the mail in the next week. Once you get your ballot, make sure you return it by 7pm on Tuesday, November 8th.

Click here to find your closest polling place or ballot drop box.

As a voter this year, you'll be joined by millions of your fellow Coloradans in making your voice heard. Many contests will be so close that a small number of votes will determine the outcome.

One of those crucial votes could be yours -- but only if you're a voter.

Make sure you return your ballot by 7pm on Tuesday, November 8th.

Voting by mail? Put your ballot in the mail by Tuesday, November 1st.
Dropping it off? Find a convenient ballot drop box at www.justvotecolorado.org.

Mark your calendar and save this email so you can refer back to it when you get your ballot!

If you have questions about voting, or need to update your voter registration, you can find all the information you need here.

PS: In case you missed it, here is One Colorado PAC's State House and Senate endorsements.

Conversations with Eugene Ebner & Brayton Bollenbacher of Diverse Harmony

 

Eugene Ebner converses with Brayton Bollenbacher, the Artistic Director of Diverse Harmony which is the nation’s first queer-straight alliance youth chorus. Diverse Harmony was featured in Denver at the 2016 GALA Choruses Festival with over 135 youth chorus members from all over the country performing their concert Youth Invasion from Gay to Z. Brayton shares that Diverse Harmony and other LGBTQ youth choruses provide a safe environment for individuals to fully be themselves, accepted and express their creativity through the power of music.

Fly to Florida — on the Log Cabin Republicans

Log Cabin Republicans is partnering with American Unity PAC​ to sponsor individuals willing to help Congressman Carlos Curbelo in his bid for reelection!

LCR PAC has endorsed Rep. Curbelo for reelection, and his race is one of the most competitive in the country. He needs YOUR support!

If you're interested in flying to Florida from 11/4 – 11/9, please email assistant@logcabin.org ASAP. Your flight, lodging, and a per diem for meals will all be covered for the duration of the trip. But space is limited! Email assistant@logcabin.org for additional details and to secure your spot as a key player in this historic election today!

Andy Shauf - Quite Like You

 

Renowned singer-songwriter Andy Shauf has premiered a new video for his song "Quite Like You." The track is from Shauf’s acclaimed album The Party, which Q Magazine recently described as “a warm mix of late-period Beatles melodicism and Nilsson in his more melancholic moments.”

The animated video, featuring an alien house party, was directed Chad Vangaalen who said, "Andy's story was really easy to get inside of and hang out for a while, so I just sat right here in my drawing chair and decided what type of fashion the party mutants would be wearing. Tennis ball pedestal helmets will obviously be available soon-ish."