Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Nice To See StevieB: Four-Eyes

By StevieB

After what seemed an insane amount of shopping, I have finally bought new glasses. This is my first pair of bi-focal lenses. And, it's the problem I'm having. I spend most of my day unable to see anything. I am constantly looking through the top part of my lens, designed for distance vision, to read and text. Then using the bottom section to drive. The optometrist did warn me, but really. At this point I would see better without glasses at all.

I will; however, keeping trying. But, if you see me without my glasses upon my face, you know not to inquire to their whereabouts. If you see me with my glasses on, I won't see you anyway. So I'll probably step on your foot. I'll apologize now.

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.

The Edge Theater Company presents the Regional Premiere of “The Nance"

In the 1930s, burlesque impresarios welcomed the hilarious comics and musical parodies of vaudeville to their decidedly lowbrow niche. A headliner called "the nance"—usually played by a straight man—was a stereotypically camp homosexual and master of comic double entendre. "The Nance" recreates the naughty, raucous world of burlesque's heyday and tells the backstage story of Chauncey Miles and his fellow performers. At a time when it was easy to play gay and dangerous to be gay, Chauncey's uproarious antics on the stage stand out in marked contrast to his offstage life.

The Edge Theater Company presents the Regional Premiere of “The Nance” March 3 through April 2 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays and Monday, March 20 at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 6:00 p.m.

Martin Semple to succeed Daniel L. Ritchie as Chairman of the Board of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Martin Semple has been tapped to succeed Daniel L. Ritchie as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) effective July 2017.

Semple and his wife, Jo, have been patrons and donors of the DCPA since the 1980s. Semple, a partner with the Denver law firm of Semple, Farrington & Everall, P.C., served as the DCPA’s legal counsel for more than three decades. He joined both the DCPA Board of Trustees and the Helen Bonfils Foundation Board of Trustees in July 2007.

“Martin has been an invaluable member of the Denver Center’s Board of Trustees for a decade,” said outgoing Chairman Daniel L. Ritchie. “He and his wife, Jo, have been staunch supporters, loyal patrons and committed donors, who have contributed to the ongoing success of this organization for nearly 40 years. I can’t imagine a better successor to serve as our third Chairman of the Board.”

Semple has specialized in public and private sector labor and employment law and represents nonprofit organizations, school districts and cities among other client groups. Additionally, Mr. Semple has served as an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Denver College of Law and the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado at Denver.

Semple graduated from St. Patrick’s College, Ireland, and earned doctorates in law from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and the Catholic University of America. His current Board memberships include the DCPA and National Jewish Health. Past Board affiliations include Colorado Children’s Hospital Foundation (1985-1995; Chairman 1990-1992); National School Boards Association (2000-2001), Common Good Colorado (2009-2011), National Council of School Attorneys (Chairman 2000-2001) and Colorado School Attorneys Council.

Semple also has served as President of the Helen G. Bonfils Foundation since 2015, an endowment fund established to support the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Denver Post Chairman William Dean Singleton will succeed Semple as President of the Bonfils Foundation. Singleton, who was co-founder of the Denver-based newspaper chain MediaNews Group (now known as Digital First Media), has been served on both the DCPA and Bonfils boards since March 2001.

“As a business leader, civic partner and individual patron, Martin has been entrenched in all aspects of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts,” said DCPA President & CEO Janice Sinden. “I am delighted that he will lend his expertise and friendship to the continued success of the DCPA as we develop a vision for the future that embraces our community, elevates our artists, and enhances our place as one of the city’s cultural gems.”

Print all In new window Take Action for LGBTQ Health: GOP Plan will hurt Coloradans!

By Daniel Ramos, Executive Director, One Colorado
 
On Tuesday night, House Republicans revealed the so-called “American Health Care Act.” This bill will cause thousands of Coloradans to lose coverage, reversing substantial progress we have made. This bill does not ensure access to comprehensive, affordable health care for the people of Colorado — especially for LGBTQ Coloradans. It will not reduce costs or improve choice or stabilize the insurance market.

Call your members of Congress and tell them: "Please do not take away health care from hundreds of thousands of Coloradans and vote against the American Health Care Act. We deserve a plan that offers more affordable care, better coverage, and better consumer protections."

Below is contact information for each senator and representative. If you need to know who your representative is/which district you live in, click here (Senators represent the entire state so call both of them!).

Senator Cory Gardner - 303-391-5777
Senator Michael Bennet - 303-455-7600 / 866-455-9866
Representative Diana DeGette - 303-844-4988 (CO District 1)
Representative Jared Polis - 303-484-9596 (CO District 2)
Representative Scott Tipton - 970-241-2499 (CO District 3)
Representative Ken Buck - 970-702-2136 (CO District 4)
Representative Doug Lamborn - 719-520-0055 (CO District 5)
Representative Mike Coffman - 720-748-7514 (CO District 6)
Representative Ed Perlmutter - 303-274-7944 (CO District 7)

So much is on the line! Without a comprehensive replacement plan, many LGBTQ Coloradans' health care will be in jeopardy. Call your U.S. Senators' and Representative's local office now!

Congress wants to push this bill through as quickly as possible, without considering the consequences. We need to make sure that our Representatives and Senators know that this bill will be bad for Colorado. Call Now!

Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade to Rename Blake St.

The Board of Directors of the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade is pleased to announce that the City and County of Denver will rename Blake Street to Tooley Street for parade weekend. A ceremonial changing of the street sign will take place at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, March 9 at the corner of Blake Street and 20th Street. The parade, the largest Irish cultural celebration west of the Mississippi, steps off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 11 from the corner of 19th and Wynkoop. After turning left on 17th to Blake Street, it will march east to end at 27th and Blake in the Coors Field parking lot.

The theme of this year’s 55th annual parade is Emerald Celebration. It will feature more than 10,000 marchers and 200 entrants including pipe bands; step dancers; floats; police, fire and emergency service agencies; military members; equestrians; charities; marching bands; businesses and our city’s dignitaries in a truly amazing event.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

TRANSforming Gender

The TRANSforming Gender Conference will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 10-11, at the Wolf Law School located on the CU campus in Boulder. Free and open to the public, the event will feature a variety of presentations, trainings, and film screenings to increase visibility and education about transgender identities and experiences as well as to bring together transgender people and their allies. People can register in advance or on the day of the conference. To register in advance, click here!

If you can't make the conference in person, the keynotes will be available via livestream:
• Willy Wilkinson (Friday): https://livestream.com/accounts/2713216/events/7074600
• Elle Hearns (Saturday): https://livestream.com/accounts/2713216/events/7074614

Meet the Men of "Fire Island"

Logo today unveiled the cast and trailer for its new unscripted series, “Fire Island,” from Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’ Milojo Productions. “Fire Island” follows a group of young professionals living together in a beachfront share house for the summer as they search for the romance, temptation and thrills that have brought the LGBTQ community to the island for decades. The provocative new show will premiere later this spring.

"We fell in love with Fire Island years ago the minute we stepped off the ferry,” said Executive Producers, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. “We're excited to share the long standing magic of the island with this new series and to be working again with our Logo family."

The cast of “Fire Island” includes:

Khasan (IG:@khasanb84) – A dancer on break from his successful career after performing with pop legends like BeyoncĂ©, Rihanna and Lady Gaga. He invites his friends to Fire Island to help him decide if he should move from Los Angeles to New York to be with his boyfriend.

Jorge (IG:@jorgebustillos) – After leaving his boyfriend and career as a doctor behind in Venezuela, Jorge moved to New York City to work as a marketing strategist. He goes to Fire Island to have an adventure of a lifetime with his best friend, Khasan.

Brandon (IG: @brandonosorio) – Photographer and NYU student Brandon is full of life and ready for any adventure. He is on the hunt for love during his first summer on Fire Island.

Cheyenne (IG: @thecheyenneparker) – Entrepreneur and model Cheyenne brings his fiery and passionate personality to the beach house. While launching his brand he must navigate the island’s temptations.

Justin (IG: @justintrusso) – The established NYC artist is using his trip to Fire Island as a way to break out of his shell and find new inspiration. With all the adventures the island has to offer, Justin tries to navigate it all without losing focus on his new boyfriend.

Patrick (IG: @pattymac42) – Rather than lounge away the summer, Patrick is spending his time on Fire Island working and using his time to figure out his next step post heartbreak. He also stirs the pot with his housemates with his eccentric, “no-backing-down” personality.

Monday, March 6, 2017

DCPA nets record-breaking $1 million to benefit Theatre Education

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) netted a record $1 million at its annual fundraiser, Saturday Night Alive, on March 4. The 37-year-old fundraiser is a benefit for the DCPA’s extensive theatre education programs, which serve more than 105,000 students each year.

In welcoming the 800 attendees, DCPA President & CEO Janice Sinden along with DCPA Education Director Allison Watrous announced a brand new Theatre for Young Audiences, which will be funded by proceeds from the evening. Set to begin in September 2017, DCPA Education will present Ezra Jack Keats’ Caldecott Award-winning children’s book, The Snowy Day and Other Stories, brought to life on stage. With full staging by the Tony Award-winning DCPA Theatre Company, Snowy Day will be seen by more than 18,000 PreK-2 grade children at 100 performances running September 25-November 19 in The Conservatory Theatre. Proceeds from Saturday Night Alive will be used to provide more than $100,000 in scholarships to students at Title 1 schools.

Saturday Night Alive featured Tony Award-winning choreographer Savion Glover (Bring in ’da Noise, Bring in ’da Funk) as well as its signature Surprise Box Sale; luxury silent auction valued at nearly $400,000; an Epicurean-catered dinner in the Seawell Grand Ballroom, and late-night desserts and dancing.

Over the past three decades, an estimated $20 million has helped the Center provide theatre programs to more than 2 million children — a testament to the volunteers, donors, sponsors and attendees who have made this event a success.

NEA reacts to Supreme Court sends back case to protect rights of transgender student

The United States Supreme Court today returned to the lower court a case involving the rights of Gavin Grimm, a transgender student from Virginia. The National Education Association and a coalition of national organizations representing a broad swath of education professionals—employees who interact with students everywhere from the bus stop to after-school programs and everything in between—last week filed a friend of the court brief asking the United States Supreme Court to protect the rights of transgender students.

The filing of the brief comes on the heels of a dangerous and irresponsible Trump administration decision to rescind federal guidance advising schools districts to comply with their legal obligations to protect transgender students from discrimination. Withdrawing the federal guidance didn’t change the law, but it did highlight the need for the Supreme Court to step in. The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcĂ­a:

“We, as educators, have a moral, legal, and professional duty to support all students, including our transgender students, and nothing about the Supreme Court’s decision today to remand Gavin’s case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit changes that.

“While we are disappointed that the Supreme Court deferred deciding whether Gavin’s rights were violated when he was discriminated against at school for being transgender, we are confident that the Fourth Circuit, and eventually the Supreme Court, will ultimately vindicate his rights.

“Most courts have already concluded that federal law protects transgender students, and we fully expect that the Fourth Circuit will agree.”

Friday, March 3, 2017

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.
 

Just click the Advertising page or email sales@milehighgayguy.com to get started today.

See Elton John in Casper, Wyoming and Support the Matthew Shepard Foundation

Looking for something to do March 15? How about seeing Elton John in Casper, Wyoming with the Matthew Shepard Team and Judy Shepard?

Log Cabin Republicans Submits Letter On Transgender Student Protections

Log Cabin Republicans has submitted a letter to Secretary Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Education and the Department of Justice, respectively, outlining suggestions on guidance to protect transgender students following their joint decision to rescind preexisting guidance issued under the Obama Administration. The Log Cabin Republicans letter was sent in advance of a more comprehensive report on the matter to follow in the coming weeks.

“Last week while liberals were howling at the heavens, Log Cabin Republicans had our heads down working to develop common-sense conservative solutions to protect transgender students,” said Log Cabin Republicans President Gregory T. Angelo. “Not only is the Log Cabin Republicans response to this issue coming from the center-right, it’s coming directly from our transgender members — in other words, the people who understand this issue the most.”

The letter was drafted and signed by transgender members of Log Cabin Republicans Jordan Evans, Gina Roberts, Piper Laurie Smith, and Jennifer Williams, as well as the Republican parent of a transgender student, Crystal Dawn Hasinsky.

The full letter can be read at this link.

Cyndi Sez: Girls Just Want To Have Fundamental Rights

Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning artist and activist Cyndi Lauper has designed and released her official “Girls Just Want To Have Fundamental Rights” t-shirt. Inspired by the menagerie of protest signs using this empowering slogan during the worldwide Women’s March that took place on January 21st, Cyndi has partnered with Omaze in honor of Women’s History Month to raise vital funding for Planned Parenthood and the True Colors Fund.

“As I marched down the streets of New York City in January amongst a beautiful array of people of every sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and nationality, I was blown away to see so many people embracing the message of “Girls Just Want To Have Fundamental Rights’ on their handmade signs,” said Cyndi Lauper. “Seeing this anthem continue to empower so many people to speak out and get involved, I was inspired to find new ways to further spread this powerful message of equality and justice for all. I am hopeful that this t-shirt will raise much needed funds to support the important work of Planned Parenthood and the True Colors Fund.”

Cyndi’s official “Girls Just Want To Have Fundamental Rights” t-shirt is available starting today at www.omaze.com/fun and can be purchased for $25. A sweatshirt is also available for $39. The net proceeds from each t-shirt and sweatshirt sold will be donated to Planned Parenthood and the True Colors Fund.

Nearly 2000 Clergy, Faith Leaders Sign Amicus Brief in Support of Transgender Protections

Today more than 1,800 clergy and religious leaders signed a friend-of-the-court brief in Gloucester County School Board v. GG, the first-ever case on transgender rights to go before the Supreme Court.

The brief acknowledges the diversity of faith traditions that honor the inherent dignity and worth of transgender people and the long-standing presence of transgender people in faith communities, as both lay people and religious leaders. The brief lifts up the growing movement of religious leaders who believe transgender people should be respected, celebrated, and loved rather than feared, shunned, or discriminated against under the law. In addition, it argues against narrow interpretations of religious freedom that would privilege a single set of religious beliefs about gender.

"I have learned over my years as a transgender pastor that gender is a reflection of a deeply held inner spiritual truth,” said Rev. Erin Swenson, a transgender Presbyterian minister. “That inner truth is what theologians call the Image of God, and it should be bound by no human rule or law. Its expression brings joy and its diminishment pain."

More than 95 national religious leaders signed the brief including the leaders of the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Metropolitan Community Church, the Alliance of Baptists, Muslims for Progressive Values, and Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Judaism. The presidents of six seminaries and the leaders of 49 religious organizations also signed the brief.

“The book of Genesis declares that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God,” said the Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. “This divine decree proclaims the inherent sacredness, dignity, worth, and equality of every human person. The way of love for God and our neighbor that Jesus taught is the way to honor the sacredness, dignity, worth and equality of each person. For this reason, we work for the equality and dignity of transgender people, who, like the rest of us, are created in God's image and likeness.”

Curry and the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church, are the lead amici on the brief.

“Jesus tells us to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves, and he tells us not to be afraid,” said Jennings. “The Episcopal Church affirms the victory of love over fear by supporting local, state and federal laws that prevent discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression. We oppose all legal measures that seek to deny the God-given dignity, legal equality, and civil rights of transgender people. We support transgender equality not in spite of our Christian faith, but because of it.”

The brief includes signers belonging to approximately 50 unique religious traditions, including signers who identify as Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, and more. Geographically the largest percentage of signers – 30% - resides in the Northeast, followed by 27% who reside in the South. Religious leaders from all 50 states are represented on the brief.

The case before the Supreme Court is being brought by the ACLU on behalf of a Virginia transgender boy named Gavin Grimm who is challenging a policy in his local school district that singles out transgender students for discrimination and prohibits him from using the boys’ restroom at his school. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Gavin last year.

“The Gavin Grimm case speaks to the heart of humanity,” said Rabbi Denise L. Eger, president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in North America. “As a rabbi I know Judaism affirms treating everyone as created in God's image. Gavin's simple human request for dignity at school shouldn't be a matter of debate. Transgender people are the ones most at risk in bathrooms that don't match their presenting gender—not the other way around. Let's not confuse the issue.”

In the weekend leading up to oral arguments on March 28, hundreds of clergy and congregations around the country are expected to participate in a National Weekend of Prayer for Transgender Justice, dedicating their services to supporting transgender equality and delivering sermons about the importance of the Supreme Court case. More information is available at www.nationalweekendofprayer.org.

“All students should feel safe in school, including transgender individuals,” said Rev. David W. Key, founding pastor of Lake Oconee Community Church in Greensboro, GA. “At the heart of all faith traditions is the support for human dignity. As a Baptist minister, I urge all good people of faith to rally for this cause. Gavin Grimm deserves our unwavering support.”

The outreach on the brief submitted today was organized by a coalition of national and state-specific groups, including Religious Institute, Freedom for All Americans, and the National LGBTQ Task Force.