The National LGBTQ Task Force, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) have launched a Spanish-language stylebook for journalists reporting on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. First published by NLGJA and NAHJ in 2005, "El Manual de Estilo Sobre la Comunidad Lesbiana, Gay, Bisexual y Transgénero" is available online here.
"We’re honored to partner with NLGJA and NAHJ in publishing this critical resource to help guide journalists in their reporting on issues affecting LGBTQ people," said National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey. "Now more than ever, as we learned all too well from last November’s election, accurate and fair reporting is essential."
The Spanish-language stylebook includes guidance as well as a glossary of terms to use and avoid when reporting on LGBTQ people. Earlier today, representatives from NLGJA, NAHJ, and the National LGBTQ Task Force took part in a live-recorded panel to discuss the stylebook that can be viewed on Facebook.
"NLGJA's mission is to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBTQ issues and people, and we're very excited to make that mission more inclusive and accessible through 'El Manual de Estilo Sobre La Comunidad Lesbiana, Gay, Biexual y Transgénero.' NLGJA is grateful for the cooperation and collaboration of NAHJ and the Task Force in bringing this new resource to life," said NLGJA Executive Director Adam Pawlus.
The collaborative publication is a result of ongoing efforts to educate journalists on LGBTQ cultural competence, which includes workshops at the annual NLGJA National Convention, NAHJ’s Excellence in Journalism Conference, and the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Creating Change Conference. The 2017 NLGJA National Convention will take place in Philadelphia on September 7-10 and the 2017 Excellence in Journalism Conference is set for September 7-9 in Anaheim, California. The 30th annual Creating Change Conference will take place in Washington, D.C. on January 24-28, 2018.
"In 2005, I served as Co-Chair of the NAHJ GLBT caucus, so this really is a full circle moment for me. NAHJ and NLGJA continue to provide GLBT resources in Spanish and English to our members and journalists across the country. We are elated that The Task Force has facilitated this opportunity for us," said NAHJ President Brandon Benavides.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Come Out. Get Fit With Stonewall Fitness.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Hey, Kitty Girl: RuPaul's Drag Race Now Casting Season 10
Do you have what it takes to be America's next drag superstar? Then show the world! RuPaul's Drag Race is casting for season 10. This is your chance to share your realness with the world! Don't F*ck It Up!
Submission deadline is Sunday, May 7th.
9 Out of 10 LGBT Students Experience Bullying; Colorado Author Addresses Long-Term Risks
Deborah Sandella, a Denver-based psychotherapist and author of Goodbye Hurt and Pain, said being bullied can produce lasting psychological impacts on children, even as they grow into adults.
"They won't speak up for themselves, so they end up having repeated experiences of feeling bullied throughout their lives," she said. "So it's really very significant both for those who are bullied and those who are the bully."
She said victims are four times more likely to have anxiety problems, and bullies have a greater risk of developing antisocial personality disorders. Sandella added that victims who end up taking their frustrations out by bullying others are more likely to have panic attacks and suicidal thoughts.
Sandella said one simple but effective way kids can disrupt a bully is to have a short phrase at the ready, such as "What was that?" or "That was mean," and then to walk away.
She said since teens typically don't want to talk about being bullied, parents should check in regularly and pay attention if anxiety levels go up suddenly. She added the experience sends stress hormones throughout the body, so other signs could be head or stomach aches. Sandella noted in most cases, immediate intervention can dissolve an incident within ten seconds.
"So it's almost like this spell is broken, of that power over another, by somebody else's presence being there," she explained. "There is a shift, there is a change."
She said if you've been a bully and want to stop, the first thing you should do the next time you get aggressive is to take a deep breath. Sandella said ask yourself what's causing your response. Do you feel angry or invisible? She said at that point you can choose to talk through the issue in a nonthreatening way.
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.
Louise Burns - Who's the Madman
Louise Burns released her new album Young Mopes last month via Light Organ Records. Today, Burns has revealed the Exquisite Corpse directed video for "Who's The Madman."
"'Who's the Madman' is a song written about confronting the possibility of failure after spending a lifetime chasing a dream, so naturally, the video has absolutely nothing to do with that," say Burns. "Instead, I play a lethargic, TV-addicted Dracula who follows a ghost/"dreamhopper" out of my home into a world much more bizarre, surreal and welcoming than the one seen on TV."
Affordable Adventures: Explore Colorado on a Shoestring Budget
A Beach Vacation at Great Sand Dunes National Park. From
late-May to early-August, Great Sand Dunes National Park, home to the
tallest sand dunes in North America, offers a beach vacation unlike any
other. When the snow melts every spring, the gentle Medano Creek emerges
from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains that tower behind the sand dunes to
create a true beach oasis. For just $15 per car, travelers can spend
the day lying at “the beach,” sledding down the dunes or exploring the
park’s numerous hiking and horseback riding trails.
Affordable Mountain Bliss in Breckenridge.
This iconic mountain town doesn’t just offer great skiing in the
winter, but also several wallet-friendly options for a family summer
vacation. Breckenridge offers over 50 miles of trails and more than 120
trail access points for unbeatable hiking and biking. Breckenridge
Creative Arts offers classes including drawing, dance and hands-on
crafts at little to no cost. For lodging, Breckenridge Ski Resort’s
summer lodging deal starts at just $119 per night for stays starting June 9 through September 10. This summer, visitors will want to check out the new Epic Discovery featuring zip lines, alpine challenge courses and more.
Camping Colorado.
There is no better way to experience an affordable Colorado vacation or
the great outdoors than camping. The state has upwards of 300
campgrounds offering a variety of surroundings and activities. Visitors
can check out the Views RV Park & Campground in Dolores that
overlooks incredible vistas and will soon offer glamping tents along
with campsites for RV’s and tents, or Aspen Acres Campground in Rye,
located in the less traveled San Isabel mountain range for a peaceful
camping experience at an elevation of 9,200 feet.
Denver on a Dime. Visitors
do not need to break the bank to explore Colorado’s Mile High City.
Through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) free
days, guests can see many of Denver’s top attractions such as the Denver
Art Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Zoo and many more at no cost
on select days of the year. This year, RiNo (River North) Art District
and the new Drink RiNo group will sponsor a free bus every First Friday
that will have multiple stops at galleries, studios, breweries and
eateries throughout RiNo. For frugal foodies visiting the city can try a
new chef-driven concept like Avanti F&B – seven different
affordable restaurants in one modern food hall, from Japanese to pizza;
or Honor Society Handcrafted Eatery – where visitors can get
high-quality, healthy, yet craveable dishes at an affordable price.
Discover the Outdoors in Montrose.
This historic Colorado town on the Western Slope serves as the perfect
basecamp to those seeking outdoor adventure. Montrose is home to the
stunning Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (only $15 entrance
fee per vehicle), which offers amazing views of steep cliffs and spires,
hiking, camping and more. The park was also designated as an
International Dark Sky Park in 2015 because of its exceptional skies,
astronomy education programs, and responsible lighting for supreme
stargazing. Montrose offers a variety of trails, Gold Medal fishing
opportunities and is located at the center of some of Colorado’s most
beautiful scenic drives and byways including the San Juan Skyway, Alpine
Loop Back Country Byway and more.
Exploring Snowmass with the Mass Pass. For
visitors looking to get the most bang for their buck, Snowmass offers
the Mass Pass, a three or five day activity pass which includes
activities such as rafting, horseback riding, bike trips, sunset dinners
and more. The pass allows guests to choose three days of activities for
$350/guest or five days of activities for $550/guest. The Mass Pass
offers over $250 in savings from booking activities à la carte, ideal
for guests looking to get more than one great adventure out of their
vacation.
Family Adventure at Snow Mountain Ranch. A year-round destination, Snow Mountain Ranch brings families together to explore and enjoy the outdoors.
With a huge selection of activities, most included at no cost for
overnight guests, everyone in the family will find something to do
including soaring down a summer tubing hill, indoor and outdoor archery,
climbing walls or even a guided hike with a llama. Accommodations
range from hotel-style lodge rooms, yurts, cozy cabins or mega reunion
cabins sleeping up to 44 guests. Rates start at $79/night for lodge
rooms.
Tiny Homes, Huts and Hostels. Skip the traditional
lodging and experience one of the state’s more unique options. Colorado
has more huts and yurts than any other state in the U.S. Options
include the 10th Mountain Division Hut System, named for the soldiers trained in the area during World War II, the San Juan Hut System, Grand Huts Association and more. Join the tiny home movement and escape to WeeCasa,
a new tiny home hotel in Lyons, Colorado. With approximately 135-250
square feet of charm and character, these casas utilize the space in the
simplest and most efficient way possible. The state also offers upscale
hostels such as The Bivvi in Breckenridge or Hostel Fish in Denver.
Visit a Colorado State Park. A great way to save money, while having an abundance of activities to choose from is to visit one of Colorado’s 41 state parks. The parks vary in surroundings from mountains to rivers to prairies and water. Visit John Martin Reservoir in Hasty, Colorado to experience a mecca for bird watching with over 400 species to see. Visitors can spend their vacation boating, swimming, water skiing and more, while enjoying the evening at one of the park’s campsites (campsite fees start at just $10 per night) sitting around the fire pit, cooking s’mores and telling ghost stories with family and friends.
Wine Tasting in Colorado's Wine Country. Grand
Junction is Colorado’s Wine Country featuring 22 wineries with
year-round tasting rooms that offer complimentary tastings to
visitors. One of the best ways to explore wineries in the Palisade and
Grand Junction area is on two wheels and the friendly experts at local
bike shops will not only set you up with a reliable ride, but they can
also supply guidance on all the best wine-tasting routes. Rapid Creek
Cycles in downtown Palisade offers maps highlighting local wineries and
orchards, and rents seven-speed cruisers with baskets perfect for
hauling goodies like bottles of wine and produce picked up along the
way. Full-day rentals are available for less than $40.
Nice To See StevieB: Purgatory
If there is such a thing as Purgatory, in the afterlife, I know what my Purgatory will look like. If it is like the Catholics describe it; a place of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven, then I can tell what it looks like.
My personal purgatory will be spent wandering around the prepared foods department of a Whole foods.
Hours are spent with me dazed and confused moving from one bar to the next. Approaching the soup bar to squish the ladle down in over-cooked chicken noodle soup, or white bean chili. Then, to the deli counter to gaze upon the chicken wraps. Starving for something, yet not sure how the normal people of the world make a decision in a sea of choices.
Last night, I approached the area with the intent to pick up dinner. The boyfriend quickly made some healthy choices, and disappeared. Leaving me to fend for myself. I had the look of an eight-year-old, who after hiding in the middle of a clothing rack full of women’s blouses, emerged to find his Mom, gone. I was alone in Hell Foods. I entered the Whole Foods convincing everyone around me that it was a “soup night.” Only to find none of the eighteen dozen soups to be quite right. Maybe salad…..? no. It was either malaise, or my fear of food commitment that sent me into the desert for a plastic-boxed food vision quest.
What seemed to be hours later the boyfriend called out from the edge of the desert. “Ready?” He asked munching on kelp-kale fun crisps. I left with a tiny container of tomato soup. My soul still hovering over the olive bar.
Call For Submissions: Denver Comix
The printed newspaper will be 12 pages long and feature 24 original comic strips in full color. All Colorado residents ages 18 and over are invited to submit original work to be considered for publication. All styles and genres (humor, action, horror, etc.) are acceptable. Creators will be paid $25 for each comic that is published.
Submissions will be accepted through the Denver Public Library website from April 1–30, 2017.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Tell the senate committee to support transgender equality!
The Birth Certificate Modernization Act will bring Colorado law in line with federal policies for people who want to update the gender on their birth certificate -- making it drastically less invasive for transgender Coloradans who simply want their identity documents to match who they are. Someone whose birth certificate doesn't match their gender is at risk for being denied housing, a job, health care, or even the fundamental right to vote.
Colorado law currently requires that a transgender person undergo surgery and appear in front of a judge to prove their identity before they can change the gender on their birth certificate. The Birth Certificate Modernization Act eliminates these requirements because a licensed health care professional, not a judge or court, is best qualified to evaluate when a transgender person's birth certificate should be updated.
Click here to ask for a YES VOTE on this important bill.
Friday, March 24, 2017
Breaking: Trumpcare Vote Halted
The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund is welcoming the House of Representative's decision to pull the so-called American Health Care Act from today's scheduled floor vote. The legislation had failed to secure the necessary votes to pass, following weeks of public outcry and advocacy in opposition by LGBTQ activists, civil rights leaders, and health care advocates.
"We are relieved to learn that Trumpcare has been pulled from consideration and that, at least for now, the Affordable Care Act still stands," said Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund. "Under the proposed Trumpcare, the so-called American Health Care Act, an estimated 24 million people stand to lose health care coverage. And while Trumpcare has been stalled for now, our work must continue to stop this very harmful piece of legislation."
The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund has been mobilizing its 200,000 members to take action against Trumpcare and the Administration's attacks on freedom, justice and equity. Since the beginning of the year, the Task Force has organized actions in Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia and elsewhere calling on U.S. Senators to vote against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch and Attorney General Sessions.
"We are also ecstatic to hear that Senator Schumer plans to filibuster Gorsuch's nomination to the Supreme Court. Gorsuch is an outlier judge, whose extremists opinions are the antithesis of the Court's philosophies, and his confirmation poses a fundamental threat to the lives and wellbeing of LGBTQ people. We urge everyone to continue calling on their Senators to vote against Gorsuch's nomination, and for members of Congress to use every tool at their disposal to defeat Trumpcare," said Carey.
"We are relieved to learn that Trumpcare has been pulled from consideration and that, at least for now, the Affordable Care Act still stands," said Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund. "Under the proposed Trumpcare, the so-called American Health Care Act, an estimated 24 million people stand to lose health care coverage. And while Trumpcare has been stalled for now, our work must continue to stop this very harmful piece of legislation."
The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund has been mobilizing its 200,000 members to take action against Trumpcare and the Administration's attacks on freedom, justice and equity. Since the beginning of the year, the Task Force has organized actions in Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia and elsewhere calling on U.S. Senators to vote against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch and Attorney General Sessions.
"We are also ecstatic to hear that Senator Schumer plans to filibuster Gorsuch's nomination to the Supreme Court. Gorsuch is an outlier judge, whose extremists opinions are the antithesis of the Court's philosophies, and his confirmation poses a fundamental threat to the lives and wellbeing of LGBTQ people. We urge everyone to continue calling on their Senators to vote against Gorsuch's nomination, and for members of Congress to use every tool at their disposal to defeat Trumpcare," said Carey.
Call Your Member of Congress TODAY To Protect Health Care!
- My name is ________, from _______, zip code _______. I strongly oppose the American Health Care Act that is being voted on in the House today. You represent me and not Trump’s personal agenda. I urge you to vote NO today. I, my neighbors, and the entire country are watching how you vote and will remember where you stood today at election time.
The ACA has expanded access to healthcare for millions of people in the U.S. It’s the reason that: young people can remain covered by their parent’s health insurance until they’re 26; insurance companies can no longer impose a lifetime cap on coverage benefits; people living with HIV or other chronic conditions aren’t being refused healthcare coverage because of a preexisting condition; contraception and other forms of preventative care are available without a copay; and it extends protections to anyone who faces discrimination in a healthcare or insurance setting because of sex, which includes gender identity.
Print all In new window Lawyers’ Committee Responds to Appointment of Roger Severino for Key HHS Position
“Roger Severino is anti-choice, anti-reproductive rights, anti-Planned Parenthood and opposed to many of the core interests that have historically been protected by the Department of Health and Human Services. Severino’s record stands contrary to the very mission of the Department of Health and Human Services. Severino believes that anti-discrimination laws should not protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination by those who purport to hold a sincerely held religious belief. Severino's appointment to Direct the Office for Civil Rights at HHS makes clear that this administration stands prepared to undermine civil rights enforcement at every turn.”
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has conducted an extensive review of Roger Severino’s record. Core findings of this review include the following:
- Severino is anti-choice. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 136 S. Ct. 2292, 2299 (2016), as revised (June 27, 2016), Severino published an article criticizing the decision. Severino categorized the decision as “continu[ing] the long, deadly shadow that the court’s abortion decisions have cast over American law, medicine, and society. It has allowed abortion extremists to keep substandard abortion clinics open, and has hamstrung states’ ability to put women’s health and safety first.”
- Severino is anti-reproductive rights. Severino advocates completely defunding Planned Parenthood, stating that “Planned Parenthood has once again proven it does two things exceedingly well—ending innocent human lives in the womb for a fee, and getting American taxpayers to subsidize its operations.”
- Severino favors religious exemptions for government mandated health care: In Zubik v. Burwell, 136 S. Ct. 1557 (2016), the Supreme Court vacated a series of Court of Appeals decisions concerning religious exemptions to the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act and remanded those cases back to the lower courts to consider the burden imposed in requiring non-profit religious organizations to fill out a form notifying the government that they objected to providing contraceptive coverage. Severino praised the Court’s decision as recognition that the ACA imposed an undue burden on religious organizations’ exercise of their religious freedoms.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Camera2 - Freak Show
Brooklyn band Camera2 shared their new music video for "Freak Show." Directed by Josh Stoddard, the video utilizes an entrancing "Frozen In Time" effect that's best described as, "the Mannequin Challenge on steroids." The track is from Camera2's Appetite EP.
Vocalist and frontman Andy Chase [Ivy, Tahiti80, Juliana Hatfield] says, "'Freak Show' came from looking at our band and realizing we're all four completely different people, yet these differences complement each other in terms of the compatibility as friends and musicians in a band. It embodies the yin and yang and the balance between polar opposites."
Stonewall Fitness: Exercise Doesn't Discriminate and Neither Should You
By David Smith
LGBT+ Sporting Events Celebrate Diversity through Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best
10-20+
years ago, the LGBT+ community faced a lot more discrimination and
anti-LGBT+ harassment. While we are not totally free from that today, it
is clear that the safe havens of gay bars and such don’t quite serve
the same purpose as they once did. Are LGBT+ oriented bars and
businesses going away? Not quite.
Exercise and fitness are non-discriminatory. However people in the exercise and fitness industry are. For generations a lot of false myths and bad advice in regards to exercise have floated around based on racist, sexist, anti-LGBT+ stigmas that have long held people back from achieving their true physical potential.
Exercise and fitness are non-discriminatory. However people in the exercise and fitness industry are. For generations a lot of false myths and bad advice in regards to exercise have floated around based on racist, sexist, anti-LGBT+ stigmas that have long held people back from achieving their true physical potential.
However
nothing can discriminate against hard work, we’re all human and our
bodies are designed to perform the same functions regardless of race,
gender orientation, sexual identity, religion, age or nationality. When
it comes time to exercise and train, everybody is on the same level. By
level I mean everybody should be willing and ready to put in the same
amount of work to accomplish their personal best.
Everybody exists at different planes of fitness, yes. Some people are faster, others can jump higher or lift more weight; they could be taller, shorter, different body type or more genetically inclined to succeed at certain tasks. There are people just starting out and others who are experienced. In the end though none of that matters, because everybody succeeds on the same level. Somebody might be struggling to lift over 100lbs, the person next to them might max out at only 10lbs. Even though there is 90lbs separating them, they are both working equally as hard to accomplishing the same task. Thus, they are training on the same level.
Everybody exists at different planes of fitness, yes. Some people are faster, others can jump higher or lift more weight; they could be taller, shorter, different body type or more genetically inclined to succeed at certain tasks. There are people just starting out and others who are experienced. In the end though none of that matters, because everybody succeeds on the same level. Somebody might be struggling to lift over 100lbs, the person next to them might max out at only 10lbs. Even though there is 90lbs separating them, they are both working equally as hard to accomplishing the same task. Thus, they are training on the same level.
Everybody
has started from the bottom and got to where they are on their own
through dedication or hard work. They did not become the best through
talent, nor because of their race, gender orientation, sexual identity,
financial status, age or nationality. Stigmas and stereotypes exist and
even scientific data might lend some level of truth to them, however
history has consistently shown that people who’ve long been assumed to
be weak have overcome such barriers and become just as strong and fit,
if not more than their more privileged counterparts.
Is there need for “safe space” gyms? Yes, and by that a facility that is physically designed to accommodate the needs of a very diverse LGBT+ clientele. Gyms can be quite discriminating places, from weight selection, colors, layout. All based on old, long debunked myths and stereotypes that still separate us; especially among gender.
The environmental aspects of a gym should not create a barrier that is preventing you from accomplishing your fitness goals; going in with a plan, attitude to achieve and confidence within yourself to succeed and you as an individual can help overcome those things that separate us.
A “safe space” is no longer just enough; either everybody succeeds or nobody succeeds. The differences that separate us should be left outside. When in the gym, the only goal is to do our best and succeed at our best, to succeed together.
Is there need for “safe space” gyms? Yes, and by that a facility that is physically designed to accommodate the needs of a very diverse LGBT+ clientele. Gyms can be quite discriminating places, from weight selection, colors, layout. All based on old, long debunked myths and stereotypes that still separate us; especially among gender.
The environmental aspects of a gym should not create a barrier that is preventing you from accomplishing your fitness goals; going in with a plan, attitude to achieve and confidence within yourself to succeed and you as an individual can help overcome those things that separate us.
A “safe space” is no longer just enough; either everybody succeeds or nobody succeeds. The differences that separate us should be left outside. When in the gym, the only goal is to do our best and succeed at our best, to succeed together.
Photo courtesy of Liger Fitness
David
Smith is a coach, exercise professional, athlete, blogger and owner of
Stonewall Fitness. He is a certified personal trainer and holds a
Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and Nutrition.
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