Monday, December 11, 2017

WalletHub: 2017’s Best Places for New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Facts

Source: WalletHub
With New Year’s Eve around the corner and the majority of Americans spending up to $200 each on the occasion per year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2017’s Best Places for New Year’s Eve Celebrations.
To help Americans ring in the new year without breaking the bank, WalletHub compared the 100 biggest cities across 25 key metrics. The data set ranges from legality of fireworks to average price of a New Year’s Eve party ticket to forecasted precipitation for Dec. 31.
 

Best Cities for New Year’s Eve
1 New York, NY 11 Seattle, WA
2 Orlando, FL 12 Dallas, TX
3 Atlanta, GA 13 Denver, CO
4 Los Angeles, CA 14 New Orleans, LA
5 San Francisco, CA 15 Austin, TX
6 San Diego, CA 16 Philadelphia, PA
7 Chicago, IL 17 Buffalo, NY
8 Miami, FL 18 San Antonio, TX
9 Washington, DC 19 Louisville, KY
10 Las Vegas, NV 20 Birmingham, AL
 

50+ New Year’s Facts – Traditions, Spending & More

  • $1.2 Billion - Estimated cost of New Year's air travel, with at least six million people expected to pay an average of $204 for a round-trip ticket.
     
  • 8 in 10 Americans - Spend less than $200 on New Year's Eve.
     
  • $680 - Difference in the cost for a couple to enjoy dinner and a show on New Year's Eve in the most expensive (New York) and least expensive (Washington) cities.
     
  • 360+ Million - Glasses of sparkling wine are drunk each New Year's Eve.

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.

Friday, December 8, 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.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Get Drunk with Scrooge this Holiday Season: Audacious Theatre & Fiction Beer Company Host “Drunk Christmas”

This year a local theatre company is putting a boozy spin on everybody’s favorite Christmas tale. Join the drunken cast for a beer at Fiction Beer Company as they teach Scrooge a lesson about Christmas and all its “spirits”. Drunk Christmas will be a shortened version of Charles Dicken’s classic, and is part of Audacious Theatre’s holiday fundraiser. The festive evening will include raffles, baked goods, and Christmas Karaoke.
Audacious Theatre is a new performance group that seeks to create innovative and immersive theatrical events that engage all of the senses. This production is directed by Bethany Richardson, and the cast includes Logan Custer, Joey Laughlin, Ren Manley, Dylan Nevergall, Andrew Norman & Elizabeth Porter.

Drunk Christmas will only perform for two nights at Fiction Beer Company - Dec. 15 & 16 at 8:00 p.m. Limited reserved seating is available for $15 and pay-what-you-can admission is available first come, first served. For tickets and more information, visit www.audacioustheatre.com.

The Presets - Do What You Want

The Presets are back to their slamming, party-first sound, heralded by their first new song in nearly four years, "Do What You Want".

Currently burning up airwaves in their native Australia, the band themselves are flamboyantly front and centre in the Kris Moyes-directed video. Check it out after the jump and beware, it's autoplay! 


Kit Williamson Talks Being Groped in Hollywood

Hornet Stories’ Stephan Horbelt recently spoke to actor/filmmaker Kit Williamson, who appeared on the final two seasons of Mad Men and created and starred in the LGBT Emmy-nominated series EastSiders, about his experiences with sexual harassment in Hollywood:
 

On being assaulted at his first Hollywood party:
“I was 18 years old on my first trip to Los Angeles in college. I went to a party with a friend of mine that was held at the house of a pretty big agent at one of the top five agencies. One of those big ones that has three letters in the name, if that narrows it down a little bit. The guy tried to put his hand down my pants while telling me that I would never make it as an actor if I was openly gay. It was kind of a one-two punch of harassment and homophobia, and I think the two things do kind of go hand in hand. One of the reasons why we haven’t had a gay Harvey Weinstein yet, I think, is that a lot of people don’t want to speak out because of homophobia.”

On various “industry parties:”

“I came to the industry when I was already over 18, but it’s kind of an open secret that there are, or were, let’s call them ‘industry parties’ that were largely populated with a very young crowd, a teenage crowd. I do know people who went to those parties, and I do recall being invited to those parties and not attending. It honestly made me a little grateful that I spent my teenage years doing theater in New York, because I heard a lot of rumors of things that happened to friends and friends of friends. I think it’s an open secret that not everybody in that scene was 18, but I can’t speak from personal experience; I didn’t go to those parties.” 


On what women are facing in Hollywood:
“We need to make [public conversation] universal in the hopes of amplifying women’s voices. Because every woman I know in Hollywood has been propositioned for a role, or forcibly groped, or in some other ways had her agency taken away at some point while working. Every woman I know. It’s an outlier story for gay men. Because my story — I have that experience, but it’s not the same.”

Award-Winning Spoken Word Artist Andrea Gibson Kicks off 40+ Date Tour in January

Award-winning spoken word poet Andrea Gibson (they/them/their) will embark on a 40-date headlining North American "HEY GALAXY Tour" on January 14th. The tour's first stop is in Detroit, with Gibson bringing their compelling brand of spoken word to some of the biggest stages of their career.

Gibson has been known to make audiences laugh out loud at the hilarious mundanities of life while leading them to tears minutes later recounting stories of vulnerability and heartbreak. Andrea's poems are a cathartic and insightful look into how we handle the world around us. Of Gibson's writing and live performance, The Rumpus said, "Gibson had charged the air around me with electricity" while Curve stated, "Gibson's way with words will make the tough weak in the knees."




This run of shows will follow-up the announce of their 6th LP, 'HEY GALAXY' (January 12th, Tender Loving Empire) and recent dates supporting Ani DiFranco. The tour has roughly 40 stops - in most major markets including The Neptune Theatre (Seattle, WA), Grammercy Ballroom (NYC), Thalia Hall (Chicago) The Boulder Theatre and The Parish (Austin, TX). They will recite pieces both solo and with musical accompaniment from the new album along with a few catalog pieces. Chastity Brown will open all shows.

Gibson hopes the upcoming live shows will unite and inspire audiences to remain truthful, loving and celebratory even in the midst of the chaos of current day.

"The poems on this album were written to live out loud, to be rally cries for action, hope, and beauty during a time when justice is begging us to lace our boots," Andrea said. "I want the shows to ring with possibility, for people to leave newly inspired to step into their enormous hearts, to be lit up with a desire to speak truth to power, while celebrating our recognition that we are not alone, that we are in this together."

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.

Nice To See StevieB: The Annual Christmas Rant

By StevieB

Ahh, December 7th. It’s time to gather around and listen to Uncle Steve’s annual Christmas rant…..

WHAT THE F*#K DO PENGUINS HAVE TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS!?!?

Have you seen the inflatable, glowing Christmas crap that everyone displays on their front lawns? Big billowing snowmen, elves, and insidiously happy penguins. Seriously, What the heck to penguins have to do with Christmas?

At night it’s quite a cute little scene. A winter wonderland all blown up and bopping around to the forced air whooshing up their butts. During the day it’s another story, driving through any upscale neighborhood it's a reenactment of Jim Jones goes to Christmas town. Dead, flat elves and snow people scatter the lawns like a mass suicide cult hit the North Pole. A massacre of merriment. One half-inflated penguin dragging its self off the lawn coughing out,  I only live in Antarctica and parts of South America why am I even here?

Aaaaaaaaaghh!”

Australia to Become 25th Country With Marriage Equality

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, celebrated the Australian House of Representatives’ overwhelming vote in favor of marriage equality legislation. The measure passed with only four votes against it. The Australian Senate previously passed the measure by a vote of 43 to 12.

“We welcome Australia into the growing family of freedom loving nations that ensure marriage equality for all couples,” said Ty Cobb, Director of HRC Global. “The overwhelming support for marriage equality Down Under is a testament to the hard work of Australia’s LGBTQ advocates and allies who fought tirelessly to make today a reality. We congratulate them on this incredibly important victory.”

After the Governor-General gives the legislation official approval in a formality known as “Royal Assent,” marriage equality will become the law of the land. Australia will become the 25th country to recognize same-sex couples’ right to marry.

The legislation followed a voluntary postal survey that showed a clear majority of Australian voters endorse equality. The postal survey came after years of stalled efforts to bring marriage equality to Australia. After the country’s governing party refused to allow a conscience vote on the issue in parliament, it undertook the controversial and expensive survey in an attempt to settle the issue. The survey was widely criticized for delaying the arrival of marriage equality.

HRC is proud to have supported the efforts of Australian LGBTQ advocates and allies to achieve marriage equality in their country and partnered with Australian Marriage Equality (AME) — a prominent national organization leading on the issue. HRC Global visited Australia in 2015 and 2016 to share strategic advice from the successful campaign for marriage equality in the United States.

Earlier this week in Europe, Austria’s Constitutional Court ruled that marriage equality will become the law of the land in that country by January 2019.

Out Today, Out for America Report and Map Provides Most Comprehensive Look at LGBTQ Elected Officials in the U.S.

Today Victory Institute released its Out for America report and interactive Out for America map to provide the most comprehensive look ever at LGBTQ elected officials in the United States. The report provides demographic information for the nearly 450 known LGBTQ elected officials in the U.S. and documents the severe underrepresentation of LGBTQ people in key positions of power.

Among the report’s key findings: 


• 448 known LGBTQ elected officials are currently serving in the U.S., just 0.1 percent of all elected officials nationwide;
• 21,307 more LGBTQ elected officials must be elected to achieve equitable representation;
• Just 20.5 percent of LGBTQ elected officials are people of color; and
Only 1.8 percent of LGBTQ elected officials are transgender.

“The severe underrepresentation of LGBTQ people in elected positions – especially LGBTQ people of color and transgender people – is an urgent call to arms for LGBTQ leaders to run for office and be our voice in the halls of power,” said Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, President & CEO of Victory Institute. “When LGBTQ elected officials are in the room, it humanizes our lives, changes the debate and leads to more inclusive legislation. The Out for America report documents the enormous work that needs to be done to ensure our people are in those rooms – and the long road ahead before equitable representation is achieved.”

This underrepresentation is also demonstrated on the Out for America interactive map, which allows users to search for elected officials by sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, office level and geography. It is the first publicly available online resource to provide such information. Both the report and map were released at the opening of the International LGBTQ Leaders Conference in Washington, DC, where more than 500 LGBTQ elected officials and leaders are gathering to strategize how to increase LGBTQ representation in government and move forward equality.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Come Out. Get Fit With Stonewall Fitness.

Looking for more guidance and direction at the gym? Someone who can help you design a workout to maximize each workout at the gym so you can accomplish more than you ever thought possible? Check out Stonewall Fitness. Whether you're just starting out or looking to mix up your current routine, no matter if your gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or straight, you can be a part of it.

Denver Limo, Inc.: The Hottest Limos In Colorado Now at the Lowest Prices of the Year!

Denver Limo, Inc. is the leader in ground transportation in Denver, Colorado. Providing limousine service in Colorado for over 17 years, Denver Limo, Inc. has the hottest limousines, SUV limos, and Party Buses in the state - and they're currently available at the lowest prices of the year! 

30th Creating Change Conference in Washington, DC

The National LGBTQ Task Force is hosting its 2018 Creating Change Conference from Wednesday, January 24 through Sunday, January 28 at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington DC. This year, Creating Change is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the theme: Learn. Connect. Resist.

Thousands of LGBTQ progressives will gather in Washington, DC, just one year after the inauguration of the most divisive president in modern American history — which presents a unique opportunity to report on the state of the movement and how the LGBTQ community resists.

The Creating Change Conference is sponsored and organized by the National LGBTQ Task Force. Creating Change 2018 is the 30th anniversary of the conference. The Creating Change Conference is the foremost political, leadership, and skills-building conference for the LGBTQ social justice movement. Since 1988, Creating Change has created opportunities for many thousands of committed people to develop and hone their skills, celebrate victories, build community, and to be inspired by visionaries of our LGBTQ movement and allied movements for justice and equality.

The primary goal of the Creating Change Conference is to build the LGBTQ movement’s political power from the ground up to secure our overarching goal of full freedom, justice, and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in the United States. Ray Carey, executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force will reflect on the last year and the work ahead.

Creating Change will include special guests Andrea Jenkins, the first openly transgender Black woman elected to public office, Farhana Khera, the executive director of Muslim Advocates, Urvashi Vaid, Indian-American LGBTQ rights activist and former executive director of the Task Force, and Diego Sanchez, the first openly transgender staff member on Capitol Hill.

Creating Change will be honoring Sue Hyde who leaves the Task Force after 30 years of organizing Creating Change; Miss Major Griffin-Gracy will receive the Susan J. Hyde Award for Longevity in the Movement at the Friday, Jan. 26 plenary.

UN Human Rights Officer Announced as a Keynote Speaker for the IGLTA’s 2018 Annual Global Convention in Toronto

The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association announced today that Fabrice Houdart, Human Rights Officer at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in New York, will be among the keynote speakers at the association’s 35th anniversary convention at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto (9-12 May 2018).

Houdart works on the Free & Equal campaign, an unprecedented United Nations global public education campaign for LGBTQ equality. He also leads the UN global Standards of Conduct for Business, which were launched in September and address LGBTI discrimination.

“In his role with the UN, Fabrice calls upon companies worldwide to stand up against discrimination in the workplace and respect the human rights of LGBTI employees, customers and community members,” said John Tanzella IGLTA President/CEO. “This aligns perfectly with IGLTA’s membership of global tourism businesses, which are committed to providing a welcoming experience for all travelers.”

IGLTA’s Annual Global Convention is the premier educational and networking event for the LGBTQ tourism industry, and includes an appointment-driven buyer/supplier marketplace with hosted buyer program, a networking session with global media outlets, and a roundtable for small business owners. The educational programming focuses on the latest LGBTQ travel trends and marketing strategies, as well as issues impacting tourism businesses. All general session content will be presented in Spanish as well as English.