Monday, April 16, 2018
Buy a Burrito at Chipotle and Help Homeless Animals in Denver!
Friday, April 13, 2018
Amazon and Outfest Partner to Streat 60+ LGBT Films
"These are challenging times for many and reports of violence against LGBTQ citizens are on the rise,” said Christopher Racster, Executive Director of Outfest. “I still believe though in the power of our stories to change that narrative be it for a young teen in Iowa can watch a fully developed LGBTQ character to see a path forward for their own life, to a parent turning on the TV to better understand their child, to the millions who have attended any of our Outfest film festivals over the past 35 years who want to relive a favorite Outfest moment or see something they missed. It is a relationship like this with Prime Video Direct that will carry our stories across the widest network and reach the most individuals."
The official selections from past Outfest Film Festival’s currently streaming on Prime Video include:
• A Sinner in Mecca, winner of 2015 Outfest Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary
• Open, the first American film to win the Teddy Jury prize at the Berlin Film Festival
• The Gymnast, winner of 2006 Outfest Grand Jury Award: Outstanding American Narrative Feature
• GBF, Outfest Screenwriting Lab script and 2013 Outfest Los Angeles Closing Night Film
• Women Who Kill, nominated for Film Independent's 2018 Best First Screenplay
Mark Ferrandino, Former Speaker of the Colorado House: Colorado Republicans Introduce Bill to Ban Parents Like Me From Adopting
By Mark Ferrandino, Former Speaker of the Colorado House and Current One Colorado board memberRepublicans in the Colorado Senate just introduced yet another bill to legalize discrimination against LGBTQ Coloradans – this time, in the areas of adoption and foster care. This is an all hands on deck moment. Will you chip $24.10 in today to our efforts to make sure Senate Bill 241 doesn’t become law?
If a discriminatory law like this were on the books, my partner, Greg, and I could have been denied the adoption of our daughter, Lila. This bill is not only an attack on my family, but every LGBTQ person who wants to adopt or foster a child. If Senate Bill 241 passes, Colorado adoption and foster care organizations would be allowed to claim their religion gives them the right to deny children a loving family just because the prospective parents are LGBTQ.
This bill could actually pass the State Senate in the coming days. Will you fight back today and chip in $24.10 to our efforts to make sure this license to discriminate bill doesn’t become law?
Seven states across the country currently have religious exemption laws that legalize discrimination against LGBTQ people in the areas of adoption and foster care. Under these laws, over 21,000 children have been kept in foster or group homes, rather than be adopted by loving parents who don’t pass an agency’s religious test. With your help, we can make sure Senate Bill 241 never reaches the Governor’s desk.
Mitchell Gold on Gay Youth and the Rural County His Company Calls Home
Gold often shares his own story of the struggles he went through as a gay teenager. “I am proud to make sure in this community every child knows there is somebody out there that does not believe they are broken,” says Gold. “I want to educate people” and “What I want to educate them about is the harm that they’re causing.” LGBT teens are four times more likely to suffer immense mental anguish, have suicidal thoughts and even take their own lives. If they live in a highly rejecting environment, they are a staggering eight times more likely than their straight peers.
Alexander County, which many locals call the “Buckle of the Bible Belt,” only legalized the sale of alcohol countywide in 2016, and the article cites this as proof of its conservatism. “The county and the company forged a partnership, spurred on by economic need as much as anything else. Early on, Gold’s message was, on the whole, a tough sell in Alexander County. His business success gave him the platform and ability to reach members of this community.
Gold sees progress in the number of people who have changed in Alexander County, including the several ministers who support LGBT rights and the local high school’s P.R.I.D.E. Club, as well as the small but growing national contingent of evangelical leaders who support same-sex relationships.
Gold, whose company motto is “Comfort for All,” applies this to all aspects of his life, and especially strives to make a difference for LGBT teens. His book, Youth in Crisis: What Everyone Should Know About Growing Up Gay has helped thousands of young adults during their discoveries of who they are and let them know that they are not alone, and that they are perfect just the way they are.
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Colorado Springs PrideFest Auditions this Sunday
mmph - Facade
Classically trained since childhood, Sae Han first came to Boston to study Cello performance at Berklee College of Music before turning his concentration towards Electronic Production & Design and starting his project as mmph. Dear God marks a turning point in the rapid evolution of this young producer, a merging of his classical training, sophisticated composition, and unique sound design. Han’s ability to conjure a seemingly contradictory series of influences into bespoken universes places him alongside sonic puzzle makers like Oneohtrix Point Never, Nicolas Jaar, Arca and Caribou.
Vallarta Pride Brings to Celebrate Puerto Vallarta Centennial
Taking place in Puerto Vallarta from May 20 to 27, Vallarta Pride has grown yearly, with its 2017 edition attracting more than 17,000 visitors. The event has become a staple in the international Pride calendar, and now drives a considerable influx of visitors during what used to be the end of Puerto Vallarta’s traditional high season for tourism. This year, Puerto Vallarta has enjoyed one of its most active seasons for the LGBT market, with multiple events taking place across town and entertainment headliners such as Hedda Lettuce, Mama Titis, Miss Conception and Kim Kuzma taking up residency across the Zona Romantica, Puerto Vallarta’s “gayborhood.”
This year, Vallarta Pride’s annual parade will take place on Thursday, May 24. It will start at the Hotel Sheraton Buganvilias, flow into the oceanfront Malecón promenade and culminate on Lázaro Cárdenas Street, where thousands will join a block party with “circuit” music, multicolor light shows, go-go dancers and fireworks hosted by Fiesta Bar, La Noche, Mr. Flamingo, Los Muertos Brewing, CC Slaughters and La Margarita.
Celebrities such as country singer Steve Grand, transgender Mexican singer Morgana Love and Mexican actress and singer Lorena Herrera will be performing this year, with Herrera performing double duty as this year’s Grand Marshal and the star of the free concert offered by Vallarta Pride on Friday, May 25 at Teatro Vallarta.
Other highlights include the annual Drag Derby, an LGBT Art Walk, an Adam & Steve Party at Casa Cupula, a beach gym, a casino night and a sunset “Wet and Wild Cruise,” plus a host of community activities and cultural events. The Big Top Party will take place May 25 at Puerto Vallarta’s newest venue, Top Sky Bar, hosted by entrepreneur and public figure Eliad Cohen and featuring performances by music artist Nikki Valentine.
Puerto Vallarta is renowned as the premier LGBT vacation destination in Mexico. The country’s first IGLTA member, since 2014, it was also honored as the first city in Mexico to be granted Gay Travel Approved status by GayTravel.com. GayCities.com users named Puerto Vallarta their “Fun in the Sun Destination” in the site’s 2016 “Best of Gay Cities” poll. Puerto Vallarta was also named an International LGBTQ Destination at tourism industry awards Travvy Awards 2017 and listed as a top beach destination by Passport magazine in April 2017.
Judge Strikes Down Sodomy Law in Trinidad and Tobago
A lawsuit to challenge the colonial-era sodomy laws was filed in February 2017 by Jason Jones against the attorney general of Trinidad and Tobago. Jones, an LGBTIQ activist in both his native country of Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom, claimed that these two sections violate his right to privacy and freedom of expression.
Kenita Placide, Caribbean Advisor, OutRight Action International, commented on the ruling, “The judge came down on the right side of history in this case by striking down the buggery law and ruling it as unconstitutional. The activism and advocacy will continue in Trinidad and Tobago and across the Caribbean until equality for LGBTIQ people is guaranteed. With positive rulings in Belize and Trinidad and Tobago, the movement will carry the momentum to other parts of the region."
Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offenses Act prohibit “buggery” and “acts of serious indecency” between two men, with punishments of up to 25 years in prison if found guilty. The sodomy laws are part of a tradition of homophobia in the country, with laws such as section 8 of the Immigration Act prohibiting homosexuals who are not citizens from entering the country still in place.
Opposition from conservative religious groups was strong, particularly T&T Cause, which made claims that the repeal of these sections would result in “homosexual rights trumping heterosexual rights.”
The repeal, however, is now an example for the rest of Caribbean and a hope that they will soon follow in Trinidad and Tobago’s footsteps.
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Are You Ready for the Big Gay 5K?
June will be here before you know it, and we want to kick off Pride month with you at the 5th annual Big Gay 5K on Sunday, June 3rd!
The race will start and end on the east side of Cheesman Park at the Pavilion Building. The route will run west on 14th Avenue to the Capitol and back to celebrate at Cheesman Park! This race is for everyone and registration starts at just $25. Make sure to sign up now before prices increase to save your spot!
Come to support One Colorado and kick-off Pride month at the Big Gay 5K!
Come Out. Get Fit With Stonewall Fitness.
Are You Gay With Something To Say? Bloggers Wanted For Denver's Best Gay Blog!
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.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
One Colorado: Call for Volunteers
As we move from spring into summer, we have some events coming up in Denver and we want you to join us! One Colorado needs volunteers at our tables to gather signatures on our petition to ban conversion therapy in Colorado. You can sign up and get more information below.
Sign up to volunteer at the One Colorado Booth at March for Science this Saturday, April 14th | Invite friends on Facebook
Sign up to volunteer at the One Colorado Booth at Earth day on Saturday April 21st | Invite friends on Facebook
Sign up to volunteer at the One Colorado Booth at the Cinco De Mayo on Saturday May 5th and Sunday May 6th
We will also be posting information in the Facebook events, so make sure you like our page.
Hope to see you soon!
420 On The Block Brings Elevated Entertainment to Denver for World Cannabis Week
In 2018, the festival has expanded from a single-day event to a weekend-long, mile high experience, featuring a diverse and high-profile music lineup, live art, immersive stages, cannabis-related activism and education, food trucks, a vendor village, and more.
Ensuring an elevated experience for all who attend, 420 On The Block is truly a collaboration between cannabis industry leaders, who have come together in the community to inspire and encourage conversation around modern cannabis culture, budding tourism, and social responsibility. Lead sponsor The Green Solution, Colorado’s premier cannabis company with 14 locations across the state, is offering tickets in-store, along with a wide selection of products to enjoy during the 4/20 holiday.
The 420 On The Block festivities are part of World Cannabis Week, the gateway to Denver’s best 4/20 scene. At the entrance to 420 On the Block Festival-goers can enjoy WCW’s free 420 Bazaar, a vendor village where attendees can discover what’s new in the cannabis product world, located on the festival grounds. At the Bazaar, attendees can participate in the 420 Challenge, a carnival-based games challenge, which offers $5,000 worth of prizes. Additionally, local canna-tourism event partner My420Tours is celebrating WCW with a nonstop tour schedule all three days of the 4/20 weekend. My420Tours provides insider tours of grow facilities and dispensaries that permit guests to legally and safely partake in the 4/20 holiday tradition while riding in comfort and style on a 420-friendly limo bus.
Produced by presenting festival production partner Live Nite Events (known for Bonanza Campout and Reggae Rise Up) and curated in partnership with AEG Presents, the lineup for 420 On The Block offers an eclectic mix of Hip-Hop, Indie, EDM, Jam, and Reggae. The festival will be headlined by Viceland reality TV star and rapper Action Bronson, Jewish reggae/rock/hip-hop crossover Matisyahu, trip-hop/electronic duo Break Science, featuring Borham Lee and Adam Deitch, and their live band featuring Adam Smirnoff, Jesus and the Shady Horns of Lettuce, and much more.
Tickets are available for those 21+ at 420OnTheBlock.com or in-store at The Green Solution.
Books: Playful Intelligence: The Power of Living Lightly in a Serious World
As the years pass by, we sense how the good things in life are so often eclipsed by stress. We find ourselves doing everything we can just to endure adulthood, all the while wondering whether we are actually enjoying it. This is exactly why Dr. Anthony T. DeBenedet decided to write Playful Intelligence: The Power of Living Lightly in a Serious World (Santa Monica Press/May/Softcover), to show readers how playfulness helps us counterbalance the seriousness of adulthood.
“Five years ago, my life was becoming more intense and stressful,” DeBenedet says. “My relationships, clinical work as a physician, and basic interactions with the world were blurring into a frazzled mosaic. Going through the motions became my norm, and every day brought busyness and exhaustion. I thought about whether I was depressed. I didn’t think I was. Anxious? Sure, but aren’t we all anxious on some level? I also thought about the lifestyle factors that could be making me feel this way. Was I getting enough sleep? Was I exercising regularly? Was I eating healthy? Was I playing and remembering to be playful?”
Today, we live in a taxing world. The endless pressure to keep up with our responsibilities and the daily headlines swarming around us can be overwhelming. DeBenedet’s work comes at a time when stress, uncertainty, and intensity levels are high. Playful Intelligence shows adults that there is a way to live lighter—and smarter—as we navigate the seriousness of adulthood. It’s not about taking life less seriously; it’s about taking ourselves less seriously.
The book’s core chapters are devoted to exploring the effects and benefits of five playful qualities: imagination, sociability, humor, spontaneity, and wonder. By examining playfulness as a sum of its parts, readers will gain a working awareness of its power and be able to apply playful principles to their own lives, bringing the magic of childhood back into their day-to-day existence. The book also offers practical suggestions on how to make life more playful in nature.
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