Monday, November 5, 2018
Rhein Haus: Serving Up Weiners Und Balls in Downtown Denver
Lambda Legal: Introducing the 'LGBTQ Playbook in the Time of Trump'
Like you, I’m a strong supporter of Lambda Legal’s high-impact cases, strategic litigation, and influential policy work. Back in 1980, I joined its first national board of directors. I was honored to help strengthen Lambda Legal then, and I’m humbled to help lead us into the future now.
Over the last thirty years, I have seen Lambda Legal expertly exercise the very strategies you’ve been introduced to this past week – and I’ve seen them work.
As we wrap up our “LGBTQ Playbook in the Time of Trump” series with our last two strategies, I want to extend my deep gratitude to the lawyers on our team who drive LGBT equality forward with every win. But I can’t do so without acknowledging you, Drew, and our supporters all over the country who keep us on the winning side.
You are here because you see a future where our most basic civil liberties aren’t under constant attack. Where transgender and gender nonconforming youth aren’t threatened or harassed for using the school restroom; where our marriages aren’t hollowed out or our dreams of raising a family aren’t cruelly stomped on by government agencies; where our HIV status doesn’t criminalize or marginalize us.
We’ve made incredible progress since the LGBT movement’s most improbable beginnings. I hope you will commit to continuing our fight to advance equality by joining the Justice Fund with a monthly gift that maximizes your impact and ensures can push back against every attack on our lives.
Drew, you, like me, are here because you know a more equal future is within reach. But it won’t be easy – only careful strategy can get us there. Like advancing the law at the state level, narrowing harmful rulings, building precedents, and utilizing non-litigation tools. And today, I’ll tell you about our final strategies: Shaping narratives and embedding these legal strategies in the larger movement.
P.S. If you would like to see all our strategies in one place, I invite you to visit the online version of our "LGBTQ Playbook in the Time of Trump" here.
Shawn Mendes' Debuts Powerful New Longform Music Video For 'Youth'
Today, Shawn Mendes premiered a long-form music video for “Youth”, featuring Khalid, that highlights an array of some of the most exceptional young people from around the world. Co-written by Marjory Stoneman Douglas students Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg, director Anthony Mandler, Larry Jackson, Shawn & Khalid, the video creates a literal stage to celebrate and honor the young, diverse and talented amongst us. The seven and a half minute video stars both Mendes and Khalid as well as over 30 different inspiring young people ranging from activists, painters, dancers, gun violence survivors, musical prodigies and many more splashed against a stunning New York City backdrop (A full list can be found below) The video, directed by Mandler this past June, also features a sculpture by New York-based contemporary artist Daniel Arsham.
“For the ‘Youth’ video, we wanted to make something that would highlight and empower young people, by giving the stage to a group of extraordinary kids,” said Mendes. “Khalid and I wanted them to be the focus of the video, and to give them a platform, in the hope that it can inspire other young people to pursue what they love and use their voice.”
Mendes debuted “Youth” as a World Record on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 show this past May, and discussed the origin behind writing “Youth” right after the Manchester and London terrorist attacks: "I remember I woke up in the morning and the whole thought of my youth trying to be taken away from me...not youth as in my age, youth as in my love, my happiness, my joy, my purity. It’s not even about age, you could be 50 and your youth is there, it’s in you. And all of these horrible things happening in the world, all of the headlines, it felt like every day it was just being pulled more and more out of us. And I was like this is what we have to write about. And it was awesome. I’m really, really proud of that song.”
Prior to the film’s release, Mendes shared a trailer for the video that features a timely excerpt from a speech Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered to Barratt Junior High School in South Philadelphia in October of 1967, six months before he was assassinated. The speech, titled “What is your life’s blueprint?”, encouraged the young students to "Be the best of whatever you are.” Upon the trailers release Martin Luther King III took to Twitter share the trailer stating, “This year we observe 50 years since my father's assassination. I can think of no greater tribute to his memory than to stand up
for the ideals for which he gave his life. I hope this inspires everyone, but especially young people, to use their vote their voice their power to work to create the vision of the world in which they want to live.” Full message here.
Denver Public Health: Gonorrhea is Up. Get Down with Testing.
Gonorrhea rates in Denver have more than doubled in recent years and you should know that STDs increase your risk of HIV infection by up to 10 times. But testing is easy and treatment works. Find an STD or HIV testing location close to you here: https://goo.gl/sVGPNX.
OUTBermuda: “All Eyes on the Prize of Equality”
Successful Applicants at the Supreme Court, Maryellen Jackson and Roderick Ferguson said, in a joint statement: “We are humbled by the support given to us beginning with our original trial and we are staying our course in defending this appeal by the Government. There is much work to be done on the island to advance diversity and inclusion. This is one way that we are able to help affirm the experience of gay and lesbian Bermudians who recognize the importance of the institution of marriage for protecting their families.”
OUTBermuda spokesperson Adrian Hartnett-Beasley said, “We have one aim: equality under the law for all loving Bermuda couples and our families. This week, we believe our highest court can only reach the same decision the Supreme Court made in June, when it ruled the Domestic Partnership Act violates our Constitution protecting not only our freedom of conscience but also by outlawing discrimination on the basis of creed. All our eyes are on the prize of equality.”
Governor Hickenlooper launches statewide trails app at Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference
Embracing a theme of “COmmitted” in the town recently named the Most Sustainable Mountain Destination on earth, the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) this year worked with Walking Mountains Science Center and Hotel Talisa to structure the event as the first zero-waste state tourism conference in the nation. Efforts ranged from conservation and reuse of materials to composting of food waste.
“Once again, Colorado and its tourism industry are setting the pace for creating new traveler options, while taking real steps to protect what makes our destination such an extraordinary place to visit,” said CTO Director Cathy Ritter.
The Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) app puts data for 39,158 miles of trail and 1,431 trailheads in the hands of users across the state and is now available for free download in the Apple and Google Play stores. A facet of the Colorado the Beautiful initiative, the COTREX app makes it easier than ever for Coloradans and visitors alike to access the state’s trailheads and open space.
The three-day conference, co-sponsored by the Vail Valley Partnership, also featured keynotes from international destination marketing expert William Bakker and famed community activist and artist Candy Chang. A conference highlight was a moving presentation on crisis management lessons learned from the Mandalay Bay shooting in Las Vegas to erupting volcanoes and fake air raids in Hawaii. In that panel, Travel Weekly Editor-in-Chief Arnie Weissmann gained insights from both Cathy Tull, CMO of the Las Vegas Convention and Tourism Authority, and Charlene Chan, Communications Director for the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
The CTO’s annual educational and networking event also included a lineup of nearly 20 breakout sessions and learning labs with insights into Google Analytics, creating a bicycle tourism destination, ski industry trends, Western-style hospitality and more. Most of the conference educational content was recorded and will be made available to industry members.
“The tourism industry in Colorado impacts every corner of the state,” said Andrea Fulton, chairwoman of the Colorado Tourism Board and Chief Marketing Officer of the Denver Art Museum. “We’re thrilled to see more than 549 individuals come together to connect, collaborate and learn how we can continue to strengthen the sector to the benefit of our communities.”
The conference also provided a stage for the graduation of the first 17 participants in the Colorado Tourism Leadership Journey, the CTO’s executive training program for the tourism industry. Conference attendees also were introduced to the 20 members of the incoming Class of 2019.
New Book November: Mark Dery, John Boyne, and Alison Bechdel
Barbra Streisand's new album 'WALLS' out now!
WALLS finds Barbra exploring both her concerns and hopes for the future in a collection filled with beautiful melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. In addition to the three original tunes which the Oscar-winning songwriter contributed to, the songs on Walls explore topics near to the celebrated artist’s heart. Streisand also brings a fresh perspective to the classic songs “Imagine” and “What A Wonderful World,” and the Bacharach/David pop standard “What The World Needs Now.” The penultimate song that Streisand sings is a timely one called “Take Care Of This House” by the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner.
Streisand’s “What’s On My Mind,” the first song she conceived of for Walls, “Don’t Lie To Me” and “The Rain Will Fall” all speak to core issues she believes in. For all her many record-breaking and award-winning accomplishments as a singer, actress, film director, producer, screenplay writer, author and songwriter, Streisand’s dedicated social activism and commitment to philanthropy have always equaled her artistic passions.
To serve her inspirational themes, she shares production and arrangement duties on the new album with Walter Afanasieff, John Shanks and David Foster – all Grammy recipients for Producer of the Year – and Songwriter Hall of Fame recipient Desmond Child. Streisand’s vision also comes through on the defining title track “Walls,” with lyrics specifically written for the album by revered Streisand collaborators Alan & Marilyn Bergman.
Over the course of her astonishing career, Streisand has recorded a number of songs that address the human condition. Recognized as one of the foremost interpreters of contemporary song, “Don’t Lie To Me,” and the other songs on Walls are sure to add to her enduring legacy as an award-winning singer and songwriter. In 1977, she became the first woman to win an Oscar for composing the music to the timeless standard “Evergreen” (Love Theme from A Star Is Born), which also went on to win the Grammy for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe. In addition, she has been duly recognized throughout her career for compositions on film projects emblematic of her songwriting gifts.
Streisand is the only recording artist in history to achieve a #1 Album in six consecutive decades. She has recorded 52 gold, 31 platinum and 13 multi-platinum albums in her career. She is the only woman to make the All-Time Top 10 Best Selling Artists list. Streisand has had 34 albums make the Top 10 on the US charts, the only female artist to have achieved this milestone, tying her with Frank Sinatra. She is also the female artist with the most number one albums in Billboard’s history. Widely recognized as an icon for her artistic achievements, she has been awarded two Oscars, ten Grammys including two special Grammys, five Emmys, three Peabodys, and eleven Golden Globes including the Cecil B. DeMille Award. In 2015, President Barack Obama presented her with the highest civilian honor the United States bestows, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She had already received the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton in 2000, as well as France’s prestigious Legion of Honor.
Travel: Winter Party is Coming!
The early bird sales for multi-event passes launched in August and sold out within a week. Guests can now purchase all tickets and passes.
Buying early leads to big savings. The nine-event VIP pass that gains attendees access to all the main events had an early bird price of $595, currently, the remaining VIP passes are $675. Winter Party also offers three other passes: Festival Pass, Weekend Pass, and Climax Pass.
Winter Party’s Saturday and Sunday dance parties will return to the James L. Knight Center, a venue that observers stated last year “took Winter Party to the next level”, while the Saturday daytime event Under One Sun will be at a new location to be unveiled soon.
Our legendary Monday morning party, Afterglow returns featuring world-renowned icon, DJ Abel. This event will sell out so be sure to grab your passes now. Last year’s Beach Party sold out.
The Lights Before Christmas: A Hudson Christmas Lights Up the Holidays
Walk arm-in-arm with loved ones and old friends. See how this woodsy terrain transforms into a winter wonderland where brightly-lit trees weave neon colors into the night sky, reflect off bodies of water, and illuminate happy faces. Share your holiday wishes with Santa Claus, take a family photo on Santa's sleigh, warm up in the yuletide yurts, sip a steaming cup of hot chocolate, and stop for priceless photo opportunities along the way.
Health care groups warn of health consequences of Trump Administration plan to narrowly define sex under federal law
Signers of the letter include the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, all of which endorse a standard of care for transgender people that includes mental health counseling, hormone therapy, and surgeries that affect primary and secondary sex characteristics. These organizations represent thousands of health care providers across the country.
“The science is clear. Genetic sex chromosomes, anatomy, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity are separate. In many people they are aligned with one another, and in millions of other people they are not,” said GLMA President Gal Mayer, MD, MS, who has considerable experience caring for LGBTQ patients as the former medical director of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. “Any policy that tries to define an individual’s gender based solely on any one of these characteristics ignores decades of research and study, and contradicts the massive expertise of the healthcare providers and their associations represented on this letter. We can all confirm that gender and gender identity are not binary and in many cases not the same as the sex assigned at birth. Gender and gender identity exist on a spectrum, are personal experiences, are not always static, and can only be defined by the person living that experience.”
“Transgender people face discriminatory treatment in public settings, including hospitals and other health care facilities,” said Sean Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research for The Fenway Institute. “As a result, many transgender people avoid care due to prior mistreatment and the fear of anticipated mistreatment and stigma. It would be malpractice to rescind nondiscrimination protections for transgender people in health care settings.”
The plans were first made public October 21 by the New York Times in a report based on a U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) memo that was leaked to the newspaper. The Times reported that HHS is proposing a legal definition of sex that would exclude transgender individuals under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination. A number of recent federal court rulings have found that anti-transgender discrimination constitutes sex discrimination under Title IX, and the sex discrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act and Affordable Care Act. These rulings also were used as the legal basis for federal nondiscrimination rules affecting access by transgender people to healthcare, education, and other services that receive federal funding.
Grayson - Brother
Non-binary American singer-songwriter Grayson has released the music video for their brand new song “Brother.” Billboard Pride says, "Grayson's voice layers one-by-one on "Brother," building and blossoming into something transcendent as they meld into a singular harmony."
Of the track, Grayson says, “‘Brother' is about the sometimes chaotic relationship with yourself, and everyone else. I have inhabited so many projects and versions of myself through the years that this feels like a long time coming but such a short time in comparison. I can’t wait for it to be heard and in the world. This song really was the start of me."
“Brother,” which is written by Grayson, is their debut release with One Half Records, a Los Angeles-based label where “one half” is LGBTQ. Grayson is currently working with recording artist/producer Aidan James to finish their debut EP.
Nice To See StevieB: When I Was A Boy
My first car was a 1968 Ford Mustang. No. It was not brand new. I found this car in a ditch around 1991, and towed it home with the help of my brother-in-law. I spent every meager dime I had working to get that Mustang up and running. When it did run, I was always out and about in this car, with its mis-matched fenders and wonky exhaust. Around this time I also seemed attracted too, and dated older guys. I bring up this point because, now that I'm over forty I am now returning the favor and started to embrace my inner-daddy. Yet, it seems times have changed in the Daddy/boy dating world. Yes, this blog post is going to be themed "When I was a boy!"
As a gay waiter at the age of twenty-four, I met and dated guys in their late thirties. I had an apartment on my own, generally paid my own way, and had a blast in the dating world. Now, the caveat emptor of this situation may be type of guy I'm finding, meeting them mostly on Grindr. But, it seems that all the guys I have chatted with, don't own cars and still live with their parents because they just can't afford a place of their own. So, the economic atmosphere in the US is severely cramping my sex life.
Student loans, high rental rates of apartments, and the lack of jobs for new college graduates, is impeding my ability to find a nice twenty-six year old to tie up and do things. I blame the Republicans. This entered my mind as I picked up a nice guy for a date, at his parents house, the sideways glances I received were epic when his mom deducted that her and I were the same age. In an attempt to avert the awkwardness I offered that I too had a mid-term to study for, as I'm in college as well. It didn't help.
When I was a boy, I guess life was easier. I pretty much built my own car, and lived on Capital Hill in a series of run-down skeezy apartments. Now that I've found myself in the Daddy role, it appears that guys are living at home for much longer. That, or I need to change my Grindr profile to read that I'm looking for guys that have their own car. That's right, StevieB, keep those standards high. Or..... I could keep my nose out of Grindr and in my history book.
Advance Screening of 'Boy Erased' Coming to Denver's Alamo Drafthouse
Boy Erased tells the courageous story of Jared Eamons (Lucas Hedges), the son of a Baptist pastor in a small American town, who must overcome the fallout of being outed to his parents (Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe). His parents struggle with reconciling their love for their son with their beliefs. Fearing a loss of family, friends, and community, Jared is pressured into attending a conversion therapy program. While there, Jared comes into conflict with its leader and begins his journey to finding his own voice and accepting his true self.
Friday, November 2, 2018
Kaos Pizzeria - The Most Antiquated Process Makes the Best Pizza
Wood fired, true Southern Italian Naples style pizza. Eat-in, take out or have Kaos deliver to you! Local sourced farm-to-table.Our 100 year-old brick cottage is adjacent to a garden patio which regularly makes the “Denver’s Best” list, and has become an oasis for folks to gather and enjoy life with a truly unique experience.
Our pizzas are made in the most antiquated, inefficient and outdated way, using no mechanical processes. Everything is handmade, and the chefs at Kaos hand mix over 50lbs of fresh dough twice a day.
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