Burning down the barriers

Just came across this article on Fire Captain Michele Richards of California, originally published last year, but back up again or still up. I love to see women breaking down the gender barriers when it comes to jobs (unless they're named Sarah Palin), and I love to see articles that reflect lesbians and transsexuals breaking down the good-ol'-(straight)boy network within such "manly" professions as firefighting.

As a matter of fact, we here in Colorado can claim a female firefighting celebrity as one of our own. You all know Juliet Draper of Colorado Springs. She's been burning down the barriers and burning hot in the Springs for years. I ran into her at the Springs PrideFest celebration earlier this year and here she is putting me to shame. Flex!

This weekend at The Underground

This weekend the Court has their annual Bus Run (Friday night) and Coronation (Saturday) at The Underground in Colorado Springs ...and Saturday The Underground hosts their weekly after hours party with awesome DJs and dancing until 4 a.m. This weekend we spotlight DJs Tatianna and TimmE.

What's the best gay bar in Colorado Springs?

Congratulations to The Underground Bar in Colorado Springs. For the third year running Colorado Springs' Indy readers have chosen The Underground Bar as the gay bar in Colorado Springs. This year they were also recognized for their fabulous smokin' patio! Watch for their Best Of Customer Appreciation Party -- with free food and drinks with live entertainment -- coming soon.

Colorado Springs Pride Center celebrates National Coming Out day with Colors of Courage

The Pride Center of Colorado Springs is celebrating National Coming Out Day on Saturday, October 11, by debuting the Springs' own GLBT anthology, 'Colors of Courage'.

Stop by the Pride Center, 315 E. Costilla Street in Colorado Springs, from 5-7:30 p.m. and enjoy wine and cheese, and community and fun as the authors present their stories.

Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival

The 9th Annual Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival is bringing great gay films to Colorado Springs this weekend (9/19-9/21) at Cornerstone Arts Center and Armstrong Hall on the Colorado College.

Check out the latest film list and schedule here and be sure to join the fun at the after-parties at Underground and The Metropolis.

The Pride Center presents 'For the Bible Tells Me So'

The Pride Center is partnering with Colorado College in promoting a unique community forum regarding the moving documentary, "For the Bible Tells Me So". The Forum is slated for this Thursday, September 11th from 7:00-9:00 at the Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center, South Theatre, 825 N. Cascade Ave. in Colorado Springs. The forum is free and open to the public, and will feature a discussion with filmmaker Dan Karslake, the Wallners, and local panelists: "For the Bible Tells Me So: Faith, Families, and Sexual Identity".

Shirley Jones in My Favorite Things, a Tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein

Musical theatre, and, by extension, gay icon Shirley Jones is coming to Colorado Springs for the Colorado Festival of World Theatre in 'My Favorite Things, a Tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein'.


Co-created by Lonny Price (Tony and Theatre World award-winning performer, director and writer) and Paul Gemignani (Tony and Drama Desk award-winning musical director, conductor and composer), the show stars Shirley Jones (Oscar and multi-award winning actress, singer, TV and film star), her son, Patrick Cassidy (multi-talented actor, singer and dancer), Marin Mazzie (multiple Tony award nominee, star of Spamalot and last year's Beautiful Girls) and her husband, Theatre World award winner Jason Danieley.

The show takes place September 6 at 8 p.m. and September 7 at 4 p.m. at the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, 190 South Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Pikes Peak Center or at TicketsWest (719) 576-2626, (866) 464-2626 or by going to www.TicketsWest.com.

That's her son, Patrick Cassidy, in the video with her. Hot. Move over Anderson Cooper, there's a new silver fox in town.

Gay help wanted

The Pride Center in Colorado Springs currently has two immediate openings for positions with our Community Health Initiative and Anti-Violence/Anti-Discrimination programs. They are looking for a full-time Community Navigator/Victim Advocate and a part-time Community Outreach Associate. Email Ryan@YourPrideCenter.org for more information.

Tom and Don got married

I took this brief video back at Colorado Springs PrideFest but have somehow neglected to post it up until now. They're an adorable couple who have been together for years and years and just recently made it legal in California.

Jason and deMarco in Colorado Springs

Don't miss Jason and deMarco in concert at Pikes Peak Metropolitan Community Church on Sunday, September 7th, at 7 p.m.

Featured throughout the month of July on Showtime in the documentary film "We're All Angels," Jason and deMarco will be in Colorado Springs performing all their greatest hits including their most recent single from the documentary entitled, "It's Okay." Best of all, the concert is free and open to everyone. Seating will be on a first come, first serve basis, and all attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item(s) to donate to Care and Share. Donations will be taken during the concert to thank Jason and deMarco.

Pikes Peak MCC is located at 1102 S. 21st Street, which is just two blocks south of Hwy 24/Cimarron.

Here's what some critics have had to say about Jason and deMarco:
"Love duets "Falling" and "Just in Time" would sound equally at home on radio or stage, and both showcase the couple's soaring voices and uncanny knack for seamlessly trading lead vocals and creating hand-in-glove harmonies." - Mark Davis, The Advocate Magazine

"With their natural good looks, brilliant blue eyes, and million dollar smiles, Jason & deMarco could pass as members of any number of boy bands, but their music has a message for anyone willing to listen to songs about the universal themes of love, acceptance, and healing." - Joseph Amster, IN Los Angeles Magazine

Is Colorado's David Corder the next Fitness Phenom?

I met David Corder NSCA-CPT, owner and lead trainer at Perfect Fit Wellness Center in Colorado Springs, yesterday at PrideFest in Colorado Springs. David recently won the first round of Project Breakout’s “Search for the next Fitness Phenom” by a landslide.

Project Breakout, an online video voting community, is searching for the next big fitness expert. It is like the “American Idol” for fitness. David’s first DVD entitled “Perfect Posture” was entered in the competition and won the very first week’s contest with over 1700 more online votes than any other contestant. Now he is headed for the finals with an outstanding lead over his competitors.

David now is working on an all new DVD for the finals. He promises a workout program that will build strength and enable the body to lose weight. Most of all, it will be fun! The final online voting period is from September 1st through the 7th with the winner announced on the 8th of September, 2008. First prize for the competition is a contract with a major fitness production company to market his programs across the United States and Canada.

Round one of the competition was strictly an online voting period with the popular votes, comments and views counting for 100% of the victory. The finals will be a combination of online voting and a panel of judges choosing from the 30 final contestants.

To view the winning workout and vote for David, go to ProjectBreakout.com. To purchase your very own copy of David's workout DVD go to Perfect Fit Wellness Center where you can find more information about David and his programs.

The hot guys of Colorado Springs PrideFest

Juliet Draper and MileHighGayGuy at Colorado Springs PrideFest 2008

Here I am looking fat and flabby next to one of the fittest women in the world, Juliet Draper. Draper, a firefighter in Colorado Springs, won the Combat Challenge World Title in 2003. She also won the World Police and Fire Games Powerlifting Championship in 2004 and the State Games of America Powerlifting Championship in 2005.

Draper's longtime partner is Pam Jones, a writer and filmmaker who is the sister of legendary gay icon Grace Jones.

I'm putting a copy of this pic up on the fridge as motivation! She's amazing. Do you see those abs?

Colorado Springs PrideFest entertainment - Rocky Horror Picture Show

A little Rocky Horror Picture Show action from Colorado Springs PrideFest 2008.

James Roy, singing sensation, sez:

Colorado Springs PrideFest Festival photos

After the parade ended at the corner of Tejon and Platte in downtown Colorado Springs, everybody enjoyed the festival and entertainment.






* Lots more pics after the jump.






























Cooling off at Colorado Springs PrideFest 2008

It was a hot one today - the fountain really helped keep things cool.

Colorado Springs PrideFest 2008 protesters

I'm still not sure what moves someone to protest a gay pride parade but maybe it's evidence that society is moving forward that the protesters no longer spew the kind of hate and foulness that they used to. The message might still be the same but the box it's wrapped up in is a lot nicer.

Pride baby smash!

Colorado Springs PrideFest 2008 mega-picture post #1

I attended my first Colorado Springs PrideFest today and had a really awesome time. The people were really pumped for the day, the weather was perfect, and the parade and the festival were just the right size, not too big and crazy and not too small.





* Lots more pics after the post.