Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado sponsors Denver Center Theatre Company's upcoming presentation of Dracula

Charles Morey’s thrilling adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 'Dracula' will play the Denver Center Theatre Company’s Space Theatre October 1-31.

Sponsored by The Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado and directed by Gavin Cameron-Webb, the DCTC production of 'Dracula' promises to be lushly staged and amply frightening. Charles Morey’s adaptation is loyal to Stoker’s original novel in both plot and style, and mirrors the novel’s overarching sense of threat and dread, says Cameron-Webb. He also notes that what makes this tale so thrilling is that our imagination and our fear of what lurks in the fog and might emerge from the gloom is more frightening than anything in reality. He aims to play on those fears in the production, while staying true to the classic vampire tale.

Tickets for the original vampire tale are on sale now, by calling 303.893.4100 or www.denvercenter.org.

Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado names 2009 Advancing Equality Award winners

The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado has honored six Colorado individuals and organizations with the 2009 Advancing Equality Awards to recognize their commitment to creating an inclusive and equal environment for all people. Honorees have each received a gift of $5,000 to be allocated to a nonprofit of their designation. Awards were presented at the Gay & Lesbian Fund’s annual holiday reception in Colorado Springs on December 9.

Mary Lou Makepeace, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Fund and vice president of Colorado Programs for the Gill Foundation, said, “Each year, Colorado becomes an even better, more equitable place to live – thanks in no small part to the winners of the Advancing Equality Awards. This year’s winners express a clear voice for social justice in their everyday lives—from their job, to their school, to their volunteer efforts. We thank them for advancing equality in Colorado.”

See the full list of 2009 awardees after the jump.


The 2009 awardees are:

Outstanding Youth Advocate: James Lozano, a student at Greeley West High School - In response to the verbal and physical harassment of his African American friend, James stepped in to defend him, only to be physically attacked himself. Fifty stitches later and disturbed by the bigotry and bullying he witnessed in his school, James led the effort to bring the “No Place for Hate” program to Greeley West High School. He continued to provide leadership as the school became a certified “No Place for Hate” High School in this most conservative community.

Outstanding Public Official: Senator Chris Romer, Denver - Sen. Romer has been a leading voice in the fight to pass legislation allowing undocumented Colorado high school graduates to attend state colleges and universities and pay in-state tuition. Although the tuition equity measure fell short of the necessary votes in the 2009 legislative session, Sen. Romer vows to continue the fight in the next legislative session.

Outstanding Nonprofit: El Centro Humanitario, Aurora - This non-profit provides services to Latino day laborers. It was notified 10 days before its annual fundraising event that the Catholic diocese would not permit the display of the Gay & Lesbian Fund banner or logo anywhere in the facility, and prohibited the naming of the Gay & Lesbian Fund from the podium. El Centro’s board voted to take the risky move to change the luncheon’s location at the last minute, stating they would not compromise their values of equal treatment for all people.

Outstanding Community Supporter (Individual): Linda Meric, executive director of 9to5 National Association of Working Women-Colorado Chapter, Denver - In addition to the strong leadership she provides in her day job fighting for employment equality for women, Linda was a key leader in the effort to defeat the anti-affirmative action amendment on the Colorado ballot last year. Amendment 46 would have eliminated Colorado's equal opportunity programs for women and people of color. Traveling the state to inform voters of the devastating effects of this measure, Linda paved the way for Colorado to be the first and only state in the country to turn back this discriminatory initiative.

Outstanding Community Supporter (Organization): Pueblo Human Relations Commission - Formed as the result of a community summit in 1998, the Pueblo Human Relations Commission serves both the city and the county of Pueblo. The Commission listens to the concerns of minority groups with respect to the underlying root causes of discrimination, prejudice, hatred and exclusion perpetrated against a group simply because of their race, color, religion, national origin/ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, gender or age. The Commission’s goal is to officially encourage and bring about mutual understanding and respect for all persons in this racially and culturally diverse community.

Gill Stonewall Award: Wasson High School Arts MAGNET Drama Department, Colorado Springs - Facing great resistance from school district administrators and teachers, drama students and their coach, Nancy Vogel, worked for three years to perform 'The Laramie Project', about the murder of gay student, Matthew Shepard. With the goal of reversing the school’s decision to prohibit the performance, they met with parents, teachers, and their principal. They pursued interviews with the local media and organized an all-school “Erase Hate” campaign to promote tolerance and kindness. The play was finally performed to sell-out audiences in November 2008. The outcome has been the establishment of a Gay - Straight Alliance that will now build bridges of understanding and acceptance for all at Wasson High School.





Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado named Outstanding Foundation

In September the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado was named the 2009 Outstanding Foundation by National Philanthropy Day in Colorado. Every year, National Philanthropy Day honors individuals, organizations, foundations, businesses, and corporations for their exceptional and impactful philanthropic and volunteer contributions in Colorado.

The award will be presented during the National Philanthropy Day celebration November 13th at the Denver Marriott City Center. This year’s event will bring an estimated 1,000 people together to recognize the accomplishments of all award recipients.

Recognized in the category of Outstanding Foundation, the Gay & Lesbian Fund was selected as a grantmaking foundation that has demonstrated outstanding commitment through financial support and through encouragement and motivation of others to take leadership roles in philanthropy and community involvement.

“We are extremely privileged to serve Colorado’s nonprofit organizations,” said Mary Lou Makepeace, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Fund. “This award from National Philanthropy Day is a salute not only to the Gay & Lesbian Fund, but to our grantees and partners who work so hard to improve the lives of and advance equality for all Coloradans.”

De Ann Acosta, chair of the awards and selection committee for National Philanthropy Day in Colorado, said: “We heartily congratulate the Gay & Lesbian Fund for being named Outstanding Foundation for 2009. We get many great nominations and it’s difficult to decide on just one, but we feel that this organization is exemplary and well-deserving of this recognition.”

Spotlight on the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado

Since it was founded in 1996, the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado has provided financial support and critical resources to hundreds of nonprofit organizations that share the fund’s commitment to advancing equality and improving quality of life for people across Colorado. Having awarded more than $22 million to arts and culture, civic engagement, healthy families, and public broadcasting programs, the fund prides itself on the collaborations it has formed with those who share a common vision for equality. Along with grantees, business partners, nonprofit leaders, public supporters, and allies, the Gay & Lesbian Fund believes that Colorado is a stronger state when all residents have equal access to opportunities and resources. Learn more about the fund’s philanthropic work at www.gayandlesbianfund.org.